Board favors including restroom in practice facility for emergency sheltering and usability

Board discussion emphasized that adding a permanent restroom during initial construction is more practical than retrofitting later and also serves an emergency-sheltering function.

The presenter said the bathroom was designed to be exterior to the building and that "having a bathroom integral to the building would obviously be a lot better" if the space is used to "house kids" during an evacuation or active-shooter incident. A board member also said "the bathrooms make sense" as part of a complete build.

Those operational and safety considerations were part of the board's rationale for approving Alternate 1 (bathroom) together with the turf flooring alternate. Staff were directed to coordinate architect and permit steps with a view to completing the full project if donor funds and capital resources align.