Restroom Design Information

Dear PAUSD Community,

A series of events at Hoover Elementary School have exposed some confusion regarding restroom design in our schools, particularly around the topic of gender-neutral restrooms. While this particular situation is specific to Hoover, I know it has become a broader topic of discussion across our school district, state, and country.  I’d like to clarify our situation and assure you that we are committed to offering a range of restroom options that meet the needs of all students and families.

PAUSD is not requiring all restrooms to be gender-neutral. Our design principles allow for flexibility, meaning restrooms can be designated as either gender-neutral or gender-specific based on the needs of each school community. This flexibility is built into our design to accommodate future needs without locking us into any one model.

The standards we adopted in 2021 were carefully developed with input from community members, staff, and the Board of Education, and they focus on all-access design without dictating a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, our restrooms are designed with privacy in mind, incorporating features like full-height partitions and eliminating urinals. However, restrooms will be designated based on additional input from school communities during construction projects and we expect to have a mix of gender-specific and gender-neutral restrooms in all our schools.

At Hoover, where this conversation has been most active, the design process began over a year ago. This was the first time we have essentially built a site from the ground up in a long time. The campus is projected to open by Winter Recess of 25-26, with an outside chance of opening closer to October 2025. 

We recognize that some families may not have had the opportunity to engage in the initial discussions. For that reason, we will be hosting additional small-group conversations with the Hoover community to ensure all voices are heard and that we can move forward in a way that reflects the values of our entire community.

Construction of Hoover will not be completed until next year, giving us time to continue the dialogue. We look forward to working together to create welcoming and inclusive spaces for everyone.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Sincerely,

Don Austin 
Superintendent of Schools