Editor,

Thank you for your recent article about the gender-neutral bathrooms at South Whidbey High and Middle Schools. These upgrades reflect the best of our community: forward-thinking, compassionate, and committed to student well-being. Thanks to the support of local families and the leadership of our school board, we’re creating modern bathrooms that improve privacy, safety, and dignity for all students.

As Director of the Center for Online Safety, I speak with principals, parents, and youth across the country about protecting kids from online harms and reducing bullying. One heartbreaking story I hear again and again involves students being photographed in bathrooms without their consent. A child in a stall suddenly finds a phone held over the wall, capturing them in a private moment. The image is then shared on social media “as a joke,” spreading humiliation and cruelty. This isn’t a harmless prank.

It’s cyberbullying.

The emotional damage can last for years, and there is little the victim can do to undo the harm once it spreads online.

For this reason alone, we should celebrate South Whidbey’s decision to install modern, gender-neutral bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling stalls. These facilities offer safety and privacy for all students, protecting them from invasive photos and giving every student a sense of security.

Having a choice of restrooms should not be controversial. Similar privacy-focused designs are appearing in schools and public spaces nationwide, including Oak Harbor School District and even Sea-Tac Airport, where individual private stalls and shared hand-washing areas are becoming the new norm. These changes reflect a dedication to safety and respect.

When we design schools that reduce opportunities for bullying, whether online or in person, we make them healthier places for learning. That’s something every parent, educator, and student can get behind.

This is one of many reasons I support Ann Johnson for school board. She consistently considers the needs of every student and works to make decisions that build safety, inclusion, and community trust.

Lisa Honold

Director, Center for Online Safety