As the 2024-2025 school year begins to unfold, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) is abuzz with the excitement of new faces, teachers and schedules. As new and returning students become accustomed to the new year, they have also been made acquainted with some of the new policies reinforced on campus.

The usage of restrooms and phones have been heavily disputed topics on campus. As of the 2024-2025 school year, cell phones have been more strictly regulated in the classroom. Though the cell phone policy is nearly the same as last year regarding using them during classrooms, this year, students are more heavily discouraged from taking their phones with them during restroom breaks. Restroom breaks and time spent outside of the classroom during instructional periods are now being more regulated throughout the district on the grounds that these breaks take away from class time. 

Consequences for inappropriate use of phones, which vary depending on the number of offenses, include confiscation, contact of a student’s parent/guardian or documentation of the incident on Q Connect, as stated in the VUSD Secondary Student Cell Phone/Earbud Usage Expectations and Violation Protocol.

As for restroom policies, there have been several notable changes on campus regarding usage during both instructional periods and breaks. Returning Foothill Tech students were met with surprise upon learning that the upper E-Pod bathrooms are now inaccessible during class periods, clearly prohibited by signs posted on both bathroom doors. By only having the lower restrooms open during class time, it is easier for administration to keep track of activity going on.

However, by closing off these two bathrooms during class time, students have found that the open bathrooms have become far more crowded. “The bathrooms are definitely more busy, now that there are only two available … but I definitely think it will help solve a lot of issues going on in the bathroom because it will be easier to track,” Jack Merritt ‘25 states.

Furthermore, the doors are now held open at all times, even during lunch and break. The open door policy has called into question boundaries and privacy among students – especially as the boys’ and girls’ restrooms face directly across from each other. Emily Turner ‘26 points out, “Sometimes girls go in the bathroom not to just use the bathroom but to collect themselves, because there’s lots of emotions in high school, and it’s a good place to have alone time … now you don’t get that same level of security.”

The new policies are intended to allow administration to monitor activities more closely in the bathrooms on campus, helping to ensure that they are being used appropriately. Vice Principal Frank Davis emphasizes the importance of safety that went into implementing these rules, explaining that, “we need to make sure that we have restrooms that kids can use at any time they feel safe to go into.” While the updated policies on campus have come as an adjustment to many students, it is important to recognize that they were not created with ill intent. Rules on campus have constantly evolved throughout the years to cultivate a safe and well-functioning academic environment. The updated policies being reinforced on campus, though they may be contentious, are sure to have a lasting impact on this upcoming year.