The Examiner U-46 News FeedU-46 parent questions use of vending machines By Seth Hancock
High school and middle school boys in School District U-46 will see something out of place in the boys bathrooms this school year.
That’s because dispensers distributing “free,” paid for by taxpayers through the operations and maintenance fund, feminine hygiene products.
A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, reached out to The Examiner with some questions after the parent’s son saw the dispenser in a boys bathroom at South Elgin High School.
The Examiner reached out to the district to get a response to those questions. What The Examiner received is best described as a response with mostly no answers.
In May, The Examiner reported the approval of a $227,050 expenditure to purchase feminine hygiene products and vending machines. The proposal stated state law requires the products “at no cost to students, in the bathrooms of school buildings,” specifically secondary schools.
The proposal did not delineate whether that applied to both girls and boys bathrooms and The Examiner asked the district if the dispensers in boys bathrooms was part of the state’s unfunded mandate.
“All public school districts in Illinois, including School District U-46, are required to comply with State law,” Karla Jiménez, director of school and community relations, responded.
The anonymous parent’s “main question” was “why would a product that is meant solely for use by women be placed in a boys bathroom?”
Other questions from the parent included:
• Are they in the “boys bathrooms/locker rooms” at every school?
• How many have been installed in boys bathrooms?
• Are there more to be installed?
• How much was spent specifically for the boys facilities?
• Where does the funding come initially and to restock?
• Is there a plan to track supply usage?
• Were the dispensers in girls facilities prior to 2023-2024?
• Will urinals be installed in girls bathrooms “for the boys transitioning to girls.”
“Currently, menstrual hygiene dispensers are located in all middle and high school building restrooms, not locker rooms,” Jiménez responded. “The equipment was purchased using funds from the Operations and Maintenance Fund. The units were installed, and product usage will be monitored by District staff.”
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