AMHERST — Responding to an online petition that collected nearly 250 signatures, officials at Amherst Regional High School have reversed a recent decision to close nearly all of the school’s bathrooms for students during lunch periods out of concern with a rising level of vaping indicated by vaping detection alarms frequently going off.

The change.org petition “Stop restricting bathroom access at ARHS,” put together by Marit Gubrium on behalf of the student body, cited the inconvenience, discomfort and lines caused by closing the bathrooms, but also a possible violation of the state building code that requires at least one toilet for every 50 people.

“As students, we have a fundamental right to access clean, functioning restroom facilities, especially considering the size of the student body and the demands of a typical school day,” the petition reads. “With only one bathroom available, we are faced with long wait times and unnecessary inconvenience, which disrupts our learning and overall comfort during the school day. This also affects how much time is spent outside of class when looking for an open bathroom, which has also been a concern for the administration.”

The administration changed the decision on April 9, citing a commitment to student health, safety and inclusion, but also the need to continue addressing the vaping crisis that affects Amherst and schools across the country.

“The temporary closure of certain bathrooms during the lunch period was a response to the alarming rise in vaping among students,” Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman said in a statement. “This action followed a thorough analysis by the Amherst Regional High School Leadership Team, which identified a surge in vaping detection alarms during unstructured times, particularly lunch. The decision was aimed at reducing opportunities for use, not limiting student rights.”

“Student voice matters in this district,” Herman added. “Our schools must be places where student health and dignity coexist. We hear our students, and we’re responding not just with procedural shifts but with holistic action.”

Under the new policy, all bathrooms have been reopened for full-day access and will only be closed for cleaning, repair or incidents of vandalism, while long-term strategies are developed to address the root causes of student vaping.

“This isn’t just about bathroom access. It’s about a broader public health issue impacting adolescents across the country,” Herman said. “We will not rely on disciplinary measures alone. Instead, we are committing to a comprehensive, community-based approach that includes education, counseling, restorative practices and accountability.”

School officials have already taken several steps to curb vaping, including implementing Saturday Community Service School and increasing hallway monitoring.

The petition notes that with around 40 toilets at this school, the state building code recommends at least one toilet per 50 people. With 860 students in building, at least 17.2 toilets should be open at all times to meet the code: “The decision to restrict access, regardless of the concerns about vaping, is an overreach and an unfair burden on students. This restriction also creates a serious health risk because students might not be able to take care of their physical needs quickly, especially in situations like menstruation or other medical conditions that need immediate bathroom access.”

High School Principal Talib Sadiq called on everyone to step up to address vaping by minors. “Dealing with this vaping epidemic can’t be left to the school alone,” Sadiq said. “We need help from parents, caregivers, and the community as well.”

The superintendent’s office is also exploring new prevention initiatives and will be hosting community forums to hear directly from students, parents and health professionals.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com