Shuyan Liu

The new bathrooms, which are in front of the entrance to Jefferson’s track and football field. “Over the summer, every school in Fairfax County [was] getting [the new bathrooms],” Director of Student Activities Leah Conte said. “They’re school board approved. We are fortunate enough to have here now.”

As part of a Fairfax County wide movement to install stadium bathrooms in high school sports facilities, new bathrooms were built outside of the Jefferson football field. The bathrooms officially opened for use this fall. Now, Jefferson students can use the new bathrooms instead of the porta-potties.

“[The bathrooms opened at] the end of September,” Director of Student Activities Leah Conte said. “They turned the keys over to us, and now we’re able to access them every day.”

Unlike the porta-potties, these new bathrooms have running water and plumbing, so there is a place to wash your hands. The new bathrooms also have flushing toilets. These features were all decided by the school board.

“[The new bathrooms] have sinks and flushing toilets,” Conte said. “They are in full use like [what] we would have in the school building. The school board approved [the features], and they were installed at every high school. It’s just cleaner, neater [and] equitable for all schools to have outside bathrooms for activities.”

The new bathrooms make it more convenient for students when they are open during practices and games, as they are easier to access.

“It’s so nice to have them outside for practices,” Conte said. “When we have games, they’re accessible to the community. During our games we have them open, so it’s been a great asset to our building.”

In addition, the new bathrooms also have more space in them compared to a porta-potty, as well as electricity. As a result, they have lights and air conditioning. These features are all favored by students.

“There’s air conditioning in [the new bathrooms, and] it’s really spacious,” sophomore Alice Li said.

Overall, Jefferson students are liking the addition of the new bathrooms.

“[I like that] it’s a lot cleaner [than a porta-potty] in general,” Li said.

Not only are the new bathrooms a better experience for the people that use them, but they also have many other benefits. The new bathrooms also benefit the school board financially.

“The cost [of the bathrooms] down the road will probably save [the school board] money, because we pay for the porta-potties to be here every year, to have them cleaned regularly and to rent them, so it’ll be a cost savings for them,” Conte said.