Starting last week, Bulldogs have noticed the shutdown of one of their main bathrooms at first base. This has caused misfortune for all students here at Palisade High School, as there is now only one bathroom in the main building that has easy access. Many students are upset with the overcrowding of bathroom traffic and the troubles they have to endure to relieve their bodily functions. Our A-Hall Bathrooms have signs that state they are “closed for maintenance,” leaving many students wondering when they will be able to have more than one bathroom again.
Our principal here at Palisade, Daniel Bollinger, was interviewed by our Paw Post staff regarding the issue. Needless to say, students are not the only ones who are upset with the issue. When asked why A-Hall bathroom is shut down, Mr. Bollinger stated, “We’ve had a lot of vandalism, especially in A-Hall bathroom. We’ve had mirrors torn off the wall, we had a toilet removed, torn off the floor, and we are constantly dealing with toilet paper being stuffed down the toilet. One time I went in [the bathroom] and there was a vape in every urinal and in both toilets.” Ultimately, Mr. Bollinger stated that the bathroom shut down is due to student’s actions. Mr. Bollinger stated that admin has shut down A-Hall to try and stop this issue, “…the fewer restrooms we have, the better chance we have of vandalism not happening.”
Also, Mr. Bollinger stated, “I don’t think it’s fair that we have to call in the district plumber to unplug the toilets because theyre stuffing toilet paper down there and then complaining that there’s no toilet paper.” He went on to explain that students would shove the toilet paper in the toilet, do their number two, and leave it for the custodian. Mrs. Cathy was a sweet lady, our recently retired custodian. “She loved her job and mostly all the students, but hated her job,” stated Mr. Bollinger. Most of the students here at Palisade also had nothing bad to say about Mrs. Cathy, so why would students do that to her? “I don’t understand what somebody gains by it,” stated Mr.Bollinger.
“What are the students going to do about it?” Mr. Bollinger asks. Ultimately, until an issue is resolved, students are going to have to be constantly monitored when they use the bathroom as well as the number of students going in. Mr. Bollinger stated that if the students have a solution to the issue, administrators will listen.
