Toilet paper
policy chafes
MAHANOY CITY - Vandalism in Mahanoy Area High School boys' bathrooms has resulted in toilet paper being issued by request as needed, a policy that one parent believes is embarrassing for students.
Karen Yedsena, Mahanoy City, spoke during the public portion of Thursday's school board meeting, asking about the policy.
"I'm asking about the high school and why the boys are not allowed to have toilet paper except if they go to the nurse or the office to get it," Yedsena said.
The boys' bathrooms in the high school do not have toilet paper due to vandalism. Any boy needing the bathroom tissue must ask for it and sign it out.
High school Principal Thomas Smith said it was a solution to a major problem.
"We've had serious destruction to our bathrooms for the past two years," Mr. Smith said. "We have a case pending with the police where a bathroom down by our gymnasium was absolutely destroyed. I'm sure Mr. (Robert) Pastucha (district facilities director) could tell you the times that our toilets have been jammed with toilet paper and other papers. And after we took the toilet tissue out of there, people were throwing books. It was our way to try to curb the destruction in the bathrooms."
Mr. Smith explained the procedure in getting the toilet tissue.
"Our policy is that if you need toilet paper, you would come to the office. We're not refusing anyone toilet paper," Mr. Smith said. "You would sign out and then sign back in. I randomly go in to check if anything is going on. Since we've done that, we've cut down on the destruction."
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com