In 2023, then-senior Phillip Royalty wrote an article about the condition of the restrooms at the old high school building. Phillip noted that the restrooms were not clean at all, with a lot of sanitary dangers, including standing water or bodily fluids on the floor, broken sinks, mirrors, and locks. This led to students not wanting to use the bathroom for the entire school day, which can lead to many health problems. He also noted how this would decrease academic efficiency because students would be more focused on “holding it in” rather than the assignment in front of them. However, since this article was written, the Woodford County Yellow Jackets have moved into the new high school building, and the restrooms have been much improved.
Of the many problems in the old building, the main issue was the puddles of liquid on the floor. When stepping into the bathrooms, you were met with sticky, dicolored floors, and that made you hope the mess was only water. At the new school, however, this is no longer a problem because of the switch from tile to vinyl flooring. The fluids no longer get stuck between the cracks and are impossible to clean. They’re now easily cleaned up by our amazing janitorial staff, which improves the overall experience of using the bathroom.
When asked about the cleanliness of the new bathrooms at the school, WCHS senior Sam Hash provided this wisdom, “You need to know where to go; there are bathrooms that are more frequently cleaned than others, and if you intend on using a clean restroom, you need to develop a routine and a spot.” Sam kept it classified as to where he handles his business.
Another major problem with the old bathrooms was the broken equipment inside. Many times, walking into a bathroom at the old school, there would be broken sinks, toilets, urinals, or stalls that would cause students to be unable to use the bathroom, and not by choice. As Phillip alluded to in his article, this problem could only be fixed by a major renovation. This occurred when the students moved buildings, which meant new state-of-the-art facilities were installed. Students and staff overall were elated at the new bathrooms, especially Jay Wells, who shared that he loves using the new bathrooms and also chose to keep his preferred bathroom location private.
Finally, students would refuse to go to the bathroom in the building because of the security or lack thereof. Students would be able to unlock the stalls from the outside, which would scare students into not using the bathroom for the entire school day. However, in the new bathrooms, the new stalls feel as if they are from a maximum security prison because it is almost impossible to be interrupted while inside. While some students may try, a teacher stands guard during class change and resolves any problems that occurred at the old school. This change was received well by students, including Sam Hash, who remarked, “The security has vastly increased; it feels safer when handling your business. The stalls are very spacious. They serve as a quiet way to fully immerse yourself in your experience.”
The new school has improved many of the problems that the old school had, and that mainly includes the bathrooms. Students should not be scared to use the bathroom at school, and the new facilities encourage safety for students. The changes to sanitization, broken equipment, and security allow for a premium experience that is enjoyed by all, students and staff.
