Dec. 8, 2007: Bomb threats force bathroom policy

[Record-Journal]

WALLINGFORD — After a frustrating and disruptive string of written bomb threats at the start of the school year, Lyman Hall High School adopted a policy of monitoring student bathroom use and locking certain bathrooms in the school.

The policy, adopted in October, has eliminated such threats in the bathrooms but has caused some inconvenience for students.

Teachers stationed in front of the bathrooms record the names of students entering them and perform spot-checks to make sure no threats have been written.

Because of the limited number of staff members to monitor bathrooms, the school has only four sets open.

“It’s worked but it’s still kind of ridiculous,” sophomore Kimberly Volpe said. “Some people are sick and tired of signing in. They just want to go to the bathroom.”

“Just the process of trying to sign in and out is a pain,” junior Catherine Cappucci said.

School Superintendent Dale Wilson said the school has adopted the policy for safety reasons and to eliminate the threats.

“We’re going to do whatever we need to do to stop this nonsense,” Wilson said. “It’s unfortunate that we have to do this.”

Lyman Hall received 20 bomb threats from March 2005 to October 2007, many scrawled in bathrooms. After finding one written threat, the school called police and evacuated the building, disrupting at least a half-class period.

Wilson said monitoring bathrooms is also an inconvenience for the school district because it ties up staff.

Principal David Bryant said bathrooms remain open around the school to avoid long walks. He said that while the procedure is inconvenient, teachers have been accommodating.

Bryant also noted that the school has monitored bathrooms to prevent students from smoking in them.

Sophomore Jake Schton said the procedure is a sensible reaction to the bomb threats.

“I think it’s fair, considering the reasons why they have it,” he said.

“I just wish that people wouldn’t write stupid things in the bathroom,” junior Melanie Kopjanski said. “I just kind of wish in the first place that kids wouldn’t be so stupid.”

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

In a word...overreaction. (One word or two ?)

In any case, why not just put cameras in...lol

We use to have bomb threats when I went to Lyman Hall back in the
late 60's...

Use to have them at work too ( Cytec ) but they diminished over the
years. We went from a full evacuation to just ignoring them. When the
" thrill is gone " , they stop.

This kind of reaction only adds to the sense of success for the kids
making the calls.

[AdeleHouston]

Bill your response was the exact one I initially had ... then I thought
how inconvenient for all, then I realized that this is a REAL health issue.

First thanks R-J for linking this an article to a forum. I am not sure if the students with concerns about this policy will use this opportunity to go 'on the record' but at least you have provided them with an option.

Public Health is addressed by providing information and resources. We can not control the use of the resources. We educate all to drink plenty of water daily and we have building code to ensure the correct number of facilities are available in public facilities. Having bathroom facilities available is a public health issue.

I have been told that students are avoiding fluid intake to control the urge to pee with the new policy because it is

embarrassing to ask permission to use bathrooms,
inconvenient, and
disruptive of class time to use the facilities with a pass system to get excused from class rather than using bathrooms on the way to the next class


I know of at least one case of a urinary track infection which is in all probability tied to the decision to drink less to avoid needing to use the bathroom during the day.

I hope that this article can get enough public reaction to get this policy that puts the highly improbable scenario of a bomb in the school above the everyday needs of students for accessible bathroom facilities.

[rapuda]

When I went to Lyman hall many years ago, we had locked down bathrooms as well, except it was due to smoking and people lighting fires. The way I got around the problem was to go to the bathroom right before school, at lunch, at gym, and when I got home. If I had to go in between, I asked for a pass. How is it embarrassing to have to go to the bathroom? We all do it?
I don't know what the solution is. This has been an issue at that school for at least 25 years. Maybe we have all the students wear a bar coded I.D. badge that they could scan at all the bathrooms before being let in. Cameras at the entrances could monitor who goes in and out.
How about Porta Potties in each class room. This way the student never leaves the class while he/she does their thing. We could have all students wear Depends. Then they could do their thing while never having to stand up. They could do their assignments and pee at the same time. How efficient.
We could ignore bomb threats. Most are phony anyway. What happens though when one turns out to be real? Lawsuits anyone?
We live in a society nowadays in which we have tight budgets. We have lawsuits. We have testing scores to meet or excede. We have crazy people that hurt others. How do you balance safety, budgets, class time, and the right to pee? I don't know, and neither does anyone else.

[eds]

If students can protest Halloween costumes, why can't they band together and find who among them is making bomb threats. The kids know whose doing it.
I say they got what they deserve. If one guy screws up, the whole squad suffers. The students will learn to work as a team and root out who is doing this to get their bathroom privs back. Then its blanket party time.

[Fit 2 Print]

Regardless of age, when we NEED the bathroom, we need it. That's obvious.
But, I've often wondered if, for many, using it during class time is just a divertimento to break-up whatever boredom they may be feeling at the moment. That, in turn, "inspires" others in class to do likewise.
At least, that's how I recall it from my h.s. days.
Sound familiar?