{"id":96863,"date":"2026-04-23T09:41:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=96863"},"modified":"2026-04-23T09:41:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:41:38","slug":"bathroom-talk-swirls-at-boe-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=96863","title":{"rendered":"Bathroom talk swirls at BOE meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By ALICIA FEYERHERM<\/strong>
Tiger Media Network <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education discussed bathroom vandalism during Monday\u2019s meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posts on Facebook have circulated regarding bathrooms at the new high school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superintendent Ron Wilson assured the board the district takes vandalism and cleanliness concerns seriously; however, the issue is complex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo be able to monitor bathrooms eight hours a day, it\u2019s almost impossible,\u201d Wilson said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security cameras capture what happens outside of the bathrooms, not within the stalls themselves. So identifying the student responsible for the damage is not always possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When students are caught, there is disciplinary action. If the damage or theft rises to the level of a felony, it is pursued as such, Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBathrooms are your worst nightmare as an administrator,\u201d the superintendent said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address concerns, maintenance staff is cleaning the bathrooms twice a day instead of once. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson cautioned the public against believing everything they see on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust because it\u2019s on Facebook doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s real and it\u2019s happening,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cThe scope of the exaggeration is greatly exaggerated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Loughlin Elementary Principal Rene Burns and Wilson Elementary Principal Anita Scheve said there are vandalism issues at their school as well. The difference is it is not publicized on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople get on Facebook and (post) false claims, and so I just want to say that this is not a high-school issue. This is a district issue,\u201d Burns said. \u201cWe have a protocol in place.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several board members asked for the number of vandalism reports and more data on the issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it might not be as much as what\u2019s said, but we have all been in the building and seen the bathrooms closed because of that,\u201d board member Jayme Goetz said. \u201cSo we know it is happening, maybe not to that extent, but where is that documentation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson said they would likely need to review the maintenance ticket system and review the bathroom tickets to compile those figures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hays High Principal Shawn Henderson said the group bathrooms have been shut down due to vandalism. Wilson said students were standing on the sinks and jumping on them, loosening them from the wall. Those bathrooms are now only open during sporting events or other activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board President Curt Vajnar said the board was told students would have the option to use group stalls if they were not comfortable with the single stalls.

\u201cThey don\u2019t have that option now,\u201d Vajnar said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat would be with anything in the school; if they don\u2019t use it appropriately, they\u2019re going to lose privileges,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board member Allen Park said Hays High has the highest percentage of single-stall bathrooms in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board members Ken Brooks and Pallister asked for the data Park was referring to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou make up data,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cGo ahead and give it to us if you have data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brooks said the administrators feel attacked and the board should not micromanage them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not our job,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cThey shouldn\u2019t feel like it\u2019s us versus them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henderson invited all board members to walk through the high school and see the bathrooms for themselves during the school day. He also encouraged parents to reach out to administrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you call the high school and say you need to talk to an admin, you\u2019re getting one,\u201d Henderson said. \u201cNot maybe. You\u2019re getting one of us. That\u2019s what we do.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the meeting, the Board also heard an update on the Jobs for America\u2019s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K) program at the middle and high school and tabled discussion on the sale of a 7.23-acre lot north of Felten Elementary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next Board of Education meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. May 12 at the Rockwell Administration Building.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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