DGN administration closed five boys bathrooms to students and staff April 15 due to vandalism involving unauthorized items being flushed down the toilets. The closures are temporary while repairs are made and administrators work to prevent further incidents.
School administrators made the decision following widespread plumbing issues across multiple bathrooms. Director of Buildings and Grounds Michelle Cannan has been working with CMG to remove the items and repair the damage.
“We’ve had a lot of problems this year with people flushing items that don’t belong in the toilets,” Cannan said. “It’s become an expensive and time-consuming problem.”
The damage has required extensive repairs from maintenance staff, who often spend hours clearing blockages or dismantling toilets to access clogs. According to Cannan, incidents can cost hundreds of dollars in labor, with some cases significantly higher.
“It takes two people hours to fix one toilet,” Cannan said. “That’s time that could be spent working on other maintenance around the building.”
In more severe cases, the plumbing damage spreads beyond a single restroom. Because of how the school’s plumbing system is connected, a single blockage can force bathrooms across multiple floors to close.
As a result, students have had more difficulty accessing bathrooms throughout the school day.
“It’s been difficult having to figure out which bathroom on each floor is open,” junior Cannon Clifford said. “It cuts into class time and makes using the restroom a real inconvenience.”
Administrators say the closures are intended to increase supervision and reduce further incidents. Dean Dr. Bryan Heap sees the goal as prevention rather than punishment.
“The goal is ultimately to prevent damages and inconvenience for students and staff,” Heap said. “The purpose is not necessarily to catch students doing these things.”
School staff acknowledge there are limits to supervision in bathrooms. Cameras cannot be installed in bathrooms, making it difficult to identify those responsible for damages.
It is unclear how long the closures will remain in place. Administrators plan to reopen bathrooms as repairs are completed, and depending on whether incidents continue.
“The deans are increasing supervision, but at this point, it’s up to the students to make this a positive place,” Cannan said.
