“I want the school to be held accountable for this,” said the Gloucester Middle School Grade 12 student. CBC News has agreed not to name him for fear of academic repercussions. The student said he avoided using restrooms at school starting in the 9th grade because vaping and smoking were not controlled. Instead, he used the facilities down the street in a plaza, “which is very inconvenient and unpleasant,” he said. This is an upstairs bathroom. (Submitted) When he tested a school bathroom again last May, he noticed the missing doors and assumed they would be replaced. When they had not been corrected by the time June was released, he reported them to the school’s principal, who said he would look into it, according to the student. “No further,” said the student.
Alum says “it wasn’t like that” before
The summer rolled by, and in late August, Sabreen’s son Abu also marked the missing doors during a 9th-grade tour for new families, she said. “I went to Gloucester High School over 20 years ago and it wasn’t like that,” Abu said. “It’s very sad to see.” Her son also goes down to the square, she said. Students who spoke to CBC News across the street from the school on Friday also expressed concerns. “It’s a lack of privacy,” said 12th grader Eyad Elbadawi. “I don’t think anyone would be comfortable enough to run their own business without the door.” “It’s a lack of privacy,” said 12th grader Eyad Elbadawi. (Guy Quenneville/CBC) “It’s inconvenient if you need it, you know,” echoed fellow Grade 12 student Edan Tudge, adding that losing the stall doors has been an “on and off” issue since 2019. Another student shared a photo he said was taken in June 2020 that does not show a dividing wall between two restrooms. One student showed a picture showing two toilets without a dividing wall. (Submitted) He said it’s still like that.
The benches will be repaired next week: school board
Gloucester High School is represented by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. A school board spokesman said Friday via email that some bathroom counters were damaged and must be replaced “due to vandalism.” The unnamed student said some desks have been vandalized with markers, “but that doesn’t mean you take them away and take away students’ privacy.” “Even if it was vandalism in May, they had months in the summer to get the doors back, which they still haven’t done,” he said. A school board representative representing Gloucester High School said the board plans to fix the benches next week. (Guy Quenneville/CBC) After CBC News contacted the school board on Friday, the spokesperson said the board plans to fix the benches next week. Meanwhile, “there are eight additional stalls or private bathrooms for male students on the main floor of the school,” the spokesman added. “Additional stalls and private bathrooms are available upstairs.”
