Citizens question unisex studnent bathrooms
Citizens bombard Superintendent with questions concerning PK-8 unisex bathrooms
BY PATRICK LANGLEY
Superintendent Aaron Moran was asked numerous questions, some shouted, by Tipp citizens attending his latest PK-8 school update. This latest meeting was held at the Tipp City Library on Thursday, January 16.
Moran began the meeting by presenting a colorful pictorial layout of the first floor of the proposed three-level building. He explained how the three pods, each containing classrooms and a large reading room, would be used by kindergarten, first and second-grade students (floors two and three contain similar pods). He also described the two full-size gyms, also on the first floor, which all students in the building would use.
Citizens at the meeting soon began asking questions about the building, such as the number of administrators on each floor (at least one) and the number of receptionists on the first floor (two). Moran said there would be at least two nurse stations and three nurses in the building, with definitely one nurse on the first floor.
A citizen then asked Moran about the proposed unisex, multi-stall, large group restrooms, one on each floor of the three-floor building. The room erupted with loud comments and some shouts, with citizens talking over each other. Moran explained that the problems in today’s bathrooms were primarily due to a “lack of supervision and privacy.” He argued that the proposed bathrooms would have individual, private stalls with sides and doors from ceiling to floor, as well as locks on the doors. Questions and shouts from citizens went on for a while, and several attendees noted that the Ohio legislature passed a bill last November 2024 outlawing unisex bathrooms. The new law will go into effect this February.
A Tipp mother protested that “Girls will not want to talk about ‘private matters’ if boys are around,” and another said that “Girls might encounter a stall with a boy’s urine on it” because there won’t be any urinals for boys. Superintendent Moran listened and said he thought the individual stalls were much more private than today’s typical bathrooms and that privacy was a big deal. Another mother disagreed and argued, “More privacy is not always a good thing. You can’t see nor hear what’s going on in a private stall.” Moran then explained, “We’re looking at all options. There could be a boy’s side and a girl’s side. This hasn’t been finalized.”
Moran went on to say that the final design for the PK-8 building would be completed in the June/July time frame. In the meantime, the most current design will be published monthly and available on the Tipp City Schools’ website. He will continue to have design meetings with Tipp citizens, the next in February. Moran said the building would be built with steel supports, which are more cost-effective and flexible for future changes and can be built under all weather conditions, rain or snow.
Someone then asked, “How will the process work?” Moran said, “I’ll make a recommendation to the Board of Education, and they’ll decide.”
Board member Cindy Dillard stood up and thanked everyone for attending the meeting, and said, “It’s so important that everyone comes out and voices their opinion. I appreciate all you coming out!” Board member Rick Mains also explained at the meeting, “This bathroom stuff is pretty new. I believe in old-fashioned bathrooms, and I agree with what everyone’s saying.”
At the end of the meeting, many citizens thanked Superintendent Moran for being there and listening to their opinions. It was a rough night, but Moran stayed calm and gave everyone, even the shouters, a chance to express their opinion.