Urbana-- Teachers at Urbana Local Intermediate School have to now escort their students every time they have to use the bathroom. The move comes after some of the students wrote several threats on the bathroom walls.
Officials hope the new system will reduce the bullying going on in the school. Superintendent Charles Thiel sent this letter home to parents reminding them of the schools safety procedures following the bathroom incident.
He says teachers have to take their students as a class to the bathroom and check the stalls when they are done. He also said there will always be an associate to monitor the gym bathrooms and if anyone needs to go at other times, the teacher is to buzz the office and someone will take them.
Some local parents agree with the new mandate.
"I don't think that should be a problem. I mean they go into the stalls by themselves I'm assuming, but if there's going to be threats, why not," said Karen Keller.
But some parents feel that's invading the kids privacy.
"It's just my personal space you know what I'm saying I just can't have somebody looking over me while I'm using the bathroom, I just feel uncomfortable," said Lamar Cobb from Springfield.
"I go to Springfield High so I feel like I would want to go to the bathroom by myself and not have nobody else go there with me," Trey'lon'ta Phinizee , a local student.
Thiel says this is the best solution for the kids right now until they can get the bullying under control. He hopes this and his letter outlining his safety plan will help spark the conversation at home on how to treat others in school.
School officials have also set up a school hotline which gives students and parents the opportunity to help stop problems before they escalate. That number is 1-855-830-7247.
Officials hope the new system will reduce the bullying going on in the school. Superintendent Charles Thiel sent this letter home to parents reminding them of the schools safety procedures following the bathroom incident.
He says teachers have to take their students as a class to the bathroom and check the stalls when they are done. He also said there will always be an associate to monitor the gym bathrooms and if anyone needs to go at other times, the teacher is to buzz the office and someone will take them.
Some local parents agree with the new mandate.
"I don't think that should be a problem. I mean they go into the stalls by themselves I'm assuming, but if there's going to be threats, why not," said Karen Keller.
But some parents feel that's invading the kids privacy.
"It's just my personal space you know what I'm saying I just can't have somebody looking over me while I'm using the bathroom, I just feel uncomfortable," said Lamar Cobb from Springfield.
"I go to Springfield High so I feel like I would want to go to the bathroom by myself and not have nobody else go there with me," Trey'lon'ta Phinizee , a local student.
Thiel says this is the best solution for the kids right now until they can get the bullying under control. He hopes this and his letter outlining his safety plan will help spark the conversation at home on how to treat others in school.
School officials have also set up a school hotline which gives students and parents the opportunity to help stop problems before they escalate. That number is 1-855-830-7247.