Two Nation Ford students are calling out their classmates and the custodial staff for unsanitary conditions, dead mice and a lack of privacy in some restrooms.
Students Kendall Grahl and Sam Frank wrote a story for May edition of The Talon student publication with a headline that calls for action: “Students, Custodians Should Maintain Cleaner Building.”
The story calls on Nation Ford High School to improve school cleanliness everywhere, particularly in areas where students are largely unsupervised. The students say most of their classmates complain about the lack of cleanliness in bathrooms.
“In the bathrooms located near the Commons, lack of soap and toilet paper has been a consistent issue,” the story says. “This problem is completely unsanitary and increases the risk of germs spreading.”
The article says the bathrooms have dim lighting and bugs, with other students reporting broken locks on bathroom doors which causes a lack of privacy.
“On D-hall, two stalls are currently locked and one doesn’t have a toilet seat,” the May 2019 story says.
The students say that two mice were found by students in March, a problem that may have been corrected with a new extermination company that the school district hired.
The Fort Mill Sun reached out to the school district and received a response from Joe Burke, the chief communication officer.
“The district maintenance staff and custodial service address any issues once they are reported,” Burke said in an email. “The concerns mentioned in the student article are being assessed and any needed repairs will be completed.”
Burke said concerns with services provided by internal staff or external providers are addressed and corrected once they are reported to the district administration. He confirmed that the district has contracted with a new pest control company and has witnessed positive and responsive service.
“Our district provides excellent facilities and we work to maintain them at the highest level,” he said. “We encourage all students and staff to report any issues as soon as they are discovered so they can be corrected promptly.”
Meanwhile, the Talon article also calls on students to do a better job of cleaning up after themselves.
“Food, clothes and other miscellaneous items are always left behind for the custodians to clean up,” the student writers said. “People need to take care of themselves and take after their belongings. … A clean school is a safe and productive school.”