Restroom Care: Students Have Their Say

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In February 2007, Lockport High School in Lockport, New York, near Niagara Falls, asked students to take a “student perception” survey. The goal of the survey, according to school principal Frank Movalli, “was to see how students view the school, the courses offered, and life at Lockport High.”

The survey asked students to rate the school on 98 different statements such as, “I know what is expected of me in my classes,” and, “The restrooms are clean at Lockport High.”

For each statement, the students could rate the school on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being most unfavorable and 4 being the most positive.

For instance, regarding the statement, “I know what is expected of me in my classes,” the school fared well with a 3.4 rating. “This is very good,” says Movalli. “Students need to know what is expected of them in order to do well.”

Some of the other positive results included:
• “In my school, I have the materials and equipment to do well” received a high 3.53.
• “At least one teacher seems to care how well I do at school,” 3.37.
• “School administrators respect the students,” 2.78.

Restrooms Next to Last
The students did not respond positively to some other statements on the survey. However, two items stood out as the most unfavorable of all.

When asked to rate the statement, “Students should wear school uniforms,” an overwhelming number rated this 1, or most unfavorable. Coming in just above this, the survey statement, “The restrooms are clean at Lockport High,” received a 1.13.

“It appears the students could visually detect the lack of cleanliness in the school restrooms,: says Robert Robinson, President of Kaivac, Inc., manufacturers of the No-Touch Cleaning™ system. “What is even more disconcerting is what is likely unseen in the restrooms—the presence of potentially harmful bacteria, germs, and microbes.

Movalli said that to rectify the restroom problem he was going to have the school’s teachers and staff check and clean (as necessary) the restrooms throughout the day to supplement the nightly cleaning.

“With all due respect, I do not think schoolteachers should be required to clean restrooms,” says Robinson. “Teachers are there to teach. What might be more helpful is for the school to examine how the restrooms are cleaned and see if more efficient and thorough cleaning systems can be incorporated.”

The principal did leave the door open for other possible ways to improve the school’s environment, indicating that it was one of his top priorities. “We are looking at a variety of different ways to improve Lockport High,” Movalli say, “including the health of the school.”