INCREASED TUSCAN SCHOOL ABSENCES PROMPT SCHOOLWIDE DISINFECTION. AND WHAT ABOUT THE SOAP?

Tuscan School has ordered a school-wide disinfection due to parents concerns over the spreading of viruses and colds, a "large number of students absent," and an apparent lack of soap in some student bathrooms.

The concern arose on social media this week when some parents revealed their children told them that some Tuscan bathrooms did not have soap. As the annual spreading of colds and flu appeared to increase, many were concerned that there was a lack of soap in the rest rooms.

Several reached out to the school and the district and were told that some students had made such a mess of the rest rooms, and clean-up was difficult, that soap had not been replaced in some locations.

When parents complained to the district and the school, Assistant Principal Kevin Mason issued this notice to many of them:

Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the soap at Tuscan. I would like to first assure you that we have an adequate supply of soap at Tuscan and the custodial staff check the bathrooms every morning and periodically throughout the day. We have had some issues with student(s) ripping the soap dispensers off the wall or smearing the soap on the walls and we are investigating this and it will be address through the Code of Conduct. 

Assistant Principal Kevin Mason

I have also made an announcement this morning reminding students to wash their hands throughout the day and if they do go into the bathroom and see that the soap is empty they should immediately tell their teacher or the main office. 

I have also alerted Bill Kyle, Supervisor of Building and Grounds for the district about the large number of students absent at Tuscan and requested that the entire school (railings and doorknobs) be disinfected. If you have any other concerns please feel free to reach out to administration.

We reached out to the district for comment, what the policy regarding such supplies is, and to ask about the situation at other district schools, but no response has been forthcoming. A Let's Talk request for information yielded the same note sent to parents, but nothing more about other schools.

National School Guidelines from the American Society of Pediatrics state:

Toilet facilities must be maintained to be both hygienic and safe. Areas of privacy must be provided (e.g., stall doors that are intact and operational). Adequate supplies of soap, toilet tissue, and paper towels must be maintained. Students should not be discouraged from utilizing toilet facilities for reasons of cleanliness or safety.

If parents at other schools are finding a lack of soap let us know at editor@maplewoodian.com.