TIPP CITY — Parents are sharing their concerns after learning that their kids might have unisex bathrooms in a new school building.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, Tipp City voters passed a levy to build a new school building last year, but some people say the proposed design is not what they voted for.
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Tipp City Schools shared the latest design for the new Pre-K through 8th grade building on its website.
“And from the drawings, it looks like there might be ten stalls. I don’t know how they’re going to get all these, get all those kids in and out of the bathroom,” Kathy Bone said.
Parents spoke out against the proposal at the Tipp City Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.
“I think at the heart of all of this is trust,” Ann Zakkour said.
“I and many others in the community feel that we are deceived by you,” Sam Zakkour said.
“We need to have a conventional as opposed to an unconventional mindset when it comes to this bathroom situation,” Karen Webber said.
Some parents worry their children might feel anxious or be in danger using a unisex bathroom.
One parent posted a poll on a community Facebook group.
“Regarding unisex bathrooms in the prek-8 school building, do you support or do you not support group restrooms that enable males and females to use the stall in one space. As of yesterday, out of 281 votes, a staggering 235 people, 83% do not support restrooms that enable males and females to use those spaces enjoyably,” Tyle Stauss said in the post.
Board of Education member Kyle Thompson reminded people in attendance that the design is not finalized.
“It’s important to understand that this process takes a long time. Design alone is going to take up probably a year at least,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he is generally in favor of the bathroom design.
“But it’s become clear that it falls short of addressing some legitimate concerns. A lot of those, I have already shared with the board and Mr. Brown and I have spoken about them. I think there’s a way to redesign those that will satisfy the efforts to create a safer environment,” he said.
Thompson said he has been talking with teachers and administrators in the buildings with students every day about the bathroom design.
The Board of Education will talk about the design plan at its meeting in February.
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