'We Don’t Want For Ridge To Feel Like A Prison': Students Say Of Bathroom Monitors

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Ridge High School students aired a list of grievances including vandalism at bathrooms with the Board of Education on Monday night.

Student Representative Petra Deffenbaugh highlighted some of the "major concerns" of Ridge students as presented in an anonymous Google form.

The list included religious holidays, school dress code, and "the largest of school-wide concerns is the state of the restrooms," said Deffenbaugh.

"As many know we have had a terrible issue with the restrooms last year where a really small group of students vandalized utilities causing the entire restrooms to shut down until our sole wonderful maintenance personnel could fix them," said Deffenbaugh.

As a solution, school monitors were placed outside of the bathrooms.

"We don’t want for Ridge to feel like a prison and station even more monitors on the restroom. We know the majority of our population is clean, respectful, and trustworthy. But a small group of students make this very difficult," said Deffenbaugh.

Board President Robin McKeon said the Board of Education is planning to schedule a meeting with the student government to address their concerns.

"I know [Superintendent Nick] Markarian is going to reach out to Dr. Lazovick about when we can have that meeting. I am sure we can follow up on some of these items there," said McKeon.

Markarian said the vandalism in the bathrooms included damaged fixtures and writing on walls.

"Schools are stationing monitors outside of bathrooms, regularly checking bathrooms, sometimes closing problematic bathroom locations and utilizing hallway security cameras as deterrence measures," said Markarian.

Additionally during the meeting, Board Member and Chairperson of the Policy Committee Ruchika Hira noted that the district's Policy 5513, Care of School Property, was amended to include the "vandalism in school supplies."

The policy states that the "Board of Education believes that the schools should help pupils learn to respect property and to develop feelings of pride in community institutions. The Board charges each pupil enrolled in this district with responsibility for the proper care of school property and the school supplies and equipment entrusted to his/her use. Pupils who cause damage to school property will be subject to disciplinary measures."

To read the full policy click here.

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