This school year, the restrooms on the second floor were renovated to improve facilities for students and staff, use space more efficiently, and accommodate ADA accessibility. The cost for all of that was $364,000. The renovations included the addition of more stalls, a new sink, and a fresh coat of light gray paint, distinguishing them from the first-floor restrooms.
Also, extra individual bathrooms were also added near the library. These bathrooms are for student and teacher use, the new bathrooms have a sleek, modern vibe with gray tiled walls that give them a clean, contemporary look. There’s a sink that is set into a gray countertop with a matching chrome faucet. Above the sink is a large mirror, and to the side, there’s a stainless steel paper towel dispenser.
Dr. Toberman, the principal at Collinsville High School, explained the necessity of the updates, “More restroom options were needed on the second floor. For example, the way things were before, the closest female restroom to the pod (which has eight classrooms) was all the way down by room 214. In addition to that, six restrooms were opened for students right outside of the library, which is among the busiest locations in the main building.”
A high school senior, Ember Kay, addressed how she feels about single bathrooms. “I just think it feels more private and I think it’s nicer in there than the other bathrooms like, it’s like a clean gas station bathroom or Starbucks type,” Kay’s sentiment highlights a preference for the individual restrooms, which offer a sanctuary of sorts amidst the bustling school environment. These single bathrooms, with their added privacy and cleanliness, provide a stark contrast to the more crowded, less spacious stalls of the main restrooms, underscoring the varied responses to the renovation efforts.
However, the addition of more stalls has not been without issues. The stalls are smaller, making it difficult for people to maneuver. High school senior Kaelyn Baudino expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, “The new restrooms look nice but the stalls are way too small.” She pointed out that, although having more stalls is beneficial, their cramped size forces people to awkwardly maneuver, often resulting in students’ body parts touching the toilet seat as they struggle to close the stall. Overall, the upgrade is both functional and stylish, making these restrooms/bathrooms a standout feature of the school’s recent upgrades.
