School budget should focus on problems within the school (2024)

Carmel Clay Schools currently has $51 million invested in operating funds covering Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. However, CHS’s internal improvements have been lacking. Internal problems within the school include but are not limited to, unusable bathroom facilities, leaky ceiling tiles, and a lack of feminine hygiene products. If CHS wants to remain the top public Indiana high school, fixing small problems like these will improve that status.

First, trash cans collect water drips from leaky ceilings in numerous spots throughout the school. Additionally, many bathroom sinks are non-functional due to malfunctioning motion detectors, and women’s hygiene product dispensers are always broken and empty, leaving female students to either face the embarrassment of returning to class and getting a pad or rushing down to the nurses’ office. Both are unwantable situations and can cause stress to the female student trying to avoid other students’ prying eyes while they sneak a pad or tampon into their pocket. According to Healthline, stress can cause a woman’s menstrual cycle to fluctuate and create an inconsistent cycle. Unusable bathrooms are present throughout the school. As a school with such a large population, having working bathrooms is vital, especially as passing periods are only 10 minutes long and for students who have to run across the school to get to their other classes.

Leaky ceilings also cause numerous problems, especially for the custodial staff during the spring, when there are many rainy days. As a result of the leaks, many stains are left on the ceilings. According to AA Brite, leaky ceilings are caused by roof damage or problems with the plumbing system. This can be detrimental as more and more water accumulates on the ceiling; it’ll eventually collapse due to the softening of the plaster, which could be dangerous, especially if classes are in session.

Resolving underlying issues will greatly benefit the school in the long run. By pushing off these issues, the problems may become immense issues in the future. Leaky ceilings can lead to structural damage and the development of mold. Bathrooms not in use half the time cause a great deal of problems for students, especially girls, as the lines for bathrooms are incredibly long during passing periods. Having toilets and sinks that don’t work leaves many students late for classes, affecting their attendance. Worries about being to class on time should not depend on whether the bathroom lines are short enough because only two stalls are usable.

Additionally, a majority of motion-detecting sinks are non-functional. In some bathrooms, none of the motion-detecting sinks will even turn on, making it impossible for students to wash their hands. According to the CDC, washing hands is an essential step in personal hygiene. Without it, germs will begin to fester and contaminate other surfaces. This may lead to illnesses spreading rapidly throughout the school. This is a necessity for any bathroom, and it is imperative that a school has working facilities that ensure the population’s health and well-being. Especially since the school attendance plummets during flu season, it is vital for students to prevent getting ill. The first step to protecting ourselves from illnesses is washing our hands.

While these details may seem minor to this school’s administration, it is nonetheless essential to ensure they are tended to anyway. When taken on their own, these items are relatively inconsequential, but taken as a whole, these problems demean the quality of the building as a whole. In order to maintain the quality of the school we’re proud of, these things must be catered to. All in all, the current state of many problems within the school has been ignored, and we would like the school to address the pressing issues that could save it in the long run.