Example video title will go here for this video

BELLEVUE, Ohio — UPDATE: Bellevue High School principal Nate Artino announced in an email Friday morning that the high school will replace its bathroom stall locks, which administrators said were removed to prevent students from misusing bathroom stalls for purposes like vaping.  

According to Artino, school administrators decided to focus on 'alternative solutions' to the problem posed by students misusing the bathrooms. He also stated all locks will be returned to bathrooms by the first day of school. Bellevue freshmen start high school on Monday, Aug. 22, followed by grades 10-12 on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

Artino also stated the administration appreciates the awareness brought to light during Thursday's school board meeting and 'looks forward' to working with students to best identify solutions to the problems. 

Editor's note: Below is the original story, which was published online on Aug. 19. It aired on Thursday, Aug. 18. 

Bellevue High School parents and students are alarmed after school officials removed locks from the stalls in student bathrooms. 

At a Thursday night school board meeting, many voiced concern about the issue.

For their part, school administrators have said the removal of locks from some stall doors and the removal of stall doors entirely in some cases was necessary to stop students from using bathrooms for illicit vaping and other bad behavior.

High school administrators say they have met with students, more than once, to hear the concerns against the change. They ultimately decided that it was in the best interest of students to keep the locks off the doors. However, numerous community members said that answer, was not good enough.

Katelyn Adkins, a sophomore at Bellevue, said she found out about the doors over the summer. 

"We came here for color guard camp. We went to go use our break, to use the bathroom and do whatever. Then we figured out it had no lock. So, I had to hold doors for the girls," Adkins said.

Freshman Joria Kidd said not having any locks on the doors creates a major sense of discomfort. 

"You can walk in at any time. Someone can just push the door open," Kidd said. 

Ash Folds is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He said not having locks in a school where he already does not feel safe makes things very hard. He said he is scared to go to school. 

"I'm using the bathroom and someone can just go right into my stall and say beat me up, take photos. They can do whatever," Folds said.  

Jessica Jarrett is a Junior this year. She took a video of one set of stalls were the door swings open both ways. Without a lock, there is no stopping the door from opening on either side. 

"If there were to be a school shooting, we have been taught to go to the bathroom, if the classrooms were locked. To stand on the toilets but now we can't do that," said Jarrett. 

Students said they feel fearful, vulnerable and helpless. Parents echoed their concerns, as well as adding their own. At Thursday's meeting they asked school officials to explain the school's goal and to address concerns about safety and privacy.

Principal Nate Artino sent a message to parents earlier and officials said Thursday they stood by their choice to remove locks from bathroom stall doors. 

Bellevue School Board President Stephen Rucker thanked parents for their comments Thursday but said the board would not overrule the administrators' decision. 

Some members of the audience walked out of the meeting threatening to take their children out of school and have them attend classes online instead.

Neither Rucker nor Bellevue School Superintendent Troy Roth were upset. In fact, both said they were proud of the community for coming to the meeting and supporting their kids.

"Typically on tough issues like these, you expect people to come out and say something at the meetings and they don't. But, it definitely was nice to hear the voices, especially those of the young people. How passionate they were. I'm glad they came out," Rucker said. 

"It's not a problem that's unique to Bellevue. Restrooms are a problem, you know, all over the country with it becoming a gathering space. We want to get back to the restroom being used for its intended purpose and not a place for kids to hang out," Roth said. 

The superintendent said he plans to speak with Bellevue High School administrators first thing Friday morning. He said he plans to work with administrators to find a solution. 

Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.