The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Freedom High School Principal Richard Bartels. He gets the award for the following.

TAMPA - A crackdown on bathroom vandalism at Freedom High has students complaining about long lines and lack of facilities.

Principal Richard Bartels implemented a new policy, closing bathrooms on campus during class time except for one set. He instituted the change March 1 after students repeatedly vandalized bathrooms by clogging toilets, leaving faucets running and writing on walls.

Now, about 2,200 students can use only one set of bathrooms near the front of the school during class time and a different set near the cafeteria during lunch periods. They must get passes from their teachers.

All bathrooms are open during passing time between classes, according to school district spokesman Steve Hegarty.

Students say that isn't true.

"They keep some of the bathrooms locked even between classes," 10th-grader Chelsea Whaling said. "It can be hard to find a bathroom sometimes."

The health department requires schools to keep all bathrooms open when students are not in class, including during class changes.

The bathroom restrictions have created long lines, students say.

"I had to wait behind 20 other girls today after fourth period," 11th-grader Lacey Herrero said. "And we only get six minutes between classes."

Students said some classmates have resorted to using water bottles or school grounds instead of waiting in line. But school leaders say those claims are exaggerations and they have found no evidence of such incidents.

This is not the first time a school principal has limited bathroom access. Chamberlain High temporarily closed all but two bathrooms last school year after a bomb threat was written inside a bathroom.

I blogged about the Chamberlain High story here.

Closing the bathrooms is a classic example of brainless overreacting. Bartels seems to think he is both above the Health laws and public safety. Why the local school district doesn't slap down this fool is beyond me. Then do you wonder why our schools are a mess when we have fools in charge.

For thinking with his ass instead of his head, Freedom High School Principal Richard Bartels is today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Hat tip- Greta at Hooah Wife and Friends
Linked to- Basil, Big Dog, Bright & Early, Cao, Jo, Morewhat, Outside the Beltway, Overtaken by Events, Perri Nelson, Pirate's Cove, Pursuing Holiness, Right Voices, Samantha Burns, StikNstein, Third World County,