What would you do if you were being monitored from within the restroom? This is a question LHS should be asking themselves more and more every day. Superintendent Jay Hartling and administrators plan to implement a new generation of security sensors to further school safety. The sensors are aimed to monitor movement, environmental shifts, and react to noises, among other capabilities in the bathrooms. The biggest question is whether we should back the school system or advocate for our right to privacy.

Early in the school year, Superintendent Jay Hartling had meetings with senior English classes. In these meetings he asked about things that should change, things that should be brought to his attention, etc., and one of the biggest issues brought to Mr. Hartling revolved around bathroom use (or rather mis-use).  The main concerns were/are vandalism, loitering/crowding, and smoking. These sensors are being brought in to combat all three of these issues as well as a couple more like air pollution or student altercations. In response to a question about the capabilities of the sensors, Mr. Hartling says, “These devices are designed to detect vaping, THC, cigarette smoke, and other airborne substances. Additionally, they can recognize sounds associated with aggression or distress, such as loud altercations or potential safety threats.” Mr. Hartling also referenced how the sensors will help clear issues revolving around resources to monitor bathrooms like teachers or custodians while also referencing the ability to detect class-cutting, abuse of the bathroom, and overuse of the bathroom.

Mr. Hartling and the administration are planning to pilot the 4th/5th generation of these sensors. “Piloting” means a test run or sample size, and Mr. Hartling plans to pilot this technology in certain areas before making it school-wide. Ledyard High has been using first generation sensor technology from Triton (or Triton ULTRA) with “mixed effectiveness.” This result is based on the limitations of the early generation technology including false alarms and difficulty sensing the difference between vape products and other products that contain aerosols. Looking at the improvements in accuracy with the new generation sensors, enforces Hartling’s belief in piloting the technology to analyze its results.

When it comes to the students and staff, many were in disbelief at hearing just the rumors and are bound to feel stronger with the confirmation of this technology. Some students feel frightened by the move, like sophomore Lawerence Martins saying, “That’s scary.” Other students feel it is an invasion of privacy, like senior Jacoby Pendergast. Some students have even mentioned boycotting select bathrooms. 

Even staff have concerns about the technology and its legality. Teachers have mentioned bathrooms are a private area and how the school would be in trouble if they involved technology capable of videoing movements and conversations within the bathrooms, but sensors just detecting these things are a different, more acceptable, scenario. Though that is not the only outlook on the situation. There are also many students who back and understand the decision to add these new sensors to the bathrooms, “It’s very smart for the environment and it does keep bathrooms safe. I feel like we need to be  safer, get vaping out of the bathrooms” sophomore, Cash Scott comments. Students have also admitted to being sick of the vaping, “Honestly, it’s not worth it: it has taken part of your life away just to feel some sensation,” says freshman Will Boyer. A mass amount of students have also spoken about the issue of vape related fire alarms, “By having those sensors, less fire alarms would be called ya know, because there was this one time when the fire alarm got called like two or three times in one day.”

We are past “what ifs” and are being ushered into this new stage for LHS and its community. We as students and a community have the power to object to this or rally for it. Through grey lines, we must find the fine and clear line. This is a situation that could determine the better half of the future for not only our institutes but also our privacy. For now, it is in Mr. Hartling’s hands. 

Billy Sharpe

Senior Billy Sharpe is a staff writer for the 2024-25 Colonel Newsmagazine. He enjoys writing stories and making music. He also indulges in many sports.