Cameras found in Knoxville high school restroom

KNOXVILLE (WVLT) – Parents of students at Jefferson County High School are outraged about the school recently placing a camera in the boys bathroom. School administrators say that the camera was put into place in order to monitor recent vandalism.

Virginia Clark’s son Nate Cook is a student at Jefferson County High School. Cook was called to the principles office because one of the boys that was in the bathroom at the same threw his boot at the camera.

“When my son told me this story I just said what camera?” she went on to say, “I turned around to the secretary and asked if they really had cameras in the bathroom and she told me that they did not.” The problem was, her son took a picture of the camera, and showed the proof to the school administration.

Virginia said that the next day she was still bothered by the camera, so she let her husband know and they decided to talk to their attorney. She took the problem to the principle, who told her that they had been having problems with vandalism.

“I feel terrible for not just my son, but all of the kids. It is an invasion of their privacy, and I don’t think it is right to single out the boys like that. They did not do that to the girls.”

Cook said that the camera was up for about two weeks, but it took a while for most of the students to notice.

The camera is located in the entry way to the bathroom and it’s oriented at the sinks.

“my understanding that there would be no expectation of privacy where this camera was oriented,” said Micheal Phagan, Director of Facilities and Transportation for Jefferson County Schools. “We have other schools throughout the county where the sinks are at the exterior of bathroom and we have cameras facing those. We’re not invading anyone’s privacy by watching them wash their hands.”

Although the camera has been removed Phagan said that if there is further vandalism and the principal requests this camera be installed again, it will be, unless there is some evidence to suggest they are crossing the line as far as the students privacy is concerned.