Students report locker rooms being transformed into a savannah-like ecosystem, fully equipped with grass, dirty, and a humid climate.
“We all knew the locker rooms were dirty, but this is ridiculous,” junior Lily McNeill said.
Athletes first noticed grass growing in the locker rooms after spring sports tryouts. It’s presumed that dirt already covering the locker room floors allowed for grass seeds to take root, but the problem has only continued to worsen.
“Animals have started moving into the locker rooms,” sophomore Callum Herbert said.
After various species of bugs, birds, and deer migrated into the locker rooms, an animal odor overtook them.
“It smells terrible,” freshman Harriet Rivers said. “Now I have to shower every time I step in there.”
Many athletes with morning practices now have to shower or risk smelling like wild animals at school. However, water leaking from the fairly open showers has led to a small stream developing through some locker rooms.
“People need to start taking better care of the locker rooms, they’re disgusting,” junior Laurie Leach said.
In response to the student’s complaints, the school has decided to start mowing the grass and feeding the animals to keep them from roaming the school. This decision upset students who demanded that the school address the issue differently.
“They need to completely remove these ‘ecosystems’, or else we’ll start doing it ourselves,” Laurie Leach said.
Others appear to be satisfied with this choice.
“Other than the smell, it’s not that bad,” senior Alfred Gill said. “It’s almost like we have a little community there.”
Furthermore, various teachers are taking advantage of a newfound opportunity to use the locker rooms as a place to learn about nature.
“It’s perfect for an in-school field trip,” biology teacher Zoe Davis said. “I can teach them about the food chain, as well as how grassland ecosystems function.”
Not having to pay for as many field trips not only saves the school money but also provides students with a more interactive learning experience. The school can also gain money from other schools wanting to tour the locker rooms, as well as notice from various news networks.
“Instead of having to drive an hour or more to go to the zoo, we can take a quick trip to the local high school,” 3rd grade teacher Meg Giles said. “The students still get a fun, informative experience.”
