Several students and staff members noticed a peculiar change originating from the restrooms in Gibson Southern High School. While the differences might be subtle, there is no denying the fact that the school started using new toilet paper.
“I took notice of it being better and thicker, considering the fact that I couldn’t see my hand through it,” senior Jaedyn North said. “I was impressed, but didn’t put much thought into it.”
The recent switch led many to the same question: Why? According to Gibson Southern’s head of maintenance, Mark Thompson, the answer is quite simple.
“The cost went up on the old toilet paper; it went up from $46.88 per case to $55 per case,” Thompson said. “That caused us to ask, ‘What else is there?’ You don’t really care until the cost goes up.”
While an $8 increase might seem like an insignificant amount, the price adds up. Gibson Southern goes through three cases of toilet paper a week, which is equivalent to 288 rolls. In this calendar year alone, the school corporation has gone through 19,392 rolls of toilet paper. If the school corporation were to keep the old toilet paper at $55 a case, that would cost $11,110 from Jan. 1 to now. With the new cost per case being $51.16, the school corporation has the potential of saving around $16.86 a week, which is nearly $900 a year.
“The cost matters because year-to-date corporation-wide we have ordered 202 cases of toilet paper,” Thompson said. “Each case holds 96 rolls.”
While the new toilet paper has cost benefits, students are welcoming the change for different reasons.
“It (the old toilet paper) was really bad,” senior Rhylanne Bittner said. “It didn’t do its job. I feel like with the thicker, new toilet paper, you could use less.”
Although individuals like North and Bittner appreciate the switch, some students have not noticed a difference.
“I try to refrain from using them (the bathrooms),” senior Kaeden Dardeen said. “It (the new toilet paper) sounds good, but I try not to use the school bathrooms.”
Although some have not noticed a difference, those who have are appreciative. Students like North believe that the change is benefitting bathroom-goers.
“I’d say the change in toilet paper is helpful because it’s not as thin, so you don’t feel gross using the restroom,” North said. “I really like it and think it is better for everyone with the toilet paper being thicker.”
