UTICA, Mich. (WXYZ) – A Michigan mother is speaking out after she says her son was forced to clean up urine left by another student inside a school bathroom.
Utica Community Schools is now investigating the incident at Ebeling Elementary School.
“They let him down. They humiliated him, embarrassed him,” Kaitlynn McCarthy, the boy’s mother, said.
Two of McCarthy’s children attend Ebeling Elementary in Macomb.
McCarthy says on Tuesday, her 9-year-old son was upset about something.
“He said, ‘Mom, the teacher made me get a paper towel and clean somebody’s pee up,’” McCarthy remembered when she asked her son what was wrong.
The following day, McCarthy spoke to the school’s principal, who was allegedly subbing in for her son’s teacher the day of the incident.
“The principal told me, ‘Yes.’ She gave him the paper towel and made him clean the pee off the floor because he was the last one to use the bathroom,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy says the principal also told her that it wasn’t a custodian’s job to clean up the bathroom after every boy goes to pee.
“I am very disappointed,” McCarthy said. “This is supposed to be a really nice school and I trusted them with my kids.”
Utica Community Schools said in a statement, “District protocols require that our facilities staff or other trained personnel clean and manage our restrooms and classrooms. Currently, the situation is being investigated to ensure that proper protocols are understood and being followed within the building. As this matter involves the privacy of students and staff members, the district will not comment further at this time.”
McCarthy added that her son is still upset about what happened.
“I was embarrassed for my son. He was crying in front of his whole entire class,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy says she plans to send her kids to a different school in another district for the next school year.
Copyright 2025 WXYZ via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.