To: Pleasant Valley School District/Dr. Konrad

From: Concerned Parents, Students, and Community Members of Pleasant Valley School District

Date: August 28, 2025

We Demand Fair, Logical, and Safe Policies for All Students

We, the undersigned, urge the Pleasant Valley School District to reconsider the recent ban on metal water bottles for students. This policy was enacted following an isolated incident involving a student striking another with a metal water bottle, a serious matter that deserves proper disciplinary and restorative action. However, banning these bottles for all students, while still permitting them for teachers, is inconsistent, reactionary, and harmful in multiple ways.

 Key Concerns with the Ban

1. Unfair Double Standard

Metal water bottles remain accessible to teachers, yet a student could just as easily grab one of these and cause harm.

This inconsistency undermines the purpose of the ban and does not effectively increase school safety.

There are many items within the school building that could also be used as weapons, ie., pens, lunch trays, laptops, etc.

2. Health Risks of Long-Term Plastic Use

Students are now forced to use plastic water bottles, many of which:

Are not BPA-free, risking hormonal disruptions and long-term health consequences.

Retain bacteria more easily and are harder to clean thoroughly.

Degrade faster, especially when exposed to heat (like sitting in backpacks or cars).

Encouraging regular hydration is vital, and students should not have to choose between health and compliance.

3. Increased Risk of Spills and Electronics Damage

Plastic bottles are more likely to leak or break, especially when reused often.

Spills in backpacks or on desks can damage laptops, tablets, and school-issued technology—a preventable cost to families and the district.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

The original incident, though serious, was handled without public explanation or clear communication to parents.

This lack of transparency prevents us from understanding:

What disciplinary actions were taken.

How the school plans to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A clear and consistent disciplinary framework, not a blanket ban, is what deters future violence.

What We Request

We respectfully call on the Pleasant Valley School District to:

Reverse the ban on metal water bottles for students, or at minimum, provide an opt-in process with parent permission.

Apply policies consistently across students and staff.

Educate students on proper and responsible water bottle use.

Improve transparency in disciplinary cases involving student safety.

Consider implementing case-by-case disciplinary actions rather than blanket policies that penalize all for one student’s behavior.

Sign the Petition

We believe in creating a school environment that promotes health, safety, fairness, and trust. This ban is not the answer. Let’s work together for real solutions.