The Truth About the Toilets: Exclusive Interview with Dr. Inabinet

On Monday, April 7th, I had the privilege to interview Dr. Inabinet and get the truth of VHHS’s 15 minutes of fame. (Responses have been edited for length and clarity.)

I know there are a lot of rumors surrounding the toilets involving binders or a big competition that happened that weekend. What exactly happened? 

It resulted from long-term age and buildup on the original pipes. There was no binder or any specific object involved, and it was just a coincidence that it happened during a large event. The main pipe that was dug out of the senior patio was an original pipe made out of terracotta. It didn’t have the structural integrity needed over time and collapsed.  

It’s really crazy that the pipe has been here since the founding of VHHS! Where exactly are the pipes? I remember that on Monday some, but not all, bathrooms couldn’t be used.

The school has had many additions over the years. The A Hall and H Hall have been recent additions, and they have newer pipe systems. These halls aren’t connected to the main pipe. The school layout is very complex, so the leaks would affect different bathrooms at different times. 

That sounds really complicated! What exactly did construction do? It was wild seeing the trench in the senior patio when we came back.

They had to break up the concrete, dig through the ground to get to the pipe, replace the pipe, fill the trench back up, and put new concrete. The pipe is 300 feet long, so it was a lot of work. It actually extends behind the school into the hill for a bit. 

It’s kinda crazy that the pipe hasn’t been replaced until now. Will VHHS have new renovations soon? 

We’ve discussed renovations before, but we’re not doing anything huge over the summer. Lately, I’ve been thinking about updating the senior patio to make it a place for students and adults to enjoy. I’ll be talking with the graduating class and rising seniors soon to see what we want! 

I remember how everyone was stressed after the E day. Now, I think we’re on track, especially in my AP classes, where we’re starting to review for the exams. Have teachers completely recovered from the E-learning days? 

I think we’re doing a good job! Of course, tests and assignments had to be rescheduled, but we’ve worked hard to catch up. 

How can VHHS prepare for future unexpected circumstances like this?

Honestly, COVID was the best preparation. Teachers were used to adapting and using online formats. VHHS has the oldest students in the Vestavia school system, so the students were independent and mature enough to figure everything out. They were responsive and did their work for the most part. I can’t imagine how an elementary school would go through this!

And lastly… how do you feel about the viral reels? 

Well, this wasn’t the reputation we intended to have. I would prefer us to be recognized for our outstanding ACT scores and National Merit Finalists, but what happens happens. We laughed about it a bit, and like I say every day, it's good to laugh along the way!