KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Officials at Jefferson County High School are scrambling to explain why they installed a security camera in the boys bathroom after parents complained.

Jefferson County High School student Nate Cook was explaining a recent incident in the bathroom to his mother, Virginia Clark. The teen was in the restroom when a classmate threw a boot at a security camera, he said, and was called to the principal’s office to discuss the vandalism, WVLT reports.

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“When my son told me this story I just said what camera?” Clark said. “I turned around to the secretary and asked if they really had cameras in the bathroom and she told me they did not.”

Apparently, the secretary lied. The teen had taken a picture of the camera and presented it as proof.

“I think it’s messed up, because I don’t like it when people watch me go to the bathroom,” Cook said. “It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Clark said she discussed the issue with her husband before the two decided to contact an attorney. She then approached the school principal, who allegedly confessed that the district installed the surveillance after students caused $4,000 in damage to new sink fixtures at the school, the Standard Banner reports.

“I feel terrible for not just my son, but all the kids,” Clark said. “It is an invasion of their privacy, and I don’t think it is right to single out the boys like that. They did not do that to the girls.”

Walker, who ordered the camera following the recent vandalism, pointed out that it was pointed at only the sinks, and the urinals and stalls were blocked by a wall. School facilities director Michael Phagan told the Banner the camera lasted one day before vandals broke it, as well, and said it wasn’t replaced.

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Cook told WVLT the camera was up for two weeks before anyone noticed.

“My understanding is that there would be no expectation of privacy where this camera was orientated,” Phagan told WVLT. “We have other schools throughout the county where the sinks are at the exterior of the bathroom and we have cameras facing those. We’re not invading anyone’s privacy by watching them wash their hands.”

District director of schools Charles Edmonds was oblivious to the camera’s installation until people began to express concerns, though he alleges no parents have complained, according to the Banner.

Phagan noted that the school was recently renovated with $25 million in taxpayer money and said school officials are simply working to protect that investment.

“We took steps to ensure we were not encroaching on anyone’s privacy,” he said. “We have a responsibility to protect the property, as well as the safety of kids.”

“We’re going to do the right thing, but we’re not going to let someone destroy our new facility and ruin it for the other kids,” Phagan said.

Phagan said the camera has been removed, but vowed to reinstall it if the school vandalism resumes.

Clark, meanwhile, wants more answers from officials.

“How many tapes do they have of my child in there in the last two week?” Clark questioned. “I want to see those tapes.