Alamance Schools Deny Viral Litter Box Claims, Officials Say False

Alamance-Burlington School System officials moved to quash a persistent internet rumor that schools were installing litter boxes in restrooms for students who identify as cats. The claim circulated widely on social media and prompted questions from parents and community members about practices at Southern Middle School and elsewhere in the district.

ABSS public information officer Les Atkins told The Alamance News that the litter box story is false. "These rumors have been circulating throughout the state," Atkins said. "It’s a Facebook thing that never really happened [anywhere]." Atkins added that similar rumors followed him from a previous district and that ABSS has provided no accommodations for students who may insist that they are cats.

School board chairman Sandy Ellington Graves also rejected the allegation and said she had repeatedly asked administrators about it. "I cannot imagine that we have litter boxes in the restroom," Ellington Graves said. "I was asked [this] about Southern Middle last year. When I’ve asked the administration, the answer has consistently been no." The district issued a follow up statement reiterating it had not received requests to alter restrooms for such purposes and that the rumors are untrue.

The local denial follows wider patterns of misinformation reported across other jurisdictions where similar stories were debunked. For families in Alamance County the episode has practical implications. Rumors of this kind can stoke anxiety among parents, distract educators from classroom priorities, and erode trust between schools and the community. They can also complicate school disciplinary matters and create confusion when unverified claims circulate about individual students or incidents.

School leaders say clear communication and prompt responses are needed to counter false claims. For residents seeking confirmation about district policy or specific incidents the district remains the authoritative source. Local civic engagement, including attendance at school board meetings and review of official district statements, can help ensure accurate information and keep schools focused on instructional needs rather than rumors.