CCS taking steps after reports of bed bugs – Circleville Herald

Circleville City Schools is working with the Pickaway County General Health District to identify whether there is a bed bug problem at the high school.

Weve had several calls (Wednesday), said Kelly Dennis, Director of Environmental Services with the Health District. We havent been out to the school to verify the nature of the complaints. Were scheduled to go out there (Thursday).

The Health District visited the high school last week but was unable to confirm any trace of bed bugs, Dennis told the Herald. If any bed bugs are spotted, he said the Health District would recommend to the school what steps need to be taken next.

Circleville City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Davis told the Herald that he notified parents Wednesday after a bug was detected from a student in a classroom. Davis then posted a letter on Twitter, explaining the issue and what protocols the school was taking.

Circleville City Schools takes very seriously a safe and clean environment for all students, Davis said in his letter titled District Treatment Protocol.

Recently there have been questions about the district protocol regarding if a student at CHS is identified with bed bugs. The administration is notified by staff, or students, of a sighting and we take proper care to remove the student from the setting, as well as their belongings, and notify parents.

In the letter, Davis said that parents are required to pick up the student and their belongings, and that the school then treats any affected areas, such as where the bug was spotted or anywhere the student would have been in the school.

In the past two weeks at CHS we have followed this protocol, as well as went a step further and treated the entire building on January 28th. We then worked with the Health Department to do a walk through of CHS on February 1st, Davis wrote.

After the Herald received phone calls and emails regarding possible bed bugs at Circleville High School, we reached out to Davis, and were told that steps had already been taken to address the issue.

Davis told the Herald that the school district is following its protocol and will treat all areas, as we always do. We have been in communication with the Health Department and recognize an increase in bed bugs across the county and state and know that these bugs are transported to and from school on student clothing, book bags, and other items.

Im confident our pest control protocol, and CCS staff, have done an excellent job doing everything they can to properly treat any, and all, sightings and we will continue to look into any means necessary to ensure our students and parents that the buildings are clean and safe. As a parent, with students in the district, I can assure that nobody wants to have lice, or bed bugs, and the district takes seriously any and all reports and want to be helpful to any family that mat be affected.

The Herald will follow up with the Health District following Thursdays investigation.

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CCS taking steps after reports of bed bugs - Circleville Herald