Parents of students attending a Buffalo high school are concerned that their children may be spending their school day with bed bugs. A recent Facebook post from the South Buffalo Neighborhood Watch alerted parents and students to a possible bed bug infestation at South Park High School. It didn’t take long for the post to go viral, with students, their parents, and even some faculty members sharing their stories of bed bug sightings on campus. School officials have termed the sightings “isolated incidents”, but some parents are taking the bold step of holding their children from attending classes until the problem is fully resolved.
The School District Responds
When contacted by local news agencies a spokesperson for the Buffalo Public School District indicated that all standard pest control protocols were being followed. Apparently at least one bed bug specimen has been captured and is currently being examined by the CDC to determine its species. Once a final determination is made the school district officials assure the public all necessary steps will be taken to address the situation at South Park High School.
While bed bugs are considered to be a nuisance, school board officials were quick to assure parents that they do not pose a health threat because they do not carry or transmit disease. As per NYSED guidelines, local exterminators will be brought in to treat any areas where bed bugs have been sighted.
Too Little, Too Late
For many parents, however, the school district’s response is unsatisfactory. Nadine Conta, the mother of a South Park High School senior, said “as soon as people started taking their kids out of school it should have been investigated right then and there.” Conta is not alone in her frustration, with many other parents taking to social media to express their concerns that the school district’s response has simply been a case of too little too late.
Meanwhile, while parents keep their children out of school the Buffalo Public School District continues their investigation, assuring parents and students that all steps will be taken to fully address the bed bug problem at South Park High School. How long that may take, however, is still up in the air. In the meantime, parents and students remain on edge and on the lookout for any unwanted visitors to the local high school.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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