Parents Concerned After Bed Bug Discovery At Brashear H.S.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Some parents of students at Brashear High School are worried the Pittsburgh Public School District is not doing enough after bed bugs were found crawling out of a student's back pack.
When the bed bugs were spotted late last week, the students were removed from the classroom, the student and his backpack sent to the school nurse and the classroom was cleaned.
"Bugs can crawl like people can walk, so why aren't they treating the whole entire school," said one student.
The students and parent KDKA's John Shumway talked to Thursday didn't want an issue with the school administration, so they asked that we not show their faces.
"I'm on the same room and floor as them, so I don't feel as if they're treating it properly," another student said.
After that incident the school sent a letter home last Friday acknowledging that it had happened and promising pest management in the areas affected.
But that's not good enough for one concerned mother.
"It could be spread through the school, people could take them home with them," she said. "Take all the kids out of the school and fumigate and treat the entire school."
That is exactly what is going to happen after the same student involved last week returned to the school on Wednesday and more bed bugs were found.
In a letter to parents sent home Thursday afternoon, and in a statement from Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane, it says, "The District will implement a second integrated pest management plan in response to a student reporting to school yesterday with bed bugs on his person. The student was contained, checked and sent home. On Saturday, our entire facility will be fumigated. We are told the residual effects will kill bed bugs for up to 30 days. This is a precautionary measure, since no bed bugs were discovered in the building."
Click here to read the full statement from the school.
A phone call from a parent Thursday afternoon got the Allegheny County Health Department officially involved. They say from what they've seen so far, they think the school district is doing everything right.
Nonetheless, inspectors will be at the school Friday to begin an official investigation.
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