Seven Howard schools had a pest presence ranging from insects to mice when they were inspected between March and June, according to the latest food service facility reports from the Howard County Health Department.
“It doesn?t have to be a big problem,” said Trudy Hyde, food protection manager with the department?s Bureau of Environmental Health. “If we happen to find a cricket, we?re going to list that. … I don?t see anything on the reports that would put up a red flag.”
Insects were found at Lisbon Elementary, Burleigh Manor Middle and Glenelg High schools and a roach at Elkridge Landing Middle School, according to the reports obtained by The Examiner.
Rodent droppings were discovered at Ellicott Mills Middle and Mayfield Woods Middle schools.
Harper?s Choice Middle School had rodent droppingsand cockroaches.
All problems were addressed, said Mary Klatko, the school system?s administrator of food and nutrition service, and she was unaware of any ongoing problems.
Actions to address removing the pests range from cleaning, to sealing exposed opening, to setting traps.
“If you attack these things immediately, you?re going to have fewer of these problems as the years go by,” said Harper?s Choice Middle Principal Stephen Wallis.
The school cleaned and sanitized the area where the roaches and excrement were found and had an inspector check the school again.
A contracted pest-control expert makes regular inspections of all food facilities, in addition to area food-service representatives who visit the schools at least once a month, said schools spokeswoman Patti Caplan.
Health department officials found no presence of pests in February at Mount Hebron High School, according to reports; however last week?s immediate inspection revealed evidence of rats in the courtyard.
“Cleanliness is absolutely important …,” said Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso, president of the PTA Council of Howard County. Students and staff “have to spend eight hours a day there.”
