School district hires pest control company to investigate bed bug allegations

In response to the alleged bed bug issues in Ponca City Public schools via social media platforms, the school district has hired a local pest control company to inspect and set out monitors designed to attract and trap bed bugs.

This investigative measure will aid the school district in confirming the presence or absence of bed bugs in schools. To confirm if treatment is required, three or more days may be necessary to complete the process. We will continue to monitor the situation and will work with the pest control company for recommendations.

The presence of any bug or insect in the schools on any given day is always possible, as people in general will bring them in on their person or in a backpack. This would include bed bugs, fleas, roaches and lice.

When there is a concern from a school site reported to the maintenance department, which employs a licensed pest control technician, they respond and attend to it immediately. The maintenance department also treats our schools on a periodic basis as a preventive measure for roaches and other insects.

The Ponca City Public Schools believes that in order to teach and learn effectively, a safe, clean, and structurally sound environment is important to the successes we strive to achieve for students and staff.