A New Hampshire elementary school closed Monday for an inspection after a bat was seen flying in the school.
“As you may be aware, bats have been present in the Richards Elementary School building,” Newport School District wrote on Facebook. “Yesterday, one of the bats was observed flying inside the school. Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are taking this situation very seriously.”
The bats were first discovered after staff at Richards Elementary School said they weren’t feeling well, Newport School District superintendent Donna Magoon told WMUR.
She then had an air quality test done in the building.
“So, I’m hearing there’s no type of mold or anything in our air, so what else could it be,” Magoon told the TV station.
That’s when they discovered hundreds of bats hibernating in the school.
Last week, one of the bats began flying in the school. The school then closed on Monday for an inspection.
“The bats have been finding their way into the occupied area of the building through small holes in ceiling tiles and other gaps around pipes,” the school district said on Facebook. “Today, our facilities team worked diligently to seal all the holes/gaps in the ceiling tiles and any openings around pipes in the areas of concern.”
But it’s not easy to get rid of the bats. All of New Hampshire’s bat species are listed as endangered, threatened, or as a species of special concern.
The school district’s facilities team sealed all holes and gaps in the ceiling tiles and any openings around pipes.
Then in March, the school district plans to work with the state to start the bat eviction process, which involves sealing off their entry points and installing a one-way exit door to allow them to leave without re-entry, the school district said.
The school is expected to reopen Tuesday.
“Please rest assured that the health and safety of our staff and students remain my top priority. I will always err on the side of caution to ensure a safe learning environment,” Magoon wrote.
