HOUSTON -- Rodents have left their mark inside a Houston ISD middle school. The district confirms they are aware of reports of rodents inside Lanier Middle School. The ongoing issues are disturbing to educators.
Workers are concerned it's impacting their ability to focus on teaching. It's not what students or educators expect to face during the school day.
"It's deplorable to actually see and witness," one educator told KHOU 11 anonymously.
They said the rat problem has been ongoing for months -- since the beginning of the school year. Videos and photos obtained by KHOU 11 News show some rats already dead, but there are signs the rodents have left a mark.
KHOU 11 asked the district about the infestation on Friday but didn't receive a response. On Monday, we asked HISD Superintendent Mike Miles about it in person.
"Yes, we are aware and Lanier did have some problems. And we are, the maintenance team is on it, and doing what they can," Miles said.
He also said the district has pest control procedures in place. We asked Miles if the district had informed parents about the issue.
"The maintenance department is on top of it. I'm not sure whether the school has reported that incident to parents," Miles said.
Several parents told KHOU 11 that they were unaware Lanier had a rat problem.
"I think they're responding quite poorly, using rat traps, sticky rat traps as a way to get rid of the rats is not a solution at all, sometimes they're left behind and forgotten," the educator said. "Now you're expected to be a health and sanitation person, so it's a lot on us. I feel like the turnaround to get it fixed isn't helping."
After speaking with the superintendent, an HISD spokesperson told KHOU 11 they are working with a professional pest control service to assess and resolve any issues.
"All affected spaces are actively monitored to ensure they meet health and safety standards. HISD understands the importance of prioritizing a safe and healthy environment for both students and staff and remains fully committed to addressing pest issues promptly," the spokesperson said.