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Parents upset they were not immediately notified of bedbugs at school

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bedbugs were reported at Renaissance West STEAM Academy in west Charlotte and some parents said they were not notified.

Bedbugs reported in classroom at west Charlotte school Bedbugs reported in classroom at west Charlotte school

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials sent Channel 9 a letter about the bedbugs and said they sent it to parents, too. However, the letters were not sent to parents outside of those who have children in the classroom where the bedbugs were discovered.

It said there was an isolated case of bedbugs in a classroom, and the source of bedbugs usually cannot be determined.

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Letter from CMS:

"An isolated case of bedbugs has been reported in your child’s classroom. The source of bedbugs often cannot be determined, as bedbugs may be found in many places. Proper steps have been put into place to ensure the safety of your child as well as following with district protocol for pest treatment/extermination in the classroom.

"Even though it is unlikely for bedbugs to infest a school, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools conducts an inspection and if necessary the area the bedbug is found will be treated. At this time, there is no cause for concern; however, we want to keep our parents and families informed of this situation.

“If there is any change or need for updates, school administration will notify you as soon as possible. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school for assistance.”

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A parent said he got a letter in November about the bedbugs problem but has not heard anything since then.

He then heard about Channel 9′s report about another case this week.

“The principal said it was going to be addressed at that time and here we are in January, and we’re still having the same problem,” he said.

Parents, who were not in the classroom that was affected, said they were not told this week about the bedbugs and had to hear it from others.

"If this has been an issue, why haven’t parents got a letter, a phone call and email,” said a parent, who did not want to be identified. “Bedbugs travel. I just feel like we should be aware of this. This is a major matter.”

A teacher told Channel 9 she found out about five instances of when bed bugs were discovered in the school in recent months.

Staff members told her, and she said she wasn’t notified by the administrators until this week.

A parent said he wants the scope of the problem addressed, so they can solve it.

“I’d like to see them close the school down, fumigate it, take a couple of days, let the chemicals air out,” he said. “The kids (will be) out of school tomorrow. That’ll be a perfect time to let the fumes get out.”

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CMS also included in the letter some facts about bedbugs:

Bedbugs are small, oval, brownish insects that feed on the blood of animals or humans, usually at night. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed.

Bedbugs may enter a home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds or couches and other items. Bedbugs are active mainly at night and usually bite people while they are sleeping.

Bed bugs do not fly but move quickly. Although they are a nuisance, they do not transmit diseases.

Most bedbug bites are painless at first but later, turn into itchy welts, much like a mosquito bite. Unlike flea bites that are mainly around the ankles, bedbug bites are on any area of skin exposed while sleeping. Other signs that you have bedbugs include:

  • · Blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases
  • · Dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets and mattresses, bedclothes and walls
  • · Bedbug fecal spots, egg shells or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide
  • · An offensive, musty odor from the bugs’ scent glands

To confirm bedbug bites, you must find and identify the bugs themselves. There are numerous reports of bed bugs that turn out to be another pest that has better treatment options. If you are uncertain about signs of bedbugs, call an exterminator or a licensed pest control operator and have them verify you have bed bugs.

School administration has taken the proper steps to ensure the safety of your child as well as providing pest treatment/extermination for the classroom. If you have any other questions, please contact the school for assistance.

What You Need to Know: Bed Bugs What You Need to Know: Bed Bugs

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