District confirms bed bugs found at Richland school
RICHLAND, Wash -- Richland Education Association (REA), and a district spokesperson, tells Action News they're aware of an issue of bed bugs at Jefferson Elementary.
An employee with REA supports parents' concerns that the bed bug situation has been on the radar since the spring.
Action News heard from a concerned parent after hearing that there was an issue.
She was told, and the REA confirms, the school is being treated over the weekends.
Action News reached out to the school district for comment on the matter and received this statement:
While Richland School District cannot comment on matters that may violate a student's privacy, our staff take any necessary steps to ensure our schools are safe for students. We have been working with the family and community resources to resolve the issue and continue to do so.
The Richland school district plans to send a letter home to parents regarding the issue in the near future.
An REA spokesperson tells Action News that the bugs are likely coming from another source and being brought into the school.
The Washington State Health Department says bed bugs aren't dangerous and has a web page devoted to bed bugs: www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Pests/BedBugs
