Officials say flea problem at Newark school resolved

(KRON) — Several students at Kennedy Elementary School in Newark were reportedly bitten by fleas, triggering concerns from parents that the tiny insects may have infested some classrooms.

Newark Unified School District officials said they worked for weeks to tackle the flea problem. District officials brought a professional pest control service and county vector control expert to the campus.

They conducted “multiple campus-wide inspections, analyses, and treatments. This comprehensive response has included treating classrooms, common areas, and all outdoor spaces, including fields and landscaped areas, to ensure the matter is fully addressed,” NUSD wrote.

NUSD said the fleas may have been unintentionally brought to school by pets or people. “Pests of this nature can be encountered in various outdoor spaces, such as parks and fields where families and pets gather, and can be transported unintentionally,” district officials wrote.

An uptick in fleas was also reported in nearby neighborhoods.

On Thursday, district officials said recent inspections at Kennedy Elementary School found no evidence of ongoing flea activity. They will monitor the school over the next 30 days.

Families can reach out to Kennedy Elementary School’s principal if they feel their child needs an alternative education setting, officials said.