School District Pest Control Procedures

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) safety administrators routinely take a number of steps to control pests in District schools. District staff has worked closely and cooperatively for many years with Miami-Dade Health Department staff regarding issues involving the safety and wellbeing of Miami-Dade County Public Schools students and staff and are currently working with them to address pest control needs, as necessary.

To ensure prompt resolution of any deficiencies that may arise, M-DCPS School Operations administrators have initiated a new protocol for escalating and prioritizing Health Department reports citing “unsatisfactory” results to ensure timely correction. Principals are required to immediately initiate school-level corrective action and fax such reports directly to the Associate Superintendent of School Operations, who logs the report and forwards it to the Inspections Officer for appropriate District-level support and follow-up.

Each school cafeteria and kitchen in the District is serviced under an ongoing contract for pest control that includes routine twice-monthly treatment and any additional services that may be required.
District officials request copies of all health department inspection reports with “unsatisfactory” results. Inspections and Maintenance personnel meet with Health Department officials at each affected school to review specific findings and immediately initiate corrective action.
Aggressive pest control treatment programs targeting rodents are underway at Little River Elementary and Miami Springs Middle schools. Over 150 traps have been installed at these schools.
To date, no rodents have been trapped at Miami Springs Middle and two rodents have been trapped at Little River Elementary. Traps are being checked at least three times per week at each school.
Maintenance Department crews worked at Little River Elementary and Miami Springs Middle schools throughout the weekend to correct deficiencies identified by the Health Department. Plant Operations personnel are assisting at both schools with intensive custodial services.
Health Department reports for three other schools identified in the Miami Herald as having “vermin control” issues did not identify rodent problems.