Parents are complaining that mice have taken over a Surrey elementary school, but the rodents are proving tricky to catch.
Teachers have cancelled circle time and children are being told to stay off the floor because of the infestation at Mountainview Montessori, according to parents. Mother Adriana Calandra says the problem is out of control.
"The mice are running around the classrooms while kids are in there," she told CTV News. "My children are cleaning down their desks with disinfectant and then eating their lunch at the same desk. It's just disturbing to me that my kids have to do that."
The Surrey school district has confirmed that a pest company has been dealing with a rodent infestation since the beginning of the school year, but since spring break, the mice have been multiplying.
"Particularly in the last couple of weeks we have had a spike," district spokesman Doug Strachan said.
"They have launched a blitz on the weekend, this past weekend, put 40 to 45 traps out and captured four mice, so we think that's a good sign."
He says holes are being plugged and traps are checked daily.
But parents complain the district hasn't shared its game plan.
"What are they doing to protect the kids in the interim? What are they changing in terms of how the school day operates so the problem isn't getting worse and worse as the school year goes on?" mother Jennifer Wisdahl asked.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Julia Foy
