Rats close Snohomish High School cafeteria

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — A Snohomish County high school is shutting down it’s cafeteria after finding rat droppings in the ceiling.

Snohomish High School’s cafeteria will be closed through Spring break and into early April, Snohomish School District spokeswoman Kristin Foley said.

The droppings were discovered Wednesday after a food-service worker reported a strange odor.

A pest control company was called in to investigate.

“In investigating the smell, they found droppings in the ceiling,” Foley said.

The building that houses the cafeteria was shut down immediately.

An extermination company, Clean Crawls Pest Control, has been hired to get rid of the rats. Clean Crawls is expected to start work on Saturday.

Students ate breakfast and lunch Thursday in the gym.

The food was brought to campus and prepared by the kitchen at Valley View Middle School.

The Snohomish Health District was called in to ensure that food-safety standards were being met.

Foley says the district doesn’t have a specific timeline for the project. Additionally, she says it is unclear how much the extermination efforts will cost.

Until the extermination is over, however, food will continue to be prepared in a kitchen off campus and served in the high school’s gym.

“Everything’s going really well,” Foley said. “The kids have just adapted and are moving forward.”

Foley encourages people to call the district office at 360-563-7280 with questions or concerns.

Cox Media Group