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Methuen health inspector reports progress on rodent problems but warns repairs and staffing gaps remain
Summary
City health inspector Darren told the Methuen School Committee on Sept. 8 that monthly follow-up inspections and a new integrated pest management plan are reducing rodent sightings, but long‑running maintenance shortfalls, outdated pest contracts and understaffing are root causes that will require capital work and staffing adjustments.
Methuen health inspector Darren told the School Committee on Sept. 8 that the city and school system are conducting monthly follow-up assessments of all school buildings as part of a new, systemwide effort to address chronic pest and building‑maintenance problems.
Darren said the city is “doing follow‑up assessments on all of the schools, monthly,” and that recent cleanup and contract changes have reduced reports of rodent sightings at several sites.
The report matters because school leaders told the committee in recent months that recurring rodent sightings and building deterioration had become a barrier to safe, sanitary classrooms and were harming staff morale. Darren said the problems accumulated over decades and will not be fixed overnight.
Darren described multiple contributing factors: an outdated and narrowly…
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