School committee approves summer bait-box pilot at Beverly High after debate on safety and placement

The Beverly Public Schools Finance and Facilities Subcommittee voted Feb. 27 to authorize a pilot pest-control program at Beverly High School for summer 2025 using interior bait boxes placed in offices and other non-classroom, back-of-house areas.

Why it matters: Staff raised pest concerns as an ongoing operational and staff-safety issue; negotiators and union representatives had also discussed pest control during recent labor talks. The pilot is limited in scope and timing to reduce exposure to students and staff and will include signage and principal-led family notifications.

What was presented: Bob Schrolei, director of buildings and grounds, explained vendor recommendations and placement options and told the committee that if interior control reduces activity, the district could consider exterior bait boxes in future steps. He said the district would avoid placing boxes in classrooms and would place them only in offices or other nonpublic spaces during the summer.

Vendor and risk details provided in the meeting

Schrolei summarized the vendor statement about the product in use: “The product that Waltham uses has a very minimal, transition, so the bait quickly passes through the rodent system.” He and committee members also discussed nonchemical alternatives used previously (electronic traps) and noted those had been discontinued by the city for reasons discussed by DPS.

Safety measures and conditions

- Scope: inside-only in offices/back-of-house at Beverly High School during summer 2025 (fewer students on site). - Notification and signage: principals will notify families and staff; the district will post visible signage at exterior doors while the pilot is active. - Monitoring and report-back: Buildings & Grounds will coordinate with the vendor, log placements, and provide a written report to the subcommittee after the pilot concludes.

Committee concerns and follow-up

Members voiced concern about secondary exposure (pets, predators) if poisoned rodents were consumed outside the school. Dr. Silva and others asked about the likelihood that poisoned rodents would leave buildings; Schrolei and the vendor advised the interior placement reduces that risk and that vendor experience suggested such incidents are rare. The committee required signage and family notification as part of the pilot plan.

Decision and implementation

The committee approved the pilot by roll call vote, 4–0, and directed Buildings & Grounds to post vendor information on the meeting artifacts page, place interior bait boxes only in nonpublic locations during the summer pilot, and provide a post-pilot report to the subcommittee.

Ending

The pilot’s success metrics and any decision to expand to exterior bait boxes will be evaluated after the summer 2025 pilot is complete.