Records show district officials aware of Howard Middle School rat problem for some time

ORLANDO, Fla. — 9 Investigates has uncovered more records about a rat problem at Howard Middle School in Orlando.
 
Channel 9 first reported on the rodent problem at the school in March.
 
New documents suggest Orange County school officials might have known about the problem sooner than first thought.
 
The records confirmed what sources initially told Channel 9's Mario Boone, that rats were reported in just about every area of the school, including the cafeteria.
 
"I think they are trying to cover up, but they need to accept the fact that they need to get on their job," parent Tracy Evans said.
 
School district officials have turned over a list showing a dozen work orders -- dating all the way back to Jan. 5 – that were submitted by Howard Middle School staff members complaining about rats.
 
The 10th work order, submitted Feb. 24 was labeled an "escalation."
 
"If you don't have to come to this school and sit in the class where there are rats or roaches or whatever it doesn't really matter to you; but if it's in your own house then you're going to take care of it," parent Keka Riley said.
 
Boone also found 19 pages of emails from Howard teachers and staff complaining about rats.
 
The emails also go back to the first of the year, which is as far back as Boone requested when asking for emails on the subject.
 
One staff member complained of rat feces in the bathrooms. A teacher said a rat was living in her classroom.
 
Despite the seriousness of the problem, the school's assistant principal joked about putting cheese in a staffer's office.
 
"That's germs and germs travel and I don't need my child or anybody else's to child get sick (because of) this," Evans said.
 
District officials responded to Boone in a statement that read: "Each request for assistance was addressed. Howard Middle School maintains its satisfactory rating, which is the highest rating possible given by the health department."

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