By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — Superintendent Donna Magoon updated the SAU 43 School Board about the bat situation at Richards School ahead of a community forum on Tuesday, saying that the eviction of the hundreds of hibernating bats will take place during the upcoming school vacation.
“The inspection was completed on 3/25, which is from Jeff from Monadnock (Pest and Wildlife Services),” Magoon said at Thursday’s school board meeting. “They walked all common areas of the three floors with maintenance to identify areas of opportunity; that’s what they call it, an opportunity they can get through. So, it’s areas of opportunity for reducing bat entry into the building ahead of the bat eviction service.”
She said they identified several locations and also identified several roosting bats when investigating the attic.
“So, the bats have now started to migrate back up to the attic area,” Magoon said.
In January, Richards School closed due to hundreds of big brown bats hibernating in the ceiling.
Magoon explained that the elementary school’s staff members started to feel sick, and a mold test came back negative. An inspection found that there was a large amount of guano, as much as six inches in height in some spots, created by the bats.
During December break, the school had someone come to the school to clean the guano, and found the bats were gone, as they had migrated down into areas of the building to find warmth. A bat ended up finding its way into a hallway and swooped into a teacher, which led Magoon to contact N.H. Fish and Game, and then Monadnock Pest and Wildlife.
Monadnock Pest and Wildlife took samples, conducted comprehensive studies and created a plan to remove the bats. The air in the school was tested for the potentially harmful fungus Cryptococcus and came back negative.
In February the school board approved moving $75,000 from Richards School staff salary line to pay Monadnock Pest and Wildlife to remove the bats.
Tuesday’s forum will include Jeff Traynor from Monadnock Pest and Wildlife Services filling in the public about the eviction service, as well as Sean Smith of RPF Environmental Testing and Consulting Services on their findings. Magoon added that she asked N.H. Fish and Game to come to the meeting, but they declined.
Flyers have been posted on the school district website and social media, and also sent out to families, as well as in the newspaper. It will also be posted in all spots where normal board meetings are posted. Magoon also said it is a joint venture between the town and school, and the flyer has been sent to the town manager’s office to be posted.
Newport High School Principal Shannon Martin said she would be happy to advertise the meeting on the electronic board at the high school, as well. Another resident said the LaValley Family Community Center has a bulletin board that would be a perfect spot to announce it.
School Board member Melissa Mitchler is concerned about the residents who live around Richards School who do not have children, but was happy to see it would be in the newspaper online and in print. Magoon also said there would be flyers available for any board members to pass out to neighbors of the school, or other areas of the public to make sure they are apprised of the meeting.
The plan, Magoon said, is for the eviction process to take place during April vacation, which is from April 28 to May 2.
The community bat forum hosted by the Newport School District and the Town of Newport will take place at Richards Elementary School, located at 21 School Street, on April 15 at 6 p.m.
