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By Nigel Maxwell
There are no classes this week at Big River First Nation’s Mistahi Sipiy Elementary School, and the reason why has nothing to do with recent challenges like a shortage of teachers or the effects of the COVID pandemic.
In a letter sent home to parents and guardians and obtained by paNOW, Principal Tennille Bear advises of the discovery of bedbugs. She explains an exterminator will be in the school this coming Sunday as well as next Wednesday.
“Generally, it is safest and most effective to hire an experienced pest control professional for bedbug infestation. We threw out the couches and are disinfecting the classrooms as needed,” Bear wrote.
In a separate message to school staff Tuesday night, Bear advises she has been in touch with three different fumigation places and hoped to get someone in sooner.
“We were unaware of the bedbugs until today, so that will get sorted out as well,” she said.
Bear encouraged staff to refrain from posting anything on social media, advising it causes more concern with parents and the community.
“We are doing the necessary steps to help elevate this issue as much as possible. We will contact the buses, and the high school will need to be informed,” Bear explained.
Lastly, Bear informed staff they are required to be at work to help disinfect, organize the classrooms, and declutter the workspaces.
According to a post by one woman on social media, she quit her job at the school because the school is badly infested with cockroaches, and now bedbugs.
paNOW has also been advised that at least six bus drivers are refusing to work, and are being told they risk not being paid.
When paNOW attempted to contact the school for further comment, a staff member advised comment had to come from the director of education. Both Dabney Warren and Chief Jack Rayne are out of province and could not be reached for comment.
According to the Treaty Six Education Council website, Mistahi Sipiy Elementary School has an enrolment of 472 students from nursery school to Grade 6.