School Spends Nearly $350,000 to Get Rats Out of Cafeteria

SNOHOMISH, Wash. (AP) — It has taken a month and nearly $350,000 to remove the rats from the Snohomish High School cafeteria. Snohomish school officials say the building is expected to reopen next week after being closed since early March.

The Daily Herald reports the rats were discovered after a food-service worker reported a strange odor coming from the kitchen.

A pest control company was called and rat droppings were found in the ceiling. Since then, school lunches have been prepared off site and brought to campus, where students have been eating in the gym.

After pest control crews finished their work, he ceiling tiles and insulation has been replaced and openings in the walls throughout the building have been sealed.