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📰BIDDEFORD | BED BUG - STATEMENT FROM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

  • Writer: JW Business Solutions LLC
    JW Business Solutions LLC
  • Oct 8
  • 4 min read

📰BIDDEFORD | BED BUG - STATEMENT FROM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


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Biddeford School Department Statement Regarding Media Coverage of Bed Bug Report at Biddeford Middle School


Biddeford, Maine – October 8, 2025


The Biddeford School Department is issuing this statement in response to recent media coverage regarding bed bugs at Biddeford Middle School. We want to provide our community with complete and accurate information about what occurred.


What Actually Happened:


On October 6, 2025, we received a report of a possible bed bug sighting in Room 37, a small office space at Biddeford Middle School. In response, we immediately contacted pest control companies to conduct a professional inspection.


Based on past experience encountering significant difficulty in securing prompt availability of pest control services, when Ehrlich Pest Control was available on Monday, October 6, but could only treat that day, our facilities director made the decision to proceed with same-day treatment to prevent possible spread. However, no bed bugs were found in the space. The official Ehrlich Pest Control report clearly states "No Activity" after their thorough inspection. The room was treated as a precautionary measure, and proper 4-hour reentry warnings were posted.


Why We Proceeded Without a 5-Day Notice:


This was a common-sense decision based on past experience. In the past, we have experienced several delays in the ability to have pest control attend to issues based on the volume of their outside work and their workforce availability. Last year, when we followed the 5-day notice requirement, community members were upset we weren't treating immediately, and past pest companies couldn't return after the waiting period because of other jobs and workforce constraints. It took up to 2 weeks to reschedule treatment. When you have a company available and willing to treat schools—which is extremely rare—you cannot afford to wait, or you may lose the opportunity entirely.


Additionally, the transient nature of bed bugs in schools makes timing critical. A sighting of one bed bug on a Tuesday doesn't mean it will be in the same spot on Wednesday when a pest control company arrives. These bugs are hitchhikers in schools; they don't establish permanent colonies the way they do in homes.


The Reality of Bed Bug Prevention in Schools:


According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maine Department of Education joint guidance on bed bugs and schools, "actual bed bug infestations in schools are uncommon." More commonly, bed bugs hitchhike to school from homes by hiding in students' clothing, backpacks, or belongings.


The reality is that prevention truly starts at home. Schools can only be as sanitary as the homes from which our students come. Bed bugs are hitchhikers—they travel to school on clothing, backpacks, and personal belongings. Unlike pests that are attracted to poor sanitation, bed bugs can infest even the cleanest homes and are constantly reintroduced to schools through students' belongings.


The Biddeford School Department operates approximately 575,000 square feet of building space serving 2,400 students and 500 staff members who report to work each day. We also operate 30+ buses and vans daily. It is impossible to inspect every space daily. Even if we had no bed bugs one day, a student or staff member could bring them in the next.


Maine Department of Education policy explicitly states that students should not be excluded from school due to bed bugs. Students have a right to education regardless of the circumstances in their homes. As the state guidance confirms, bed bugs can hitchhike from one place to another in backpacks, clothing, books, and other items, and we have no way to prevent what people bring into our buildings each day.


Our Commitment to Supporting Families:


Our nonprofit educational foundation has invested thousands of dollars to help households be treated for fleas and bed bugs. We do this to preserve the dignity and comfort of affected students and to try to mitigate any "hitchhikers" that might enter our schools. However, we are not a social service agency with infinite resources. We simply cannot send pest control into everyone's home, no matter how much we might wish to solve the problem at its source.


When we have disclosed such information in the past (one bed bug observed on one particular day), it created panic in the community and significant absence rates for students. This kind of reaction actually makes families less likely to report problems—making the situation worse for everyone. We are committed to handling these situations with sensitivity and discretion while protecting the health and safety of our entire school community.


We do everything within our control—regular cleaning, immediate response to reports, professional inspections when concerns arise, and due diligence—but we cannot control external factors beyond our facilities.


Attached Documentation:

The official Ehrlich Pest Control inspection report is available and clearly documents that no bed bug activity was found at Biddeford Middle School. We value our partnership with Ehrlich as they have provided quality professional service over time.


For more information about bed bugs and schools, please visit the Maine CDC guidance at:


We remain committed to maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for all students and staff while being transparent with our community about the challenges we face.


Full Links:

State Guidance:


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