TACOMA, Wash. — Rodents running around schools, urine left on bathroom floors, unsanitized sinks and empty soap dispensers make up just part of the list of complaints students and staff in the Tacoma Public Schools district want addressed immediately.
KOMO News talked with several freshmen at Mount Tahoma High School, with their parent’s permission, about the conditions they face every day.
“It’s just like I would say a miniature jail. Like, it’s rats around and bugs. It’s stinky, very hot in the hallways so it makes guys sweat, like me personally,” said Ayo Ballard.
Ballard said they need to fix the issues, and he’s not the only one saying that. Those lodging complaints or noting the mess do not blame the custodial staff.
“He’s a really good janitor. He’s pretty cool, but he needs more help,” Ballard told KOMO News about the janitor at Mount Tahoma.
School staff now criticize the district for cutting staff, overworking custodians and cutting overtime pay.
“I’ve only seen one janitor ever. I think there should be more,” said Mario Ballard, who is also a freshman at Mount Tahoma.
There’s now an online petition that lists the things students and staff are dealing with in their schools:
The petition also demands that the district:
“Ensure that all classrooms are cleaned regularly and free from rodent infestation. Guarantee safe drinking water at every single building, not just Birney (Elementary School),” Tacoma Education Association President Penny Cramer said at the May 9 school board meeting.
Cramer and the online petition made it clear that everyone in every TPS building and classroom deserves a clean and tidy school.
KOMO News reached out to TPS by phone and email received this response in an email:
All departments of the district were asked to do a deep-dive assessment of their operations. Hiring and overtime were limited while efficiencies and cost allocations were assessed.As of May 16, eleven new custodians have been hired, 9 have started, 2 are set to start next week. Interviews took place this week in consideration of hiring additional positions.We take all reports on the conditions of our school seriously and work to address those issues as quickly as possible. Two schools have reported sightings of rodents, contractors are headed to those sites tomorrow for mitigation.
KOMO News asked which two schools will be getting a visit from a rodent expert, but we've not recieved a response.