Schools in WA Implement COVID-Era Cleaning After Mouse Infestation

Mouse infestations in WA country schools are forcing principals to implement COVID-era cleaning measures, including air purifiers in classrooms and staff learning to use Personal Protective Equipment. The situation is taking a toll on school leaders, who are struggling with stretched resources and limited support.

Local schools in WA's Midwest and Wheatbelt are battling a months-long mouse plague that has devastated farmers and local residents. Morawa College of Agriculture was forced to close after the incorrect deployment of toxic baits. The Education Department's taskforce is expected to help schools respond to mouse plague challenges, but principals are often left to manage additional workloads, including departmental cleaning and hygiene suggestions.

Regional Principals Association president Jonathon Arnott is concerned for the welfare of local principals. 'I am genuinely concerned about the isolation of our principals,' he said. 'These communications come out in an email form and in a letter form, but you're still there by yourself having to make these decisions that are going to impact your school community.' Arnott said enacting these ideas would be difficult, 'There are people who are trained to be teachers who are spending their mornings donning their PPE, going around cleaning up the dead bodies of the mice. It's an exceptional level of what we went to university for.'

Schools are also needing to ensure teaching and learning continues, but textbooks and library books are being damaged. One school is even trying to turn the plague into a learning exercise, 'They're talking about how quickly mice reproduce; they're trying to turn it into a maths lesson.'

The Department of Education did not answer questions about the shortage of cleaners in rural communities, while the Minister declined an interview. Regional Principals Association president Jonathon Arnott said he was frustrated with the lack of support, 'I'm worried that we're going to get overwhelmed and that we're going to have to make some tough decisions about how to manage these extra costs.'

The Department of Education's new taskforce is expected to help with the mouse response, but principals are calling for practical help and more resources in regional communities.

Principals of mouse-infested schools in regional Western Australia are implementing COVID-era hygiene measures in classrooms, as the damage and decay from the vermin take a growing toll on school leaders. Communities in WA's Midwest and Wheatbelt are battling a months-long mouse plague that has devastated farmers and local residents.

Education Department's Response

The Education Department did not answer questions about the shortage of cleaners in rural communities, while the Minister declined an interview. Regional Principals Association president Jonathon Arnott said he was frustrated with the lack of support, 'I'm worried that we're going to get overwhelmed and that we're going to have to make some tough decisions about how to manage these extra costs.'

The mouse plague has been taking a toll on the region, with many schools struggling to cope. 'We're trying to manage the impact of the mouse plague, but we need more support,' said Arnott. The Education Department's taskforce is expected to help with the mouse response, but principals are calling for practical help and more resources in regional communities.

The mouse plague has been affecting many schools in the region, with some schools forced to close. The Education Department's new taskforce is expected to provide support, but principals are urging them to deliver practical help and more resources in regional communities.