Disturbing images of cockroaches in a Detroit elementary school cafeteria where students eat, are now placing the district under scrutiny. Today, parents tell us they were appalled to learn about cockroaches at Emerson Elementary.
"They have programs in the lunchroom. Events in the lunchroom," says parent Brandon Davis.
He also questions if the problem has already spread beyond the cafeteria telling us, “I would say get the whole building exterminated and move on.”
We tracked down the woman who not only busted the cockroaches, but also contacted us to warn parents.
“A child can get sick and that’s all I posted it for," she said.
The Superintendent declined to do an interview with 7 Action News to discuss how it happened, and who's being paid to clean up. A spokesperson for the district issued a statement instead.
It reads in part:
"The district informed parents this morning that roaches where discovered in the cafeteria at Emerson. The cafeteria is now closed to pursue eradicating the roaches and performing a thorough clean up to prepare the cafeteria for reopening... While the cafeteria is closed, breakfast and lunch will be delivered to the school for children.”
For parents we talked to and the whistle blower, it's not much comfort.
The woman who took the photos telling us “Superintendents, supervisors. lunch aids – everybody is showing up, helping out. That’s what I was looking for.”
So far, there are no reports of students getting sick. We’ll stay on top of this to make sure everything gets cleaned up and it doesn't happen again.
