State testing for pesticide in school
by Denise Eck / WSLS NewsChannel 10
Mar 17, 2006





The Franklin County School district is awaiting test results to
determine whether pesticides made students sick at Dudley Elementary
School in Wirtz.



According to Steven Oakes, Director of Transportation and Facilities,
the district sent a letter home to parents of approximately 120 4th
and 5th graders, alerting them to the fact that some students had
complained of flu-like symptoms after the pesticide spraying done
March 7. The letter is dated March 16.



Oakes told NewsChannel 10 that 8 to 10 students complained of
headaches, a rash, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms.



Oakes said National Exterminators of Martinsville sprayed the toxic
chemical Malathion to get rid of ants. The spraying was done inside
one classroom and outside of another.



The Virginia Department of Agriculture used swabs to test for chemical
residue. A spokesman for the health department said a private company
will conduct tests on air samples on Saturday, March 18.



Oakes said National Exterminators sprayed the chemical during school
hours even though it should not have.



Jim Stegell, President of National Exterminators, said he was sure the
state test results "will come out negative and this will be okay."