BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Parents of Terrace Elementary received a letter stating that school would be closed on Thursday due to a flea concern.   

 James Hay, the director of safety and security for Delano Union School district, says that on Thursday they sprayed the entire school.

"We had evidence of children who had bites, but not that many," said Hay. "I want to say a dozen or two dozen not sure of the exact number, our population as a whole is about 600 compared to the school as a whole that's a small number."

They offered childcare for parents who were unable to find last minute arrangements due to the closing.  

"Also, a lot of parents in general if they don’t go to work they don’t get paid," said Hay. "So we thought we make arrangements for any kid who needed to be dropped off."
  
After an inspection, Hay says it appears to be under control and as a precaution, they will keep the school closed Friday as well. 
  
"The spraying was effective and we haven’t found any kind of issues at all," said Hay. "So, we aren’t going to do anymore spraying, but we are continuing to inspect and we want to do some more cleaning before the students and staff come back."
  
 The cause or how the fleas were found inside the school is unknown, but Hay says that it is rare. Also, they ask parents if they have any further concerns to please call the district. 
  
"We are a rural area, so the challenges of the community become the challenges of the school, in terms of how the fleas got on campus who knows," said Hay.  

Hay adds that Terrace will reopen on Monday and that they have not received any report of other flea cases at any of their other schools.