The Lunenburg County Public Schools is moving toward adopting a policy for handling an infestation of bed bugs should on occur. School Superintendent Charles M. Berkley Jr. said that “99.9 percent of this is just protective,” but noted the system did have “a slight case” after Christmas. “Bed bugs are spreading rapidly within the United States,” noted the background information about the policy.

“Contact with bed bugs can occur anywhere, even at schools. It is important to be informed about how to address the detection of bed bugs.”

This was the first reading of the policy. It could be passed at the school board’s next meeting.

Since the bugs are now known to transmit disease, students will not be excluded from school because of them, the background information noted.

“The school nurse or school administrator should privately follow these guidelines with the student’s dignity in mind,” the background notes.

The policy notes that a student believed to have bed bug bites shouldn’t be sent home but removed from class so that the school nurse or a qualified person can inspect his or her clothing and other belongings.

The areas where the student sits and belongings are kept will also be checked.

“If a student is believed or confirmed to have brought a positively identified bed bug to school or if bed bug bites are suspected, the student’s parent or guardian will be notified” and given suggestions on how to handle the problem.