Hot Lunches Return To Little Village School Despite Pest Infestation

By Danette Chavez in News on Apr 30, 2015 7:35PM

Though their lunchroom remains closed due to roach and rodent problems, students at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy in Little Village will be served hot lunches again starting Friday.

The school, which serves pre-K to 8th grade students, had its kitchen and lunchroom closed two months ago after mice and cockroaches were found in the facilities. Students ate cold sandwiches at their desks for lunch in the interim. The school was treated for the infestation over spring break, but that failed to do the trick—the pests have returned.

A Chicago Public Schools spokesman told reporters that a private contractor will truck hot meals in for the students as early as tomorrow; the company currently provides meals for over 100 CPS schools that do not have full kitchens.

A major renovation of the Little Village school is planned for this summer, which administrators hope will put an end to these troubles as well as asbestos and chipping-paint issues.