Kentucky high school teacher says snakes and mice are falling from classroom ceilings

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A teacher at Henry Clay High School in Lexington said that his school is “infested with roaches, spiders and mice” in a Facebook post after a snake fell from the ceiling.

English teacher Nathan Spalding had just arrived at his desk when he saw a snake wrapped around his phone. He took a photo of the small rat snake, later identified by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, and posted it to Facebook, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

I certainly did not anticipate having a baby snake fall from the ceiling and cuddle my phone. This little guy gave me quite the surprise this morning. Special thanks to Molly Haggerty Jones for calling someone to help and for reaching out to KY Fish and Wildlife, who identified this as a rat snake.

—  Nathan Spalding via Facebook

Spalding complained about what he described as an infestation at the school.

“Our school is infested with roaches, spiders, and mice. Our school now seems to also have a nest of snakes living in the ceiling.”

—  Nathan Spalding via Faceboo

The following day Spalding told the Lexington Herald-Leader that other teachers have come forward to complain about mice.

He said a teacher had one mouse drop from the ceiling during class, and another reported that at least three have fallen in her classroom this year.

The building used by Henry Clay High School was opened in the 1970s and is on the list to be modernized or replaced, district officials told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The principal at the high school released a statement to WTVQ following Spalding’s social media post, citing changes in weather as part of the cause:

“As the weather begins to turn cooler, it is not uncommon for rodents and pests to find their way into buildings. Each fall, our buildings and grounds maintenance teams work proactively to lay traps and spray repellent. Additionally, last week, our building was evaluated and treated by professional exterminators as part of the district’s ongoing maintenance protocols. We will continue to take all steps necessary to ensure that Henry Clay High School is a welcoming place to learn — and work.”

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