Work is underway at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe to address a recent increase in rat activity that school officials say has been occurring over the past few weeks. School representatives confirmed Friday that crews have been responding since the first reported sighting and that steps are being taken on campus to limit the presence of rodents.
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Corona del Sol High School entrance sign in Tempe, outside the campus where officials are implementing measures to curb increased rat activity.
A school spokesperson described the response, saying, "When the first sighting was reported, our maintenance teams at both the high school and at the district office immediately took action," in a statement issued Friday. The comment indicates that maintenance staff at multiple levels of the school system have been involved since the matter was first brought to administrators' attention.
Principal Nathan Kleve also notified families directly about the situation, sending a letter to parents to inform them of the sightings and the steps being taken by school staff. The district-provided statement and the principal's letter serve as the primary communications from the school to families and the community as officials work to manage the problem.
School officials framed the issue as an operational matter being handled by custodial and maintenance personnel. While the district spokesperson and school leadership have said action was taken immediately after the initial report, the correspondence released to families outlined only that staff responded and that work continues to reduce the activity on campus.
The presence of rodents on school grounds prompted heightened attention from maintenance teams, according to the statement from school officials. Those teams — both at the high school and at the district level — were identified as the units carrying out the response, with district staff coordinating alongside site-based personnel to address the reported activity.
Families at the high school were informed through the principal's letter that the school is addressing the sightings. The letter to parents, sent by Principal Kleve, was referenced by school officials as the avenue used to relay information about the situation and the ongoing efforts to curb rat activity on campus.
Officials characterized the matter as ongoing work to control the problem, noting that the activity had been observed for several weeks prior to the district and school teams taking action. The school’s public comments on Friday emphasized that maintenance crews were mobilized immediately after the initial report and that the district and site-based staff were actively involved in the response.
At this stage, school leaders have communicated that maintenance teams have implemented measures and that they remain engaged in managing the reported rodent presence on campus. Principal Kleve's notification to parents and the district spokesperson's statement together form the principal public record of the school’s response to the sightings.
Officials have not released additional operational details beyond confirming the immediate involvement of maintenance personnel and the principal's outreach to families. The school's public messages indicate that staff will continue to work to control the activity on campus as they monitor the situation and carry out the tasks assigned to custodial and maintenance teams.
Parents have raised health concerns over more severe encounters, including teachers finding rats jumping from desk drawers, droppings and urine in classrooms and the cheer room, and chewed snack items. ABC15 Arizona reported the district was first notified July 15 and responded with campus maintenance and a professional pest control company.