Cockroaches have also invaded Beech St. School
MANCHESTER, NH. October 22, 2025–In addition to a massive cockroach infestation that started before the school year began, students and staff at Hillside Middle School now must also contend with head lice and mice.
Hillside: A beacon for rodents and pests
Girard at Large has confirmed that mice and head lice have bedeviled the school for more than a week and a half. Parents who learned of the cockroach infestation when their children came home and told them their teachers said they should check their bags, lunchboxes and other belongings for cockroaches, have similarly learned about the school’s problems with mice and lice. According to several sources, who spoke with Girard at Large mostly anonymously due to fear of retribution, girls have been told to put their hair up to avoid catching lice.
Girard at-Large has also learned that cockroaches are still running rampant at Hillside, despite a notice sent home to parents on October 14 by Principal Brendan McCafferty.
In the email, McCafferty tells families that “reports of cockroach sightings to the District Office (sic) have decreased,” calling it an “encouraging sign. What he doesn’t say is that fewer cockroaches are being seen at the school.
McCafferty: Suspect and missing parental notices
McCafferty also writes: “An aggressive two-week treatment plan has been implemented as recommended by A-1 Exterminator to eliminate any newly hatched nymphs that may not have been affected by the initial treatment. At the conclusion of this period, we will provide an additional update outlining any remaining steps.” This language is virtually identical to an email McCafferty sent to parents on September 24, well more than two weeks ago. Much of the remaining language in the email sent on the 14th was a rehash of what was sent on Sept. 24.
While McCafferty claims that “we do not believe there is any present risk to the health and well-being of students or staff,” he mentioned neither the outbreak of head lice nor the multiple mice sightings in the email, which sources tell Girard at-Large have been known about for nearly two weeks.
Hillside mom Danielle Decastro made the issue public on Facebook shortly after her daughter came home one day and told her to check her backpack for cockroaches. She told Girard at Large that she called the superintendent’s office but was told to call the school. She called the school and was told by the secretary who answered the phone that the problem was known prior to the start of school. When asked why parents hadn’t been notified, she was told “I don’t know” and that a message to call her would be given to McCafferty. Failing to receive a call back from McCafferty, Decastro called the superintendent’s office, again getting no answers. Her husband called later in the day. After failing to respond, Decastro made what became a viral post about it on Facebook, after which the Assistant Superintendent Kelly Espinola sent an email to parents.
Mice: Seen in hallways and kitchen at Hillside
Asked whether she was aware of the chatter about there being an outbreak of head lice and sightings of mice, Decastro told Girard at Large that her daughter came home from school about a week and a half ago and told her that teachers were telling girls to put their hair up in the hope they would avoid getting infected. Her daughter, she said, has also seen multiple mice in the hallways of the main floor, which includes the gymnasium, cafeteria and administrative offices. She expressed frustration that parents have yet to be notified of either situation.
Decastro also has children at Beech St. School. She says they told her about a month ago that they saw cockroaches in the school’s bathrooms and hallways. Because they’re younger, she didn’t make any reports until she could independently verify there was an infestation; something made difficult by her work hours. Two days ago, she had a chance to speak with other parents at the school while picking up her children. According to her, several parents had children who’d seen roaches in the school; a problem that could affect virtually every elementary school in the district as it’s kitchen prepares hot lunches for eleven of the district’s elementary schools. She said she was going to go directly to the school to ask them about the sitings, noting the failure of district and Hillside administrators to respond to her multiple initial and subsequent inquiries.
Thomas: Nothing to see here!
District employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Girard at Large that Hillside continues to violate the claim expressed in McCafferty’s letter that “Custodial and food service staff continue to follow strong sanitation practices and manage waste properly.” “The building is filthy,” one person with first hand knowledge reported. They said McCafferty still disallows the use of the cafeteria for breakfast. As a result, students continue to eat in class. “Food is all over the school daily. It’s disgusting,” said one person. Multiple teachers have taken to disinfecting surfaces in their classrooms because they’re so dirty. “It’s disgusting to have milk cartons warming up daily in classrooms because food trash in in classes…that’s why there’s mice,” said another.
The school board cut $400,000 from the budget of the custodial contractor at the beginning of the fiscal year, complaining that the $3.5 million increase in funding it received was a $9 million cut because their funding request was not fully funded.
Decastro said her daughter refuses to eat her lunch in the cafeteria because cockroaches are in the kitchens. One source told Girard at Large that mice have been spotted in the basement classrooms and kitchen. The health department has acknowledged the kitchen has been infected by cockroaches. Public Health Director Anna Thomas told Girard at Large “The Health Department permits the Hillside kitchen, which we are actively monitoring.” She suggested we “file a formal public records request” if we wanted any documentation. Thomas also told Girard at Large: “Regarding breakfast service in
Chmiel: No reply
classrooms, we recommend adherence to integrated pet management principles: cleaning surfaces before and after service, promptly disposing of food and single-service items, and removing food-containing garbage immediately following each meal period.” According to district officials with first hand knowledge and parents with children at Hillside, these recommendations are not being followed.
Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel did not reply to emailed questions or requests for comment about the reported cockroach infestation at Beech St. School or the head lice outbreak and rodent sightings at Hillside.
