Overview
- The Hancock County School District closed all schools and offices for Thursday and Friday after staff first saw nonvenomous black snakes earlier in the week and a brown snake was found inside a building on Tuesday.
- Officials say no students or staff were injured and they have brought in licensed wildlife professionals to sweep classrooms, common areas and building perimeters.
- District leaders described the move as a complete environmental assessment after crews also found evidence of squirrels and raccoons around the rural Sparta campuses.
- The district plans to resume a normal schedule on Monday if inspections clear the buildings and specialists confirm there are no animals inside.
- Parents have voiced frustration over the disruption to the start of the school year and local officials note that aging, 30- to 40-year-old rural school buildings can allow wildlife to enter, which could prompt upgrades if inspections find vulnerabilities.