A surge in ticks at William T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park has forced students off the grass and led to several canceled athletic practices as district officials work to get the problem under control.
The issue surfaced around the middle of last week, when the school nurse reported several cases to the principal after removing ticks from a small number of students, Kings Park Superintendent Timothy Eagen told Greater Long Island on Monday.
The principal then alerted the district’s Buildings and Grounds and Athletics departments, setting off a response that has included a thorough mowing and chemical treatment of the property.
For now, students are “blacktop only” during the school day, including for recess and physical education, Eagen said.
A few athletic practices have also been canceled “out of an abundance of caution.”
The district believes the problem is isolated to the William T. Rogers property, which sits alongside the roughly 500-acre Nissequogue River State Park.
“My guess is that this is a function of the close proximity to Nissequogue River State Park and the deer population in our area,” Eagen said.
The timing of the increase came on the heels of a nor’easter that brought strong and sustained winds and heavy rain to Long Island. Eagen, however, did not connect the tick activity to the storm, instead pointing to the school’s proximity to the park.
As for the treatments, Eagen said school districts are limited in the chemicals they are permitted to use and that Kings Park is adhering to those regulations.
Officials had hoped conditions would improve following the treatment and the weekend, but precautions remained in place Monday, with students still restricted to blacktop areas and at least one athletic practice canceled, GLI has learned.
The issue has been more pronounced during the school day than during athletics, Eagen said, “although one of our teams had one reported case.”
Middle school athletes and their families have been advised to perform tick checks after practices and games. The district has not canceled home games or indicated that the fall athletic season is in jeopardy.
“The issue is only a few days old, and we will continue to monitor the situation,” Eagen said.
Top: William T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park has restricted students from grassy areas as district officials respond to an increase in ticks on the property. (Credit: Kings Park Central School District/Facebook)
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