Bat infestation at Haines City High School

HAINES CITY (FOX 13) - Students and teachers in Polk County are dealing with a major pest infestation. The Polk School District says more than 200 bats have invaded Haines City High School.

The band and choir rooms along with other classrooms are unusable while crews work to remove the animals and clean.

Julian Green is a student forced to have choir class in the library temporarily while crews address the issue. "I'm not really comfortable with animals that have diseases being in the school," Green said.

Green said students were told the issue would be resolved within two weeks. 

It will cost Polk County Schools $13,000 to safely remove the animals and sanitize the facility from bat droppings.

School officials say this makes the third infestation this year.    

Professionals have been hired to remove and clean after the school unsuccessfully addressed the issue on their own.