FRANKLIN — The principal of Franklin Junior High School closed the school Thursday after bat sightings around and inside the school during the week.

Franklin Junior High principal Jay Ina said he decided “to err on the side of caution” Thursday morning after seeing three bats inside the school gym. He sent his students, and later his staff, home before the school day even began.

“Bats carry infections such as rabies,” Ina said. “It was just not a good situation, especially with the bats dropping urine and feces.”

The St. Mary Parish School Board Central Office released a statement Thursday afternoon which said school system maintenance personnel had been working to remove any bats and to treat the areas to deter future entry.

According to the statement from the Central Office, the school will remain closed on Friday as a precautionary measure. Maintenance staff will monitor the building before students return to class on Monday.

“There was bat activity in the school early in the week, but it was outside of regular school hours,” Ina said. “We reported this to the district maintenance department then, but Thursday morning was the most I had seen, three bats.”