ST. MARYS, Ga. — St. Mary’s Elementary School has announced that classes will not take place on Monday due to an “unexpected safety issue” that has arisen on campus.

According to the school, bats have been discovered inside the premises. As a precautionary step, the school will remain closed while specialized teams work to safely remove the bats.

In light of the closure, school authorities have arranged for students who take the bus to be redirected to St. Mary’s Middle School for pickup.

Below is the official statement released by the school:

School is canceled today due to an unexpected safety issue on campus.

This morning, bats were discovered inside parts of the school building. Out of an abundance of caution, the school has been closed for the day. A licensed pest control team is currently onsite safely removing the bats and inspecting the facility.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We will not reopen the building until it has been fully inspected and deemed safe.

We appreciate your understanding and patience. Additional updates will be shared as soon as more information is available.

Thank you for your cooperation.