PEST MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
The Board recognizes that structural and landscape pests can pose significant
problems for people and school unit property, but that use of some pesticides
may raise concerns among parents, students and staff. It is therefore the policy
of the board to incorporate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and
procedures for the control of structural and landscape pests. A copy of this
policy shall be kept in every school and made available upon request to staff,
parents, students and the public.
IPM is a systematic approach to pest management that combines a variety of
methods for managing pests including monitoring; improved horticultural,
sanitation and food storage practices; pest exclusion and removal; biological
control; and pesticides.
For the purpose of this policy, "pests" are populations of living organisms
(animals, plants or microorganisms) that interfere with use of school facilities
and grounds. "Pesticide" is defined as any substance or mixture of substances
intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pests and any
substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator,
defoliant or desiccant.
The objective of the school unit's IPM program is to provide effective pest
control while minimizing pesticide use. The goals of the IPM program include
managing pests to reduce any potential hazards to human health; preventing loss
or damage to school structures or property; preventing pests from spreading
beyond the site of infestation to other school property; and enhancing the
quality of life for students, staff and others.
The Superintendent/designee shall develop and implement a Pest Management Plan
consistent with the following IPM principles and procedures:
A. Appointment of an IPM Coordinator
The Superintendent/designee will serve as or appoint an IPM
Coordinator for the school unit. The
IPM Coordinator will be the primary contact for pest control
matters and will be responsible for
overseeing the implementation of the IPM plan, including
making pest control decisions.
The IPM Coordinator will consult with the building
principal/Superintendent before a decision is
made to do a pesticide application for which notice is
required and before providing notification of
the planned application.
The IPM Coordinator's responsibilities may include:
1. Recording and monitoring data and pest sightings by school
staff and students;
2. Coordinating pest management with pest control
contractors;
3. Recording and ensuring that maintenance and sanitation
recommendations are carried out where
feasible;
4. Ensuring that any pesticide use is done according to the
school unit's Pest Management Plan and
Chapter 27 Me. Dept. of Agriculture
Board of Pesticides Control Rules ("Standards for Pesticide
Applications and Public Notification
in Schools");
5. Making the school system's pest management policy
available in every school building;
6 . Having available for parents and staff a copy of the
Maine regulation pertaining to pesticide
applications in schools (Chapter 27
Me. Dept. of Agriculture Board of Pesticides Control
"Standards for Pesticide Applications
and Public Notification in Maine Schools") and a record of
prior pesticide applications and
information about the pesticides used.
7. Initiating and coordinating notification of parents and
staff of pesticide applications according to
the school unit's notification
procedure and posting notification signs as appropriate; and
8. Recording all pesticides used by either a professional
applicator or school staff and maintaining
other pest control data.
B. Identification of Specific Pest Thresholds
Routine inspection and accurate identification of pests are needed to recognize
potential problems and determine when action should be taken.
Action thresholds for specific sites will be determined on a case by case basis
by the IPM Coordinator in consultation with the building
principal/Superintendent, and if necessary, with the advice of a professional
pest control expert.
As pest management objectives will differ from site to site (e.g.: maintaining
healthy turf and specific playing surfaces on athletic fields, carpenter ant
control in buildings, or maintenance of ornamental plants), differences should
be considered before setting an action threshold.
C. Pesticide Applicators
Any person who applies pesticides in school buildings or on school grounds,
including school personnel, must possess a Maine pesticide applicators license
and should be trained in the principles and practices of IPM. All pesticide use
must be approved by the school unit's IPM Coordinator. Applicators must follow
state regulations and label precautions and must comply with the IPM policy and
pest management plan.
[NOTE: School personnel do not need to be licensed for normal or routine
cleaning practices, for emergency stinging insect control, or use of repellants
for personal protection. However, school personnel do need to be licensed if
they will be using pesticides in school facilities or on school grounds.]
D. Selection, Use and Storage of Pesticides
Pesticides should be used only when needed. Non chemical pest management methods
will be implemented whenever possible to provide the desired control. The choice
of using a pesticide will be based on a review of other available options
(sanitation, exclusion, mechanical means, trapping, biological control) and a
determination that these options have not worked or are not feasible. When it
has been determined that a pesticide must be used to achieve pest management
goals, the least hazardous effective pesticide should be selected. Application
should be conducted in a manner that, to the extent practicable using currently
available technology, minimizes human risk.
Decisions concerning the particular pesticide to be used and the timing of
pesticide application should take into consideration the use of the buildings or
grounds to be treated.
Pesticide purchases should be limited to the amount expected to be used for a
specific application or during the year. Pesticides will be stored and disposed
of in accordance with label directions and state and federal regulations.
Pesticides must be stored in an appropriate, secured location not accessible to
students or unauthorized personnel.
E. Notification of Students, Staff and Parents of Use of Pesticides
A notice will be provided to staff, students and parents within the first two
weeks of the school year briefly explaining the school unit's IPM/ pesticide use
policy including provisions for notification to parents and staff of specific
planned pesticide applications in school buildings or on school grounds.
When required by regulations, the school will notify staff, students and
parents/guardians at least five days in advance of planned pesticide treatments
in the school or on school grounds, including playgrounds and playing fields.
When required by regulations, signs will be posted at each point of access to
the treated area and in a common area of the school at least two working days
prior to the application and for at least 48 hours following the application in
accordance with applicable Maine Board of Pesticides Control regulations.
Because the definition of "pesticide" is broad (it is not defined
in the rule but is defined in law as "any substance or mixture of substances
intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pests and any
substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator,
defoliant or desiccant) it should be noted that some uses are exempt from the
notification requirements of the rule. These are: 1) non volatile liquids
injected into cracks, crevices or wall voids; 2) non volatile baits, gels,
pastes and granular materials placed in areas inaccessible to students; 3)
paints, stains and wood preservatives; 4) disinfectants used for routine
cleaning; 5) non powered applications of ready to use general use pesticides to
control or repel stinging or biting insects where there is an urgent need to
protect the health or safety of a student, staff member or other school
occupant; 6) indoor or outdoor applications performed when school is not in
session and will not be in session until the re entry time specified on the
pesticide label has elapsed; and 7) indoor applications when no re entry time is
specified on the pesticide label but entry to the treated area is restricted for
at least 24 hours. We refer readers to Section 3 of the rule.
F. Recordkeeping
When a pesticide has been used, records pertinent to the application including
labels and material safety data sheets will be maintained at a designated
central location for two years following application. Records are to be
completed on the day the pesticide is applied. Pest surveillance records should
be maintained to verify the need for pesticide treatments.
Legal Reference: 7 MRSA §§ 601 625
22 MRSA § § 147 1 A 147 1 X
Ch. 27 Me. Dept. of Agriculture Board of Pesticides
Control
Rules (Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools
Cross Reference: EBAA Chemical Hazards
DATE ADOPTED: September 3, 2003