Lewisburg Area School District Policies	Printable version
716 Integrated Pest Management 716. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT The district shall use integrated pest management procedures to manage structural and landscape pests and the toxic chemicals used for their control in order to alleviate pest problems with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.The district shall integrate IPM (Integrated Pest Management) into the curriculum in accordance with relevant academic standards.Integrated Pest Management is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information to design and implement pest control methods that are economically, environmentally and socially sound. IPM promotes prevention over remediation and advocates integration of at least two (2) or more strategies to achieve long-term solutions.Integrated Pest Management Plan is a plan that establishes a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.The board establishes that the school district shall use pesticides only after consideration of the full range of alternatives, based on analysis of environmental effect, safety, effectiveness, and costs.The board shall adopt an Integrated Pest Management Plan for district buildings and grounds that complies with policies and regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture.The board shall designate an employee to serve as IPM coordinator for the district.The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible to annually notify parents and guardians of the procedures for requesting notification of planned and emergency application of pesticides in school buildings and on school grounds.Pest management strategies may include education, exclusion, sanitation, maintenance, biological and mechanical controls, and site-appropriate pesticides.An integrated pest decision shall consist of the following five (5) steps:1. Identify pest species.2. Estimate pest populations and compare to established action thresholds.3. Select the appropriate management tactics based on current on-site information.4. Assess effectiveness of pest management.5. Keep appropriate records. When pesticide applications are scheduled in school buildings and on school grounds, the district shall provide notification in accordance with law, including:1. Posting a pest control sign in an appropriate area.2. Providing the pest control information sheet to all individuals working in the school building.3. Providing required notice to parents and guardians of students who have requested notification of individual applications of pesticides.Where pests pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees, the district may authorize an emergency pesticide application and shall notify by telephone any parent and guardian who has requested such notification. The district shall maintain detailed records of all chemical pest control treatments for at least three (3) years. Information regarding pest management activities shall be available to the public upon request at each school building.