INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 3524.1

The Meriden Board of Education will maintain an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system to reduce the amounts of pesticides applied in any building, or the grounds of any Meriden Public School. The Board believes that structural and landscape pests can pose significant hazards to people, property and the environment. Pests are living organisms such as plants, animals or microorganisms that interfere with human uses for the school site. Strategies for managing pest populations will be influenced by the pest species and the degree to which that population poses a threat to people, property or the environment. Further, the Board also believes that pesticides can also pose hazards to people, property and the environment. The intent of this policy is to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, staff and all others using district buildings and grounds. The goal of this pest management program is to manage pests in order to:

Reduce any potential human health hazard and/or to protect against a significant threat to public safety;

Prevent loss or damage to school structures or property;

Prevent pests from spreading in the community or to plant and animal populations beyond the site;

Enhance the quality of life and to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students, staff and others.

The Meriden Board of Education shall incorporate Integrated Pest Management procedures (IPM) to manage structural and landscape pests and the toxic chemicals for their control in order to alleviate pest problems with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. In addition, staff, students and the public shall be educated, at least annually, about potential school pest problems and the IPM policies and procedures to be used to achieve the desired pest management objectives. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means with the least possible hazard.

IPM Procedures will determine when to control pests and whether to use mechanical, physical, chemical, cultural or biological means.

Chemical controls shall be used as a last resort. The Board establishes that the school district shall use pesticides only after consideration of the full range of alternatives, including no action, based upon an analysis of environmental effects, safety, effectiveness and cost. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) procedures and to coordinate communications with members of the staff who are responsible for pest control, such as maintenance personnel and custodians, and hired contractors when utilized by the district to control a pest problem. The Manager of Buildings and Grounds shall be designated as the IPM supervisor and shall direct and supervise all IPM procedures to be carried out by assigned maintenance and/or custodial staff.

All Meriden Board of Education employees who use chemicals to control a pest problem must be trained and shall follow all precautions and application regulations. The Meriden Board of Education employs only certified pesticide applicators for any necessary and non-emergency pesticide use in school building or on school grounds. Contractors hired to do this work shall give evidence of appropriate training and certification in the proper use of pesticides. Pest control contractors shall be utilized, when deemed necessary, to inspect for conditions conducive to pest problems and to develop appropriate prevention measures. Pest control contractors will be expected to write recommendations for structural improvements or repairs and housekeeping and sanitation measures required to reduce or prevent recurrence of pest problems.

Whenever it is deemed necessary to use a chemical substance, that school must provide notification to all parents and staff who have registered for advanced notification in conformity with state statutes. Parents/guardians and staff requesting advanced notification must be notified of the date of such use by any method practicable, except in cases of emergency. Notices shall also be posted in designated areas at school at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the application, except in case of emergency.  The Superintendent may direct that an emergency application of a lawn care pesticide be made without prior notice to parents or guardians of children in any school and/or staff members in the event of a threat to human health, subject to applicable Connecticut statutory and regulatory provisions.

At the beginning of each school year and at the time a student is registered, parents/guardians shall be informed of the District's pest management policy. Parents or guardians of children in any school and/or staff members in any school may register for prior notice of pesticide application at their school.  Each school shall maintain a registry of persons requesting such notice, and shall provide notice to registered individuals in accordance with applicable Connecticut statutory and regulatory provisions.  Those parents/guardians and staff who register a request shall be notified prior to every pesticide application.

Treated copy of the record of each pesticide application at a school shall be maintained for a period of five years at the school site and available to the public and staff upon request.  The records shall include information required by Section 22a-66a of the Connecticut General Statutes, as it may be amended from time to time.  The district shall establish and maintain accurate records of all chemical use and their location. In addition, records of all pest control actions including information on indicators of pest activity that can verify the need for action. No application of pesticide shall be made in any building, or the grounds of any Meriden public school during regular school hours or during planned activities at any school except in cases of threat to human health subject to applicable Connecticut statute or regulatory provisions.  In the event of such emergency application, no child may enter the area of such application until it is safe to do so according to the provisions on the pesticide label.  .

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statutes, P.A. 99-165. An Act Concerning Notice of Pesticide Application in Schools and Day Care Centers.

Approved 9/19/2000

Amended 6/7/2016
Previous Policy Number: EK