8115- Pesticides and Pest Management

The Board of Education is committed to maintaining the integrity of school buildings and grounds while protecting the health and safety of students and staff and maintaining a productive learning environment.

Provisions will be made for a least toxic approach to integrated pest management (IPM) for all school buildings and grounds in accordance with the Commissioner’s regulations. Integrated pest management is a systematic approach to managing pests focusing on long term prevention or suppression with minimal impact on human health, the environment and nontargeted organisms.

Notification of Pesticide Application

All district staff and parents/guardians will be notified of pesticide applications performed at any school facility. A notice will be sent at the beginning of the school year which will include:

  1. Notification of periodic pesticide applications throughout school year.
  2. The availability of 48-hour prior written notification of pesticide applications to parents and staff who request such notice.
  3. Instructions on how to register with the school to receive this prior written notification.
  4. The name and number of the school representative who can provide further information.

A separate notice will be sent to staff and parents within two days of the end of winter and spring recess and within 10 days of the end of the school year which includes the date, location and product used for each pesticide application which required prior notification and each emergency application.

The Superintendent of Schools shall ensure the dissemination of this policy and conduct any training necessary to ensure that all staff are fully informed about pesticides and pest management.

Cross-ref:

  • 8110, School Building Safety
  • 8220, Building and Grounds Maintenance and Inspection

Ref:

  • Environmental Conservation Law, Art.33 (Pesticides)
  • Education Law § 409-h (Requirements for Notification of Pesticide Applications)
  • 6 NYCRR Part 325 (Application of Pesticides)
  • 8 NYCRR 155.4 (Uniform Code of Public School Building Inspections, Safety Rating and Monitoring)
  • Desmond Americana v. Jorling, 153 AD2d 4 (3rd Dept. 1989)
  • IPM Workbook for New York State Schools, Cornell Cooperative Extension Community
  • IPM Program with support from New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, August 1998

Adoption date: March 26, 2001
Reviewed: August 28, 2017