January 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Notification Letter for Parents or Guardians

The Neshaminy School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building, office, and teaching staff and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM contractor who evaluates the “pest problem” and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency to manage a pest problem. A pesticide will only be used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When a pesticide is necessary, the school will try to use the least toxic product that is effective. Applications will be made only when unauthorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. The Schedule for all Neshaminy School District monthly IPM services will be posted in all Main Office sites throughout the year.

Staff and parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the school’s notification registry. If you would like to be placed on this registry please send a letter to the Neshaminy School District Facilities Department, 1700A Woodbourne Road, Levittown, PA 19056.

If a pesticide application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided via the Neshaminy School District web site and postings in the site’s Main Office. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students, and gel type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals.

If you have any questions, please contact the Facilities Office at 215-809-6250.

PM:eh

M:IPM Notification Letter revised