Duluth district to review pesticide policies - Mother says parents lack proper notification before applications
Subject: Duluth district to review pesticide policies...................................
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 17:13:03 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an article dated Wednesday, October 24, 2001 from the Duluth News Tribune - Local & State News entitled: Duluth district to review pesticide policies - Mother says parents lack proper notification before applications BY RON BROCHU - NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER.
Duluth public school administrators have agreed to review district pesticide policies, joining a growing movement nationwide.
The decision comes after a complaint lodged by Michelle Simon, a parent who believes the district didn't properly explain its pesticide policies as required by the Parents' Right-to-Know Act of 2000.
State law requires parents to be told they can review a schedule of pesticide applications at each school. Further, they have the right to be notified before applications.
Appearing before the district-wide PTA Council Oct. 3, Simon said the district's right-to-know letter, distributed to parents in September, was intermixed with other mailings and provided inadequate notification of parental rights.
"I called about 40 parents, and the vast majority didn't recall seeing it,'' she said. "None of those parents knew you could spray a pesticide in the classroom, and none were too happy about it.''
Simon said the district should rewrite and redistribute the notification. Members of the council, who represent PTAs across Duluth, suggested district administrators should go a step further and consider adopting an integrated pest management policy. An IPM would outline strategies to apply the least-hazardous pesticides available, incorporate precision treatment strategies and adopt alternative pest-control practices such as improved sanitation and caulking.
The Duluth School District's policy is to apply pesticides when schools are closed, said Kerry Leider, district director of facilities management. Until recently, he said, few parents have complained.
"Before the law existed, our district took action to provide notification,'' he said. "We recognized that some people have concerns, whether founded or not.''
Simon said pesticides including chlorpyrifos are being used in school buildings. Better known by the trade name Dursban, the pesticide is facing a phased-in EPA ban. Such chemicals aggravate health conditions such as asthma, she said. Leider said insects such as ants and wasps are targeted.
The use of pesticides in schools was reviewed by the National PTA in 1992. The group approved a position statement calling for state and local regulation and en- couraged the adoption of IPM statements.
Minnesota school districts are not required to have IPM plans. Proposed federally last year, the legislation was approved by the Senate but stalled in the House.
Federal regulators, however, are helping districts to implement voluntary IPM plans.
"The EPA is a strong advocate,'' said Don Baumgartner, the agency's regional IPM coordinator. Last year, the EPA funded a Minnesota program to help districts develop pesticide plans.
"The concept has really taken off in the past few years,'' said Jeanne Ciborowski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture IPM coordinator. "People are becoming more environmentally aware.''
The district has not yet set a timeline to review its policy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
RON BROCHU writes about education issues. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 723-5340, (800) 456-8282 or by e-mail at rbrochu@duluthnews.com
Source url; http://web.duluthnews.com/content/duluth/2001/10/23/local/du_PEST1023.htm
Well Mr. Helliker, Why not allow Fairfax the same courtesy?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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