NEPN/NSBA Code:  ECBA

PEST MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

The School Committee recognizes that structural and landscape pests can pose significant problems for people and school district property, but that use of some pesticides may raise concerns among parents, students, and staff. It is therefore the policy of Lewiston Public Schools to incorporate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles and procedures for the control of structural and landscape pests. A copy of this policy shall be kept in every school and made available upon request to staff, parents, students, and the public. 

IPM is a systematic approach to pest management that combines a variety of methods for managing pests including monitoring; improved horticultural, sanitation, and food storage practices; pest exclusion and removal; biological control; and pesticides. 

For the purpose of this policy, “pests” are populations of living organisms (animals, plants, or microorganisms) that interfere with the use of school facilities and grounds. “Pesticide” is defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pests and any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. 

The objective of the school unit’s IPM program is to provide effective pest control while minimizing pesticide use. The goals of the IPM program include managing pests to reduce any potential hazards to human health; preventing loss or damage to school structures or property; preventing pests from spreading beyond the site of infestation to other school property; and enhancing the quality of life for students, staff and others. 

Pesticides may periodically be applied in school buildings and on school grounds and applications will be noticed in accordance with Maine Board of Pesticides Control Rule Chapter 27, Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE IPM COORDINATOR

The Superintendent/designee will appoint an IPM Coordinator for the school district. The IPM Coordinator will act as the lead person in implementing the school district’s IPM policy. They will be responsible for coordinating pest monitoring and pesticide applications; and making sure that all notice requirements set forth in Maine Board of 

Pesticides Control Rule 27, Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools, are met; keeping records of pesticide applications as required by rule; authorizing notification provisions required by rule.

The IPM Coordinator will complete the training requirements established in Board of Pesticides Control Rule Chapter 27, Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools.

The school district will provide the Board of Pesticides Control with the identity and contact information for any person appointed as IPM Coordinator in the school district.

NOTIFICATION OF PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS

When school is in session the school shall provide notification of each application not exempted by rule, whether inside a school building or on school grounds, to staff, students and parents/guardians. Such notices shall state, at a minimum: a) the trade name and EPA registration number of the pesticide to be applied; b) the approximate date and time of application; c)the location of the application; d) the reasons for the application; and e) the name and phone number of the person to whom further inquiry regarding the application may be made. Notices must be provided at least five days prior to the planned application. In addition, signage will be posted at each point of access to the treated area and in a common area of the school at least two working days prior to the application and for at least 48 hours following the application.

When school is not in session, signage will be posted at each point of access to the treated area and in a common area of the school at least two working days prior to the application and for at least 48 hours following the application. 

In accordance with Maine Board of Pesticides Rule Chapter 27, school is considered to be in session during the school year including weekends. School is not considered to be in session during any vacation of at least one week.

The IPM Coordinator for Lewiston Public Schools is Ray Roy, of who may be contacted at rroy@lewistonpublicschools.org. This IPM policy and Board Pesticides Control Rule Chapter 27, Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Public Schools is available for inspection and copying at every school.

Legal Reference:     7 MRSA §§ 601-625 

22 MRSA §§ 1471-A-1471-X 

Ch. 27 Me. Dept. of Agriculture Board of Pesticides Control Rules (Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools) 

Cross Reference:   EBAA - Chemical Hazards 

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) 

Adopted: September 15, 2003 

Revised: May 9, 2005 

Reviewed: November 7, 2011 

Reviewed: January 5, 2015 

Revised: October 17, 2016 

Revised: May 1, 2023