Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Avon Grove 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 buildings 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 buildings and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office, and teaching staff and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator 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 pests, 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 authorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for two days following the application.

Parents/guardians of students enrolled in school may request prior notification of specific 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 the registry, please notify the District’s Facilities Office in writing. Please include your email address so you may be notified electronically.
If a pesticide application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone to any parent/guardian who has requested such notification in writing. 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.

Each year the District will prepare a new notification registry.
If you have any questions, please contact Dennis Pagan, IPM Coordinator, at 610.869.2441 x50300.

Sincerely,
Dennis Pagan
Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds