FILE: EBBG
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
PESTICIDES
The Rapides Parish School Board recognizes that the exposure of school children to pesticides poses known and unknown risks to their health and well-being. Therefore, the School Board shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and submit to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry on or before August first of each year a single comprehensive integrated pest management plan for all schools under its jurisdiction that applies integrated pest management strategies of pest prevention methods and strongly recommends the least toxic methods of control for grass and weed control, and rodent and general pest control in, on or around school structures and grounds. Any deviation from the submitted annual pest management plan shall be delivered in writing to the Director of Pesticide and Environmental Programs, Department of Agriculture and Forestry no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to any pesticide application. Records of inspections, identification, monitoring, evaluations, and pesticide applications shall be maintained by the schools and submitted with the annual pesticide management plan to the department annually.
In addition to a comprehensive pest management plan, the School Board, in accordance with statutory provisions shall:
Assure that the application of any herbicide, rodenticide, insecticide or restricted use pesticide, in, on, or around structures or grounds of schools that provide education to pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade classes shall be done by or under the supervision of a certified commercial applicator.
Require each school to maintain a hypersensitive student registry listing the names of students whose parents have submitted a written statement to the school which shall include but not be limited to the student's name and address, parent's or guardian's signature, name and address, and a written medical verification by a licensed physician which includes the physician's signature, name and address.
Require that schools shall use, whenever possible, the least toxic method of pest control. The least toxic method of pest control may include methods other than the application of pesticides. A restricted use pesticide shall be applied to a school building or on school grounds only during periods in which students are not expected to be present for normal academic instruction or organized extracurricular activity for at least eight (8) hours after the application.
Require each school to keep a written record of restricted use pesticides used to control pests, with an entry of pertinent information about the application being recorded after each application. The written record shall be kept in each school and shall be available for inspection during school hours.
Employ at least one (1) certified commercial applicator if the system has less than ten (10) schools or at least two (2) certified commercial applicators if the system has ten (10) or more schools.
Revised: February 2, 2016
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง3:3381, 3:3382, 3:3383, 3:3384, 3:3385, 3:3386, 3:3387, 3:3388, 3:3389
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 4-16-02, 2-2-16
Rapides Parish School Board