September 26, 2007

LANSING - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials are reminding all kindergarten-12 schools (except home schools) and licensed daycare centers using pesticides to notify student’s parents or guardians prior to pesticide applications. MDA is also urging schools to implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program before applying pesticides in a school or daycare building.

IPM is a pest management system using all suitable techniques in a total management system to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce existing pest populations to acceptable levels.

“One of the main objectives of IPM is to significantly reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to the children attending Michigan’s schools and licensed daycare centers,” said Ken Rauscher, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. “MDA does not require parental pesticide notification for sanitizers and disinfectants.”

The principal or lead administrator is responsible for annual, written notification of pesticide applications within 30 days of the beginning of the school year for schools and in September for licensed daycare centers to parents or guardians and school staff.

Schools or daycare centers must provide a 48-hour advance notice prior to a pesticide application. The notice must be posted at entrance doors, and then a second notification can be made by:

• Posting in a public, common area
• E-mail
• A telephone call (must make direct contact with a parent or guardians)
• Providing students with a written notice to be delivered to the parent or guardian
• Posting on the school’s or daycare center’s website

Parents or guardians can also request to be notified by first-class U.S. mail. The notification must be postmarked at least three days before the application.

MDA ensures all Michigan’s schools and licensed daycare centers are maintaining the highest standards for pesticide safety through the IPM program.

Additional information about IPM and pesticide notification is available on the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda or through any MDA regional office.