IPM Committee Tasks: Notices of Application

Notifying the Public of Pesticide Applications

Notice to Parents

This is a sample of a typical notice that could be provided to parents and staff at the beginning of the school year.

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for controlling insects, rodents and weeds is used at xyz school. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building 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 building 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 use to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc {48}.

We only use chemicals (pesticides) when necessary to eliminate a pest problem. The school will try to use the least toxic products when possible. Applications will be made only when unauthorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. These areas will be secured against access as necessary for the period specified and taking into account all precautions found on the pesticide product label.

Posting of Pesticide Applications 

Sign Posting

According to M.G.L. c. 132B section 6D, any outdoor treated areas will be posted with clear and conspicuous warning signs along the perimeter in accordance with regulations to be promulgated by the department governing indoor and outdoor spraying, release, deposit or application of pesticides at schools, day care centers and school age child care programs. As of this time, there is no set number of pesticide flags that will need to be placed around the perimeter of a treated area. However, the Department is recommending that an applicator post signs conspicuously around the area so that someone entering the field from any direction would be notified that a pesticide application had taken place. Please note, until regulations are promulgated, the flags to use are the small yellow lawn care flags required by lawn care regulations 333CMR 13.07 (1)(d). Any questions regarding lawn care signs or the posting of a treated area at a school, daycare center, or school age childcare program, should be directed to Pesticide Enforcement at the Department of Food and Agriculture, Pesticide Bureau, 617-626-1781.