POLICY - INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 9331
The North Thurston School District will provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and members of the community who use school properties. To this end, the District will utilize safe and effective practices to control structural, nuisance, and landscape pest.
Pests are defined as living organisms that, by situation or size of their population, adversely interferes with the health, safety, functional, or economic goals of humans. Pesticides and herbicides used to control pests can pose health risks if used indiscriminately.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks. IPM emphasizes preventing and reducing pest problems by using active, non-chemical control practices, rather than responding to a pest crisis through the use of pesticides or herbicides. IPM programs take advantage of all pest management options, including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides and herbicides.
To minimize risk from pests and pesticides, the District will implement an integrated pest management program. Integrated pest management practices will be used to prevent pest problems and in cases where a pest population reaches an unacceptable threshold that could adversely impact the school environment.
Legal References:
Revised: April 10, 2000
North Thurston School District
Board of Directors