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What is Required Under the Model Pest and Pesticide Control Policy for Indiana Schools?
Post Publication Note: On December 14, 1999, the Indiana Pesticide Review Board adopted "The Indiana Pesticide Review Board Recommendations for Pest Control by School Districts." The essential provisions are described below. In March 2001 the Indiana School Board Association adopted a model policy based on these recommendations. Click here for a timeline that includes efforts in the legislature that helped shape the policy. IKE assisted in writing the policy recommendations and the related bills that were introduced in the legislature.
Training: If staff of a school district applies pesticides, the district must have a certified pesticide applicator supervise the staff and staff must receive annual training. Currently, no training is required beyond federal hazard communication required by OSHA.
Prohibited Uses: Unless the label is more restrictive, no pesticides may be applied in the presence of children. Pesticides that leave a residue on exposed surfaces or could become airborne may only be used from one hour after school ends to two hours before school begins unless the pests pose an immediate threat or a serious disruption.
Advance Notice: Parents, teachers, and staff will be asked whether they want to receive advance notice of pesticide use. Health professionals in the school will receive notice automatically. Those who request notice should be notified by the school at least two days in advance of the pesticide use. If advance notice is not provided, the school needs to explain the delay and what pesticides were used.
The advance notice must include:
Anticipated date of pesticide use;
General location of pesticide use; and
Phone number to call for more information.
If pesticides might be applied during routine scheduled service inspections, rather than encourage a long listing of all potential pesticides, the school can provide the results of the last service inspection.
Access to Records: Schools must make available details of the pests encountered and pesticides used for 90 days from the application.
Exemptions:
- Pesticides used in normal cleaning activities;
- Personal insect repellents when self-applied;
- Human or animal ecoparasite control products (primarily to deal with lice) administered by a professional;
- Manufactured enclosed, paste or gel bait insecticides where students do not have access to bait.
See IKE's broader effort on pesticide for more details.