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Parents group wants pesticides out
of schools
BY SARAH MUENCH, The Herald-Sun,
July 18, 2004
DURHAM -- While many voters are looking at candidates' positions on
student discipline, budgetary concerns and low test scores in Tuesday's
school board election, a group of parents and teachers is focusing on a
health issue.
They want the Durham Public Schools to implement a new pest control policy
that doesn't use chemicals proven to be harmful to people.
"Most people are surprised that it's even an issue," said Billie
Karel, program coordinator for the Agricultural Resources Center and
Pesticide in Education Project, an organization that advocates for
alternatives to toxic pesticides in North Carolina. "They don't even
know there are pesticides in schools."
According to Hugh Osteen, DPS superintendent of operational services, the
schools use a gel pesticide in classrooms and hallways on an as-needed
basis.
"We don't use anything too harsh or too dangerous," Osteen said.
"We have reduced our use over the last few years."
But in cafeterias, Osteen said pesticides are still sprayed on a regular
basis.
Karel, who is working with the group of nearly 20 parents and teachers,
says the exact risks of pesticides are unknown, but that they have been
connected to childhood illnesses and increased risks for asthma and some
forms of cancer.
"Children are more vulnerable to health damage from toxins in their
environment, including pesticides," Karel said. "Reducing the
amount of pesticides in schools is a great way to limit their exposure to
toxins like that."
Karel's organization generated a prevention-based approach, called
Integrated Pest Management, geared toward eliminating pesticides that are
dangerous to people.
The process involves educating school staff and students about monitoring
the school grounds to identify pests, pest-proofing waste disposal areas,
keeping records of pest problems and using the least-toxic chemicals as a
last resort.
At least 27 school districts and schools in 19 states have implemented
pest management practices that do not rely on hazardous pesticides,
including the three largest school districts in the U.S.: New York City
Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District and Chicago Public
Schools.
Karel said that, so far, the new approach had been approved by school
districts in Forsyth County, Wake County and Elizabeth City.
"It's relatively new and it wasn't in place in the past," Karel
said. "They told us the reason they switched is that their old pest
programs have been ineffective."
According to a survey done by the center, the new method proves to be
cheaper than spraying with pesticides.
On average, N.C. school districts spend $1.77 per student per year on pest
control and districts with the least-toxic pest control programs spend
$1.49 per student per year, the survey said.
And the program is used as a preventative method as opposed to monthly
pesticide sprayings, which are done even when there are no pests.
"With IPM, you don't spray when there's no bugs," Karel said.
In March, representatives from several state departments and organizations
like the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the N.C.
Division of Public Health and the N.C. Parent Teachers Association signed
a memorandum of understanding, or a commitment to creating a healthier
learning environment for children and school staff.
Karel said she and her group wanted the newly-elected school board to
implement a policy at the district level so that schools can make full use
of Integrated Pest Management without inconsistency in type of methods
like using one type of pesticide in the cafeteria and another in other
parts of the building.
"I think we'll need one or more members to take a leadership role to
get this passed," Karel said. "I'm very hopeful at this
point."
Osteen said the Durham Public Schools' pest control method was already
similar to Integrated Pest Management, and Osteen said he and his staff
were planning to fully implement it by the fall, but wasn't sure if a
policy set by the school board was required.
"This summer we've been trying to make a strategy of where we're
going to go with our pest control program," Osteen said.
In order for the plan to take full effect, Osteen said it would take the
participation of students, staff and teachers, who would identify pest
problems and keep the school clean.
Michelle Nowlin, a Durham resident and parent, said she wanted the school
board candidates to closely examine the use of pesticides in schools and
implement the new program.
"When the school board election came around, a bunch of us decided we
wanted this to be an issue," Nowlin said. "The health of our
children is just as important as their education."
Nowlin, whose 3-year-old daughter will attend E.K. Powe Elementary School,
noted that children spent a significant amount of time on school grounds.
According to a survey by the center, children spend 30 to 50 percent of
their waking hours in school for nine months of the year.
"Every segment of society is touched by the schools, and when
poisonous chemicals are used improperly or used in excessive amounts, it
can be a problem for the health of our children," Nowlin said.
"I see this as integral to the educational system."
Karel said she and her group looked forward to meeting Osteen and his
staff in a meeting they had scheduled for later this month.
BY THE NUMBERS:
In a survey of 60 North Carolina School Districts representing of 1.3
million K-12 students, the North Carolina Agricultural Resources Center
and Pesticide Education Project found:
-- On average, North Carolina school districts spent $1.77 per student per
year on pest control and districts with the least-toxic pest control
programs spent $1.49 per student per year.
-- 43 percent of the school districts reported using pesticides regularly
in classrooms.
-- Cafeterias were the most common sites of pesticide application in N.C.
schools and 78 percent of school districts used pesticides in kitchens and
dining rooms.
-- 3 percent of school districts reported notifying parents when
pesticides were used at school.
-- 65 percent of districts reported consciously selecting the least-toxic
pesticide product formulations.
URL for this article: http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/.
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