The Board of Education recognizes that the health and physical well-being of the students and employees of this District depends in large measure upon the cleanliness and sanitary management of the schools.

The Board directs that a program of hygienic management be instituted in the schools and explained annually to all staff members.

The Superintendent shall cooperate with the Board of Health in the conduct of the inspection of each school building and grounds for conditions dangerous to public health and safety not less than once each year. The Superintendent shall provide access to school premises for the inspection(s) which shall be conducted during regular school hours. The Superintendent shall provide records or information the Board of Health considers necessary.

The Superintendent shall develop a plan for abatement of conditions that are determined to be hazardous to occupants as identified in the inspection report. The abatement plan shall be in written form and shall be submitted in the manner established by the Director of Health. The abatement plan shall include a schedule for completion of the abatement as prescribed.

The hygienic management plan shall include an Integrated Pest Management program (IPM) for the control of structural and landscape pests that minimizes the use of pesticides while addressing pest control.

IPM is a pest management strategy that focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems through a combination of techniques such as monitoring for pest presence, establishing treatment threshold levels, using non-chemical practices to make the habitat less conducive to pest development, improving sanitation, and employing mechanical and physical controls.

The goals of an IPM program are: a) effectively manage pest populations, b) limit damage caused by pests, c) limit exposure of humans to pesticides, and d) limit negative environmental impact.

Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment, are used only after careful monitoring indicates they are needed according to pre-established guidelines and treatment thresholds.

The District IPM program consists of the following components:

There are three (3) key ways the District monitors pest issues: 1) contractor inspections, 2) District inspections, and 3) staff reporting.

Regular monitoring by the District pest management contractor will provide documentation of where and when pests occur and will help to focus treatment efforts to only those areas which are deemed infested. Sticky trap monitors placed in strategic locations will be one course of action.

A building inspection checklist will be completed on a quarterly basis by each building. Included will be an inspection of the building exterior, interior, food storage areas, food preparation areas, the kitchen, bathrooms and lunchroom areas. Inspection and checklists will then be submitted to the IPM Coordinator for review.

An online pest sighting report will be utilized by school staff to report pest issues. Each pest sighting report will be reviewed by the District pest management contractor before scheduled monitoring or service visits to determine the most effective and least toxic course of action.

To report pests or signs of pests, District staff should:

Correct identification of pests and proper treatment is crucial. Upon properly identifying the pest, the District pest management contractor will determine the most effective method of treating the pest problem considering specific pest behavior, biology, location within structure, and potential health hazards of the pest and treatment.

The first consideration for solving the pest problem will always be treatment without using pesticides. If the treatment requires the use of pesticides, the District and/or contractor will evaluate the most appropriate method considering the potential health risk hazards associated with both the pest problem and the treatment. Only pesticide products specifically labeled for schools and institutions will be utilized. If a treatment will include the use of a pesticide not formulated as bait or in a containerized bait station, the District pest management contractor will notify the IPM Coordinator prior to any application.

Non-chemical treatment will include structural modification and sanitation measures. Sanitation is critical in pest management since food debris left behind by humans is often the cause of pests issues. Spaces under doors and windows, cracks in the building, moisture conditions, and cluttered areas all offer pests the three (3) elements that they require: food, water, and shelter. The District monitoring strategies (see above) will help identify and resolve sanitation problems.

At least seventy-two (72) hours before application of a pesticide, other than a least toxic pesticide, the building being treated will have a sign posted that provides notice of the application of the pesticide. The sign will remain posted for at least seventy-two (72) hours after the end of the treatment and be of uniform design with an easily understood symbol for any person that cannot read.

The IPM Coordinator in cooperation with the pest management contractor will periodically review the methods of pest management being utilized based on records which appear on inspection and treatment forms. To ensure success of the program and make any changes deemed necessary.

Staff will complete online training to familiarize them with the District’s integrated pest management program and the procedures for submitting a pest sighting report.

The District pest management contractor employees servicing the schools will hold a commercial applicators license from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and will provide proof of credentials whenever required while on school premises. All the District pest management contractor technicians must be individually state licensed, not working under a branch or company license.

A written record concerning all treatments, whether chemical or not, will be provided in hard copy form to the IPM Coordinator after completion of the treatment. Details of the treatment such as date, time, building, type of pest and material used will be included. For those issues identified by staff using the online pest sighting report, the person who submitted the report will be notified via e-mail as to the action taken to address the pest issue reported.

The Superintendent shall prepare, in consultation with the Business Manager and school nurse, procedures for the handling and disposal of body wastes and fluids. Such procedures shall include the protection of staff members who clean or handle blood or blood-soaked items, vomitus, saliva, urine, or feces; the disinfection of surfaces and items in contact with such matter; the disposal of such matter in sealed containers; and the frequent and thorough cleansing of hands and any other body parts that contact such matter (see Policy 8453 and Policy 8453.01).

The Business Manager shall develop and supervise a program for the cleanliness and sanitary management of the school buildings, in school grounds, and school equipment pursuant to law.

The cleanliness of each school building shall be the responsibility of the principal.

R.C. 3701.933, 3703.03, 3707.26, 3313.473, 3314.15, 3703.03, 3707.26
A.C. 3301-35-03 (C) (D)
A.C. 3701.54

November, 1995
Revised 3/17/08
Revised 7/28/08