IPM Notification
Dear parents or guardians and staff,
Onslow County Schools utilizes an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for controlling insects, rodents, and weeds for all school facilities.
Our IPM approach currently focuses on making the school buildings and grounds an unfavorable place for pests to live and breed. Through preventative maintenance and cleaning, we will reduce and/or eliminate available food and water sources, and potential hiding places for pests. Routinely, we monitor the school area to detect pest problems and prevent the pests from becoming established. Some IPM techniques we employ include monitoring, increased sanitation, sealing entry points, physically removing the pests, and modifying storage practices.
It may be necessary from time to time to use chemicals to control a pest problem. Chemicals are only used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When chemicals must be used, the school system will use the least toxic products when possible. Access to treated areas will be secured against unauthorized access for the period specified on the pesticide label. Notices will be posted at application sites and will remain there until the posted safe re-entry time is met.
For your information, we have a list of pesticides and safety data sheets that may be used in the school during the school year. This list is available online www.onslow.k12.nc.us under Auxiliary Services/Safety and Security/documents.
You may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at a school. Please email wayne.williams@onslow.k12.nc.us with the subject line IPM Parent Notification, to be added to the notification list. The registrants will be notified at least 72 hours before a pesticide is applied. If a chemical application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided as soon as possible after the application. Exemptions to this notification include cleaners (disinfectants), pesticides formulated as baits or gels, and any EPA-exempt pesticide.