Elmer Gomez; District IPM Coordinator
(310) 615-2650, ext. 1502
egomez@esusd.net 

The El Segundo Unified School District District recognizes that maintenance of a safe, clean and healthful environment for students and staff is essential to learning. It is the goal of the District to provide safe and effective, pest control while protecting students, staff, the environment, and District properties and assets.

The District adopts a Least-Hazardous Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy. It is the policy of the District to focus and develop long-term pest prevention methods and give “non-chemical” methods first consideration when selecting appropriate control measures. The full range of alternatives will be considered, giving preference to non-chemical methods, and then chemicals that pose the least hazard to people and the environment.

Pests will be controlled to protect the health and safety of the students and staff; to maintain a productive learning environment; and, to maintain the integrity of the school buildings and grounds. Pest control will be economically feasible over the long term and efficacious. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the district follows IPM procedures so as to use the most appropriate and least-hazardous method of control. Sanitary measures shall be enforced and buildings regularly cleaned and repaired in order to prevent infestations, minimize the use of pesticides, and eliminate routine spraying.

The Healthy Schools Act of 2000 defines IPM as “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 and 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. Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and E-1 are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property and the environment, are used only after careful monitoring indicates that they are needed according to pre-established guidelines and treatment thresholds.” (Food and Agricultural Code section 13181)

• Identifying and monitoring pests to determine pest population levels and identify decisions and practices that could affect pest populations.

• Setting of action levels to determine when vegetation or a pest population at a specific site cause(s) unacceptable economic or medical damage wherein corrective action should be taken.

• Modifying and/or eliminating pest habitats to deter pest populations and minimize pest infestations.

• Considering use of a range of potential treatments for the pest problem, including physical, horticultural, and biological methods of pest control.

• Using chemical controls only as a last resort, and only those chemicals that pose the least possible hazard to people and the environment.

The Superintendent shall designate a staff person to coordinate the IPM program. The IPM coordinator shall be educated in the principles and practice of least-hazardous IPM and be responsible for:

• Oversight for the successful implementation of the program consistent with this policy and coordinate all District efforts to adopt IPM.

• Overall program management and providing proposed regulations or procedures and products for use in managing pest populations.

• Formal annual notification to parents, staff and students of any chemical pesticide application not exempt from requirements of the Healthy Schools Act.

• Posting warning signs for pesticide applications.

• Establishing and maintaining a registry of parents, staff and students who have indicated that they desire prior notification of each pesticide application.

• Recordkeeping guidelines for any chemical pesticide application.

• Education and training for IPM personnel.

Training of personnel is critical to the success of an IPM program. Staff, students, pest managers and the public shall be educated about potential school pest problems, the IPM Policy, and procedures that will be used to achieve the desired pest management objectives. 

Staff who utilize any products intended to kill germs or bacteria are required to complete online training offered by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Training modules may be accessed through the CA DPR website.

All pest control companies contracted by the District shall follow all provisions of the policy. Licensed and certified pest control operators are required to include information on any school pesticide application that they perform as part of their otherwise applicable reporting requirements.

Annual notification The District shall annually provide to all staff, parents or guardians of pupils, enrolled at a school site, a written notification of all pesticide products to be used during the upcoming year. The notice shall identify the ingredients in each pesticide. The notice shall also contain the Internet address used to access information on pesticides and pesticide use reduction developed by the Department of Pesticide Regulation pursuant to Section 13184 of the Food and Agriculture Code.

The annual written notification shall provide the opportunity for recipients to receive notification of individual pesticide application at the school facility. The designee shall notify persons who register for such notification of individual pesticide applications at least 72 hours prior to the application. The notice shall include the product name, the active ingredients and the intended date of application.

The District designee shall post warning signs at each area to be treated. The sign shall include the term “Warning/Pesticide Treated Area,” the product name, manufacturers name, the EPA product registration number, date of application, area of application and the target pest. These signs shall be posted 24 hours prior to the application and remain for 72 hours after the application.

Pest control measures taken during an emergency, i.e., wherein the school district designee deems that the immediate use of a pesticide is necessary to protect the health and safety of pupils, staff or other persons, or the school site, shall not be subject to the notification requirements herein. However, the District designee shall make every effort to provide the required notification for an application of a pesticide under emergency conditions.

Some pesticide products are exempt from notification, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Pesticide products used as a self-contained bait or trap, gel or paste deployed as a crack and crevice treatment, any pesticide exempted under FIFRA (7 U.S.C. Sec. 25 (b)), or antimicrobial pesticides, including sanitizers and disinfectants, are exempt.

Healthy Schools Act Fact Sheet

Hand Sanitizers

Bids - Open

Bids - Closed

Contractor/ Prequalification Information

Facilities Advisory Committee

Facilities Master Plan

Integrated Pest Management Plan

M&O Information

Staff