Pesticide Application Notice

The Penn Hills School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents, and weeds. Our goal is to protect our students and staff from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator, who evaluates the “pest problem” and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. These techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency to manage a pest problem. A pesticide will only be used when necessary and will not be routinely applied. When a pesticide is necessary, the school will try to use the least toxic product that is effective. Applications will be made only when unauthorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to and for two days following application.
Students may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at their school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the school’s notification registry. If you would like to be placed on this registry, please notify the District in writing including your name, address, and telephone number and mail to: IPM Coordinator, c/o Physical Plant Department, Penn Hills School District, 260 Aster Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. 

If a pesticide application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone to any student who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students and gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices, or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals.

Each year, the District will prepare a new notification registry in which you must re-register as the requests will not be carried over from year to year.