Each school district shall establish, implement, and maintain
an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. An IPM program is a regular
set of procedures for preventing and managing pest problems using
an integrated pest management strategy, as defined in §7.114
of this chapter (relating to Definitions. The school district is responsible
for each IPM Coordinator's compliance with these regulations.
(1) The IPM program shall contain these essential elements:
(A) a school board approved IPM policy, stating the
school district's commitment to follow integrated pest management
guidelines in all pest control activities that take place on school
district property. The IPM policy statement shall include:
(i) a definition of IPM consistent with this section;
(ii) a reference to Texas laws and rules governing
pesticide use and IPM in public schools;
(iii) information about who can apply pesticides on
school district property; and
(iv) information about designating, registering, and
required training for the school district's IPM Coordinator. The Superintendent
and IPM Coordinator will maintain a copy of the policy.
(B) a monitoring program to determine when pests are
present and when pest problems are severe enough to justify corrective
action;
(C) the preferential use of lower risk pesticides and
the use of non-chemical management strategies to control pests, rodents,
insects and weeds;
(D) a system for keeping records of facility inspection
reports, pest-related work orders, pest control service reports, pesticide
applications, and pesticide complaints;
(E) a plan for educating and informing school district
employees about their roles in the IPM program; and
(F) written guidelines that identify thresholds for
when pest control actions are justified.
(2) Each school district superintendent shall appoint
an IPM Coordinator(s) to implement the school district's IPM program.
Not later than 90 days after the superintendent designates or replaces
an IPM Coordinator(s), the school district must report to the department
the newly appointed coordinator's name, address, telephone number,
email address and the effective date of the appointment. A school
district that appoints more than one IPM Coordinator shall designate
a Responsible IPM Coordinator who will have overall responsibility
for the IPM program and provides oversight of subordinate IPM Coordinators
regarding IPM program decisions. When a school district removes an
IPM Coordinator, the departing IPM Coordinator, Superintendent, or
Superintendent's designee must notify the department of the removal
within ten (10) days in writing. A school district may not be without
an IPM Coordinator for more than 30 days.
(3) Each school district that engages in pest control
activities must employ or contract with a licensed applicator, who
may, if an employee, also serve as the IPM Coordinator.
(4) Each school district shall prior to or by the first
week of school attendance, ensure that a procedure is in place to
provide prior notification of pesticide applications in accordance
with this chapter. Individuals who request in writing to be notified
of pesticide applications may be notified by telephonic, written or
electronic methods.
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