Facility Operations
Annual Notification of Pesticide Applications
Dear Parent or Guardian:
State of Michigan law requires that schools and daycare centers that may apply pesticides on school or daycare property must provide an annual notification to parents or guardians of students attending that facility.
Please be advised that the Holt Public School and Midway Early Learning Center utilize an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to control pests. IPM is a pest management system that utilizes all suitable techniques in a total pest management system with the intent of preventing pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce an existing population to an acceptable level. Pest management techniques emphasize sanitation, pest exclusion, and biological controls. One of the objectives of using an IPM approach is to reduce or eliminate the need for chemical applications of pesticides. However, certain situations may require the need for pesticides to be utilized.
As required by State of Michigan law, schools or daycares will provide advance notice regarding the non-emergency application of a pesticide such as an insecticide, fungicide or herbicide, other than a bait or gel formulation, that is made to the school or daycare buildings or grounds. Advance notice will be provided even during periods when not in session. Advance notice is not given for the use of sanitizers, germicides, disinfectants, or anti-microbial cleaners. In certain emergencies, such as an infestation of stinging insects, pesticides may be applied without advance notice to prevent injury to students, but the school or daycare will provide notice following any such application.
Advance notice of pesticide applications, other than a bait or gel formulation, will be given by at least two methods by which advance notice of the applications of a pesticide will be given at least 48 hours before the application. The first method will be by posting at the main entrance to the school/daycare center. The second will be by posting in a public, common area of the school or daycare center, other than an entrance area.
Please be advised that parents or guardians of children attending the school or daycare center may request to receive the advance notice of a pesticide application, other than a bait or gel formulation, by e-mail, or by first class United States mail postmarked at least 3 days before the pesticide application. If you prefer to receive the notification by first class mail, please contact Ryan Zoumbaris at the school office by calling 517-694-3602 to schedule an appointment to fill out a request form. If you wish to receive notification by e-mail, please fill out the IPM Notification Request form.
Parents or guardians of children attending the school may also review the Integrated Pest Management program and records of any pesticide application upon request. Contact Ryan Zoumbaris at 517-694-3813 or by email at Ryan Zoumbaris to make an IPM program review request.
Asbestos Management Plan
To fully comply with Federal regulations concerning the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), all facilities in the Holt Public School District system have been inspected for friable and non-friable asbestos containing building materials and are free of all said materials.
Documentation is contained in respective Asbestos Management Plan binders in the Administrative Office of each school and in the District Superintendent and Facilities Management Offices. The plan is available for inspection upon request.
As always, the Holt Public School District is pleased to comply with all local, State, and Federal regulations. Our desire to provide a quality education includes the provision of this education within a setting that is comfortable, accommodating, and environmentally safe.
Facilities Assessment, 2018-2019
In 2018-2019 the Holt Board of Education hired a team to conduct a facility assessment and staff contributed to the assessment through a survey. Board of Education reviewed the completed facilities assessment report. A summary showed the District needed $61 million to address immediate facility issues (1-3 years) to modernize our facilities, and $137 million in total (1-9 years). That number did not include air conditioning, technology upgrades or improvements to the learning environments. During the facility planning, the committee identified additional opportunities to improve the educational experience for students, staff, and community members.
Documents
Holt Report
Holt Report - Supporting Details
Holt Report - Appendices, Facilities Assessment Addendum
HVAC Dynamic Air Filters
The Holt Board of Education made the decision to purchase Dynamic Air Filters for the entire school district. The filters will be installed in every HVAC unit, in every room, of every building.
Want additional information? Start with these reference materials.
Integrated Pest Management Policy
This integrated pest management (IPM) policy applies to all pest control activities and pesticide use in the school building and related facilities including grounds. Recipients of this policy include faculty, other staff, or any employees monitoring or treating pest problems including any contractors who monitor and/or treat pest problems. Each recipient is required to follow this policy.
Purpose
The goal of this integrated pest management policy is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment that is relatively pest-free with the least possible use of pesticides. To achieve this goal, it is the policy of Holt Public Schools to develop, implement and maintain an integrated pest management program for the control of pests and minimize pesticide exposure to children, faculty, and staff. This policy is consistent with the State of Michigan’s Act 451, Part 83 that encourages schools to adopt an IPM strategy. Sanitizers, germicides, disinfectants, or antimicrobials are exempt from the IPM /notification requirements. This policy adheres to the principles of IPM and is conducted in accordance with all federal and state laws and regulations and local ordinances.
Pests are controlled to protect the health and safety of students and staff, maintain a productive learning environment and maintain the integrity of school building and grounds. IPM is a pest management system that uses all suitable techniques in a total management system to prevent pests from reaching unacceptable levels or to reduce existing pest populations to acceptable levels while balancing the risk of the pest with the potential risk of the management technique.
Development of IPM program
The school IPM program written under this policy will state the school’s goals regarding the management of pests and the use of pesticides. It will reflect the school’s site-specific needs and includes the following elements as required by law:
- Site evaluation, including site description, inspection, and monitoring and the concept of threshold levels.
- Consideration of the relationship between pest biology and pest management methods
- Consideration of all available pest management methods, including population. reduction techniques, such as mechanical, biological, and chemical techniques and pest prevention techniques, such as habitat modification.
- Pest controls methods selection, including consideration of the impact on human health, especially for children, and the environment.
- Continue evaluation of the integrated pest management program.
The Principal or Lead Administrator or designee for this public, charter or non-public school shall be responsible for ensuring that an IPM program is developed and is in compliance with Act 451, part 83.
IPM Coordinator
The Principal (or Lead Administrator) shall designate an integrated pest management coordinator, who is responsible for the implementation of the school integrated pest management policy. The IPM Coordinator, in accordance with Act 451, Part 83, can also be the schools’ contact person 2 responsible for maintaining records with the specific information on pest infestation and actual pesticide application, and a copy of the school’s IPM program.
Education /Training
The school community will be educated about potential pest problems and IPM methods used to achieve the pest management objectives. The IPM Coordinator, other school staff and pesticide applicators involved with implementation of the school IPM policy will be trained in appropriate components of IPM as it pertains to the school environment. Students, parents/guardians will be provided with information on this policy and instructed on how they can contribute to the success of the IPM program.
Record Keeping
Records of pesticide use shall be maintained on site to meet the requirements of the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and the school board. Records shall also include, but are not limited to, pest surveillance data sheets and other non-pesticide pest management methods and practices utilized.
Notification/Posting
The Principal (or Lead Administrator) or IPM Coordinator of Holt Public Schools, is responsible for timely pre-notification to students’ parents or guardians and the school staff of pesticide treatments pursuant to the requirements under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451, Part 83.
Re-entry
In accordance with the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451, Part 83, reentry to a pesticide treated area may not occur less than 4 hours after application unless product label requires a longer reentry period. “Outdoor ornamental and turf applications of liquid spray pesticides shall not be made on school grounds within 100 feet of an occupied classroom during normal school hours or when persons are using the treatment area”.
Pesticide applicators
The IPM coordinator shall ensure that pesticide applicators, all district staff, boosters and volunteers follow state regulations, including licensing requirements, applicator certification or registration, and IPM training, label precautions, and must comply with all components of the School IPM Policy.
Evaluation
Annually, for public schools, the Principal (or Lead Administrator) will report to the local school board on the effectiveness of the IPM plan and make recommendations for improvement as needed. For non-public schools and charter schools, the Principal (or Lead Administrator) shall report to their respective governing boards on the effectiveness of the school IPM plan and make recommendations for improvement as needed.
The Principal or Lead Administrator is responsible to develop guidelines/procedures for the implementation of this policy.
To request notification of pesticide applications, please submit an IPM Notification Request.
Pesticide Notice and Asbestos Notice
PESTICIDES
It is the practice of Holt Public School District to use a “No Spray” guideline for the use of pesticides in any areas where children or staff are present. In certain emergencies, pesticides may have to be used. We use two methods of notification. The first method is a posting in a common area located by the main office of the school. The second method is via email. If you need prior notification by email, please request a notification form from your child’s school main office. The Michigan Department of Agriculture requires the following notice: Parents & guardians of children attending school are to be notified by school administrators of the right to be informed prior to any application of a pesticide at their school. If you need a prior notification form, please contact the Facilities Office at the Administration Building, 5780 W. Holt Road, Holt MI 48842, 517-694-3602.
ASBESTOS
The Holt Public School District has conducted an extensive asbestos survey of all buildings and continues to monitor all remaining asbestos containing materials. This is accomplished through periodic surveillance and a re- inspection every three years. Based on the findings of these inspections a management plan was drafted and is available for public review at each school building office during normal business hours.
