Protecting Children from Pests and  Pesticides at School. 
Bring the Benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to Your School! 

 
Does your child go to school in Newton? Become an IPM Ambassador:

• Learn about the principles of pollution prevention and sustainable practices that benefit everyone.

•  Teach the use of brain power and team work instead of toxic chemicals to prevent and control pests such as head lice, mice and cockroaches. 

• Teach others to spot conditions that invite pests and allow them to thrive such as open dumpsters, leaky faucets, clutter and wet trash.

• Encourage collaboration and responsibility among all building users in adopting the good hygiene, sanitation and maintenance practices that keep the school clean and in good repair.

View Massachusetts Children and Families Protection Act - 333 CMR 14.00 [PDF]
The purpose of 333 CMR 14.00 is to promote the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Techniques and to establish those standards, requirements and procedures necessary to minimize the risk of unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the environment regarding the use of pesticides within a school, daycare center or school age child care program facility. The Children and Families Protection Act went into effect on November 1, 2000. 

Mass.gov School IPM
Find your school's IPM plan.

Ask:

Is the plan up to date? Is it complete? Is it readable?

Does your plan's development and annual evaluation include parents?

Does the school educate and train staff and students?

Does the school implement the plan and inform you about it?

Are posters about the Pest Management Plan posted in classrooms and other high visibility areas?

Do you know how to report conditions that attract or harbor pests? Who is responsible for correcting conditions?

Do you know where reports and service records are kept? Are they accurate? reliable? 

Does the plan create clean, dry, uncluttered, well-managed healthy conditions that keep your children safe from pests and pesticides?

The February School IPM 2015 newsletter features articles on IPM in the Classroom, Performance Standards for IPM Coordinators and the new Inspector's Field Guide for Pest Identification.

http://www.ipminstitute.org/school_ipm_2015/Feb11_eNewsletter.htm

HIGHWAYS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN HEARING NOTICE

MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114 617-626-1700
www.mass.gov/agr

PUBLIC HEARINGS: VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN NOTICE
Wednesday, January 19, 2011

http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/vmp/MassDOT-D6-VMP-2011-2015.pdf

Pursuant to the Rights-of-Way Management Regulations (333 CMR 11.00) in order to apply pesticides to control vegetation to maintain Rights-of Ways, the Department of Agricultural Resources must approve a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) and a Yearly Operational Plan (YOP). The VMP is intended to justify the need to control vegetation, identify target vegetation, describe the intended methods of control, describe methods for identifying sensitive areas, describe operational guidelines for applicators, outline a program of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) designed to reduce the use of herbicides, and describe alternative land use activities.

The following municipalities are advised that the MassDOT Highway Division District 6 proposes to utilize herbicides to treat their Rights-of-Way in these municipalities:

Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Chelsea, Dedham, Dover, Milton, Needham, Newton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Weymouth, Winthrop

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED:

In accordance with 333 CMR 11.05 the Department of Agricultural Resources will conduct a regional hearing to receive public comment on the proposed Vegetation Management Plan for the MassDOT Highway Division District 6 as submitted by the MassDOT Highway Division 6, 185 Kneeland Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

To provide all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed VMP, public hearings will be held at the following locations:

Wednesday, January 19, 2011: MassDOT, John Driscoll Building, 668 South Ave, Weston Turnpike Depot, Weston 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM

Plans Available for Public Review Prior to Hearings:  http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/vmp/MassDOT-D6-VMP-2011-2015.pdf

Section 11.05 (3)(d) of the Row Management Regulations provide: “At least 21 days prior to the end of the public comment period, the applicant shall send a copy of the proposed VMP to the chief elected official, the Board of Health, and the Conservation Commission in affected communities upon their request.” Such request should be made to:

Mr. Helmut Ernst District Highway Director MassDOT Highway Division District 6 185 Kneeland Street Boston, MA 02111

2010 VMP: http://www.mass.gov/agr/pesticides/rightofway/yop/MassPike-MADOT-YOP-2010.pdf