Who Can Work Under My License?  By Dr. Don Renchie

There seems to be a lot of confusion buzzing around schools these days about who can apply pesticides.  First, only licensed applicators can make ANY type of pesticide application – even “organic” on school properties.  The Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Structural Pest Control Act” has required all applicators be licensed as commercial, noncommercial, or technicians before they make applications in or around  schools, childcare centers, or educational institutions since the mid-1980s.

What has many school IPM coordinators confused are the differences between the “Incidental Use” rule and  the TDA category 3A “Ornamental and Turf” license, which allows political subdivision non-commercial  applicators to supervise non-licensed district employees.

Incidental Use allows the IPM Coordinator to train someone within the district, whose primary job responsibility, is NOT to respond to pest complaints or calls, to treat an occasional pest problem.  First, the pest problem must be considered an “Emergency; such as fire ants in a classroom, bees, wasps, or hornets next to an exit door, or some other stinging or venomous insect.   The rule allows the coordinator to train an individual on a specific insecticide for use in a specific location or area.  For example, the district has an A/C tech that travels the district replacing filters and other A/C related repairs.  When an individual gets to a site and it has a hornets nest in close proximity of the A/C unit, under the Incidental Use rule, the person could use their supplied can of hornet killer to help reduce the insect population.  This same individual would need to complete an application use record for incidental use and return that form to the school IPM coordinator.  TDA requires the IPM Coordinator to train all individuals on Incidental Use upon initial employment before any applications are allowed, annually before any applications are made and anytime pesticide products are changed or anytime the pesticide product label changes.  If individuals find themselves constantly treating for a pest, TDA would require that person to become a licensed applicator in the appropriate category.

The political subdivision non-commercial ornamental and turf category (3A) license was established by TDA to allow cities, counties, state, and other governmental entities/agencies with their landscape and grounds maintenance programs.  Schools fall under this classification as well.  Under the 3A category license, the school district noncommercial applicator can supervise unlicensed district employees as long as they work out of the same office or the same location.  Furthermore, the supervising applicator would need to insure the non-licensed applicators were trained annually and before they made any 3A applications.  All SPCS requirements for posting under the IPM in Schools regulations would have to be satisfied.  The supervising applicator would also need to insure that a TDA “Affidavit of Supervision” was in the employee (s) or IPM Coordinators files (if the applicator isn’t also the Coordinator) to maintain compliance with TDA recordkeeping requirements.   The licensed applicator and the unlicensed person in accordance with recordkeeping requirements for TDA and the school IPM program must also complete application use records.  While the unlicensed person will not have a license number, their name should be clearly written on the record in the event there are questions later.

Finally, individuals who are licensed with the 3A category or work under someone, can only make pesticide applications outdoors. These applications can be for insects, weeds, or diseases but must be done outdoors and preferably away from children as well.  And remember all records should be keep on file for two years, with many schools having to abide by the Open Records Act, some districts have been keeping their records for five

School IPM Website – One Stop Learning and Resources

When was the last time you visited the Texas School IPM Website (https://schoolipm.tamu.edu ) Over the past year, we have been trying to update and reorganize the website so you can find all the forms and resources you need to keep your program in compliance and help educate your staff about your IPM program.

At the top of the page are tab headings, these headings are the most frequently used areas of the webpage.  For example, are you looking for a specific TDA – SPCS form, then click on the “Structural Pest Control Service Forms”you will find links to TDA and selected forms that you can download and save to your computer.  Not sure, how to establish

thresholds and pest specific management plans; then check out our “pest management plans” tab.  Under the section titled “Management Plans” you will notice a list of thirteen common pests in and around schools.  Extension Entomologists and Biologists from across the southern region have constructed these management plans.  We will also be releasing additional plans in April to give you twenty plans for the most common pests around schools.

Confused about training your teachers and staff about IPM, then check out our IPM Presentations section, where you will find power point presentations, handouts, and fact sheets that you can use in your district.  Thanks to several of our School IPM Trainers from around the country, we recently added a YouTube school IPM video site.  Check out the IPM Minute Videos and submit us your topics that you would like to see in the future.

Healthy Schools Heroes 2012: Champions for School Quality and Safety By: Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed

Every year to mark the anniversary of the March 18, 1937 Texas School Explosion, Ellie Goldberg, salutes a Healthy Schools Hero whose inspirational leadership sets a high standard for safety that protects children from hazards and unhealthy school conditions.

The Healthy Schools Hero award is part of a campaign to make March 18 an annual day to bring the lessons of the 1937 Texas School Explosion to every school, to update school values and technical skills for 21st century citizens, and to celebrate the leadership for safety that can save lives.

This year, on the 75th anniversary of the tragedy, two school leaders from small Texas towns are Healthy Schools Heroes because each demonstrates extraordinary personal responsibility in making safety a core value and taking pride in schools that are clean and in good repair.

They both understand that high standards, regulations, and professional training are essential safeguards for ensuring the quality and well-being of their communities.

Both school leaders know the story of the 1937 New London School Explosion. They take no short cuts when it comes to safety.

More Details About Healthy Schools Heroes 2012

Pride of Purpose, Pride of Place

Superintendent Harold Cowley of Yantis ISD is a 2012 Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Hero for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to the safety and well-being of the children and teachers in Yantis, TX. Superintendent Cowley is high qualified to be chief administrator of a modern school system because of a special combination of his values as well as his technical knowledge and skills.  READMORE

We Make Decisions Based on Health and Safety  

Disa Schulze, Director of Support Services, Danbury ISD, TX, is a 2012 Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Hero for more than twenty years of dedication to the safety and well-being of the children and teachers where she is responsible for Maintenance, Food Service, Transportation, and Safety.  READMORE