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In 1998, a group of concerned teachers, community members, and district personnel wrote and were awarded a grant for $30,000 from the California State Environmental Protection Agency, to establish a Habitat Management Program that would reduce the use of toxic chemicals throughout the school district.
The objective of the program is to "create, establish and implement a program that provides the Pajaro Valley Unified School District with a safe, long term, cost-effective Habitat Management Process to resolve pest control problems with non-toxic solutions.
The Habitat Management Program is designed to eliminate the reliance on the use of synthetic pesticides, thereby reducing the health risks for students and parents, teachers and other school district staff, and community members. Additionally, the implementation of a Habitat Management Program will improve indoor air quality and outdoor air quality in the immediate vicinity of the school sites and therefore fall within the goals and objectives of Section 103 of the Clean Air Act Section 20 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
During the 5 year period of the grant, from 1998 to 2002, the District will implement non-toxic practices; will develop and provide training on non-toxic habitat management practices to Maintenance and Grounds personnel, Construction personnel, site custodians, facility managers and administrators, teachers, parent and community members, and students; will develop prototype training outlines and materials for disemination to future habitat management projects throughout the State; and will sponsor and coordinate community habitat management events, such as community weeding days.
PVUSD is proud to be piloting this innovative program for the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.
For more information about this grant and related grants, contact the California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Pesticide Regulation at http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm. |
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