Habitat Management Program
Mission Statement
The Habitat Management Program was created to provide the Pajaro Valley Unified School District with safe, sustainable, long-term, cost-effective Habitat Management processes.

Definition
Habitat Management means resolving problems with nontoxic solutions; its objective is to manage the factors that allow pest situations to develop.  The targets are the habitats - the structures and landscapes - not the pests. 

Preamble
The adoption of a Habitat Management Program has three major benefits:

• It protects teh health of students, District personnel, and the community.
• It reduces to lowest possible levels the District´s reliance on exposure to toxic chemicals.
• It is a cost-effective approach to maintaining a safe, healthy environment.

Program Goals
Several goals are required for successful implementation of a Habitat Management Program environment in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District:

• Support:  A safe, economically viable Habitat Management Progam will be implemented in a timely manner in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
• Education and Awareness:  Every person involved with the Habitat Management Program will understand its philosophy and implementation.
• Implementation: Changes in structure and maintenance programs will result in a safe, healthy, clean, and attractive environment.
• Response:  Systems will be implemented for effectively monitoring, evaluating, and revising the Habitat Management Program.
   

The Habitat Management Committee meetings are currently on hold.  For more information please contact Maintenance & Operations at (831) 728-6248.

Individual school sites may implement a Habitat Management Program on a site-by-site basis with the support of the PVUSD upon approval by the school´s Site Council.  Arrangements can be made for staff and Site Councils to receive a presentation by members of the Habitat Management Committee.  With the support of staff and approval by the school´s Site Council, the principal may sign the membership agreement and the site may then begin implementing non-toxic habitat management measures. 

In 1998, a group of concerned teachers, community members, and district personnel applied, and were awarded a grant for $30,000 from the California State Environmental Protection Agency, to establish the Habitat Management Program.