Environmental

Under Act 39 of 2018, schools may, but are not required to, test for lead levels annually in the drinking water of any facility where children attend school.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLS CHOOSING NOT TO TEST DRINKING WATER

If a school chooses not to test for lead levels, then the school must discuss lead issues in school facilities at a public meeting once a year. This meeting may be a stand-alone meeting or part of an existing public meeting (such as a school board meeting).

SCHOOLS WITH ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS

If a school tests for lead levels in their drinking water and finds lead levels in excess of the EPA’s current action level of 15 ppb, the school must immediately implement a plan to ensure that no child or adult is exposed to lead contaminated drinking water and provide alternate sources of drinking water. Resources on testing for lead and remedies for elevated lead levels are outlined below.

As required by Act 39 of 2018, beginning in the 2018-19 school year and every year thereafter, elevated lead levels must be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and will be posted on PDE’s website. Questions can be sent to the PDE Office for Safe Schools at RA-EDSAFESCHOOLSREP@pa.gov.

2024 Test Results 2024 WC East Test Results

The West Chester Area School District uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds (School Board policy 716). Our goal is to protect every student for pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office, and teaching staffs and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator who evaluates the pest problem and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increases sanitation, modifying storage practice, sealing entry points, physically removing the pests, etc.

From time to time it may be necessary to use chemicals to manage a pest problem. Chemicals will only be used when necessary and will not be routinely applied. When chemicals are used the school will try to use the least toxic products when possible. Applications will be made only when non-authorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in the areas 72 hours prior to application and for two days following the applications.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the school's notification registry. If you would like to be placed on the registry, please complete the online form. This request must be made annually.

If a chemical application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be emailed to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification. Exemptions to the notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students, and gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids.

If you have any questions please contact:

Mr. Wayne Birster, Director of Facilities and Operations
West Chester Area School District
1181 McDermott Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
wbirster@wcasd.net

El Distrito Escolar del área de West Chester usa una administración integrada contra pestes (IPM) como los insectos, roedores, y las malas hierbas. Nuestra meta es proteger cada estudiante de exposición a pesticidas usando IPM para administrar pestes.  Nuestra manera IPM se enfoca en hacer el edificio de la escuela y el campo en una desfavorable hábitat para estos pestes. Quitamos fuentes de comida y agua, eliminamos sus lugares de ocultación y los lugares de cría. Realizamos esto a través de rutinas de limpieza y mantenimiento. Nosotros monitoreamos rutinariamente el edificio de la escuela y los campos para detectar cualquier pestes que estén presentes. El equipo de supervisores de pestes consiste de nuestro mantenimiento en el edificio, oficina, y los maestros e incluye nuestros estudiantes.  Avistamientos de pestes son reportados a nuestros IPM coordinador que evalúa el problema de peste y determina la técnica apropiada para resolver el problema. Las técnicas pueden incluir incrementar saneamiento, modificar la práctica de almacenamiento, sallando puntos de entradas, retirar físicamente el peste, etc. 

De vez en cuando podría ser necesario usar químicos para administrar el problema de pestes.  Químicos sólo serán aplicados cuando sea necesario y no será aplicado rutinariamente. Cuando se usen químicos la escuela tratará de usar los productos menos tóxicos cuando sea posible. Sólo se harán las aplicaciones cuando ninguna persona autorizada tenga acceso a la área(s) que están curando. Un aviso será presentado en la área(s) 72 horas antes de aplicar y dos días después de las aplicaciones. 

Los padres o guardianes de los estudiantes inscritos en la escuela pueden pedir notificación antes de la aplicación en la escuela de la pesticida específica. Para recibir notificación, debe ser puesto en la registración de notificaciones de la escuela. Si le gustaría ser puesto en la registración, por favor complete la forma en línea en la página del distrito, bajo Departments, Facilities & Operations, IPM Notification Request Form. Esto tiene que ser pedido anualmente. Si no tiene acceso al Internet por favor llame la recepcionista de la facilidad al 484-266-1252, para pedir notificación. 

Si se ocupa aplicar químicos de emergencia para controlar un problema de pestes, se le dará noticia sobre correo electrónico a cualquier padre o guardián que a pedido tal notificaciones. Excepciones a esta notificación incluye desinfectantes y productos antimicrobianos; cebos autocontenedores puestos en áreas que no son accesibles a los estudiantes, cebos tipo de gel puestos en grietas, huecos, o vacíos. 

Si tiene cualquier pregunta por favor contacté: Señor Wayne Birster, Director de Facilidades  y Operaciones