Gary Fish knows how dangerous it can be to use pesticides in schools.

An environmental specialist with the Maine Board of Pesticide Control, he’s seen a custodian spray ant poison next to air vents and a custodian use potato herbicides on sports fields to get rid of weeds. He’s seen school workers try to kill lice by dousing classroom carpets and desks with insecticide.

“They didn’t have a license. They didn’t really know what they were doing,” Fish said.

So he’s glad that a new state law requires schools to change the way they work with pesticides. But two weeks after the law went into effect, Fish believes many schools aren’t in compliance.

“We still have tons of schools that have no clue,” he said.

Three years ago, a Maine Department of Agriculture study found that few schools had a policy on pest control or pesticides. Many in the survey acknowledged that unlicensed staff members were the ones who treated their schools with chemicals.

“Oftentimes, it’s teachers who have their own personal can of Raid,” Fish said.

Last fall, the Board of Pesticide Control voted to require schools to create pest-management policies that state pesticides can be used only as a last resort and only by licensed workers.

They also required schools to tell parents about the law, notify parents five days before using dangerous chemicals and post warnings on school grounds two days before using them.

The seven-member board can set such rules without legislative approval.

Schools were supposed to have their policies in place by Aug. 31. They are supposed to inform parents of the law within the first two weeks of school.

Compliance has been spotty so far.

In SAD 52, which serves Greene, Leeds and Turner, Assistant Superintendent Wilma T. Lombardi said her school system is in the process of creating a pest-management policy. But the policy likely won’t be approved by the school board until October. Letters won’t be sent to parents until the policy is accepted.

“We’re doing the best we can to comply,” said Lombardi, noting that the school system has had three superintendents in the past few months. “It only makes sense to make sure we’re informing people. People can be allergic to things.”

In SAD 15, which serves Gray and New Gloucester, Finance and Operations Director Brian McDonnell said he is aware of the new law. His school system “intends to comply with it,” and is getting ready to send letters to parents soon, he said.

“The protection of children is our No. 1 job,” he said.

As a parent, Fish has dealt with compliance problems firsthand.

His son’s elementary school notified him of the new law, but the letter had wrong information. He hasn’t heard from his daughter’s high school at all.

/////’Think first’/////

Some school systems have complied with the spirit – though not the letter – of the law.

Auburn Support Services Director Billy Hunter said his school system doesn’t use pesticides unless it’s an emergency involving bees or other stinging bugs.

“We try to keep away from the chemical stuff because of the kids,” he said.

But Auburn still needs an approved policy under the law. And letters still need to go home.

Hunter believes they will be sent out next week.

In Lewiston, parents have already been told about the new pesticide law. But a formal policy won’t be approved for weeks.

Still, Lewiston has been involved in a pest-management pilot program this year and is regarded as a model school system.

Maintenance Director William MacKenzie said he’s followed the “think first, spray last” philosophy for years. To prevent pests, he’s moved garbage bins away from school doors and put screens on open kitchen windows. If he simply takes away pests’ food, water and hiding place, he said, they leave on their own.

Schools may receive a warning or face up to $1,500 in fines for violating the law. Because the Board of Pesticide Control has only five inspectors, Fish said they’ll have to rely on parent complaints to find schools not in compliance.

“It’ll be a huge challenge,” he said.

ltice@sunjournal.com

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