The first School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisory Group meeting was held on February 8, 2001, at the Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Marta Arguello, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Kelly Campbell, Californians for Pesticide Reform
Dan Collins, Pesticide Applicators Professional Association
Bryan Crabb, Legislative Assistant for Assemblyman Kevin Shelley
Gregg Eddy, California Federation of Teachers
Cato Fiksdal, Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner
Mary Louise Flint, University of California Statewide IPM Project
Steve Forsberg, California Plant Health Association
Mary Grisier, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
Tony Hesch, California Department of Education
Kelli Okuma, California Structural Pest Control Board
Ian Padilla, Coalition for Adequate School Housing
Eric Paulsen, Pest Control Operators of California
Pete Price, Price Consulting
Debbie Raphael, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Fred Rozo, Western Exterminator Company
Debbie Shrem, Children’s Environmental Health Network
Art Slater, Slater’s Pest Control
Nancy Spradling, California State Parent Teacher Association
Bruce Van Buren, California Association of School Business Officials
MEMBERS PARTICIPATING BY CONFERENCE CALL:
Phil Boise, Community Environmental Council
Gene Harrington, National Pest Management Association
Sandy Schubert, City of Santa Monica
AGENDA ITEMS
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS test
Paul Helliker, Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) welcomed members. Members and observers introduced themselves. Meeting facilitator Dennis Tootelian, Professor of Marketing, California State University, Sacramento, summarized the meeting format and agenda (handout #1).
2. BRIEF OVERVIEW
Nita Davidson, DPR, provided a brief history and overview of DPR's School IPM Program (handout #2), a summary of Assembly Bill 2260 provisions (handout #3), and the new Food and Agricultural Code requirements of DPR. Tony Hesch, School Facility Consultant with the California Department of Education, summarized the new Education Code requirements established by AB 2260.
3. PURPOSE AND ROLE OF ADVISORY GROUP
Paul Helliker provided background information on establishment of the advisory group, emphasizing its key role in the implementation of DPR’s school IPM program (handout #4). He indicated that establishing such an advisory group is not required under the Healthy Schools Act of 2000. However, DPR decided that establishing the school IPM advisory group, composed of key school organizations and other interested groups representing a cross section of interests, would be an important part of implementing DPR’s school IPM program. The Director outlined that the purpose of such an informal advisory group is to offer suggestions and comments to DPR as it develops materials and activities to help districts establish IPM policies and programs, train individuals designated by school districts to carry out these programs, develop an IPM guidebook, establish an IPM in Schools Web site, and evaluate IPM adoption in schools. The advisory group’s advice will be most helpful to ensure this program provides the best support possible for its constituent groups and achieves its mandated goals.
4. DPR'S WEB SITES
Chris Geiger, DPR, summarized the content of DPR's temporary Web site (handout #5)and outlined the goals and requirements for the permanent Web site and the role of the advisory group in its planned development.
Chris reviewed provisions of AB 2260 that require DPR to establish and maintain a School IPM Web site that contains information on pesticide products, a comprehensive directory of resources describing and promoting least-hazardous pest management practices at schools, the model program guidebook, ways to reduce the use of pesticides at school facilities, and provides the public with information about public health and environmental impacts of pesticides.In development of the permanent Web site, DPR will adapt the most relevant ideas from other school IPM Web sites. The Web site will emphasize function and content and will be central to the outreach effort.
Chris asked the group for suggested changes in the intent of the goals (handout #6) and for suggested additional goals. Chris then led group discussion to brainstorm changes and additions to the draft inventory of Web site content (handout #7). The group was asked to address Questions to Guide Discussion (handout #8). Members provided suggestions for each of the categories of materials that will be developed and made available on the permanent Web site.
ACTION: DPR will take these comments under advisement, and incorporate them into these documents as appropriate. For those who wish to submit comments or provide additional information, please send them to Madeline Brattesani by March 30, 2001. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 324-4082, or via e-mail at <mbrattesani@cdpr.ca.gov>.
5. DRAFT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Nita Davidson asked the group to review the Frequently Asked Questions About DPR's School IPM Program (handout #9) and to offer suggestions for additional questions.
ACTION: DPR will take these comments under advisement, and incorporate them into these documents as appropriate. For those who wish to submit comments or provide additional information, please send them to Madeline Brattesani by March 30, 2001. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 324-4082, or via e-mail at <mbrattesani@cdpr.ca.gov>.
6. DRAFT SURVEY OF IPM PRACTICES
Dennis Tootelian provided an overview of the purpose of the survey, its current stage of development, and the communication with each school district to identify the IPM Coordinators who will receive the mailing. The purpose of the survey is to provide a baseline of activities and is being designed to be as user-friendly as possible. It is tentatively scheduled for mailing in late March, and for return in April/May, 2001.
ACTION: DPR will provide the Advisory Group a copy of the final survey when available.
7. FUTURE ACTIVITIES OF ADVISORY GROUP
Paul Helliker expressed his appreciation to the group for their participation and helpful input, asking for additional topics the group would like discussed. The Advisory Group will be asked to review a considerable amount of draft documents. Paul asked for group preference in receiving this material by mail or e-mail, and how much time would be appropriate for reviewing documents 10-20 pages in length. Paul asked which form of communication was preferable for advisory group correspondence. Group response indicated a preference for e-mail contact and utilization of a group e-mail listing.
In the future, DPR will also develop and provide a model IPM guidebook, develop and offer train-the-trainer workshops to IPM coordinators by region, and evaluate effectiveness of our program and adoption of an IPM program and practices by school districts. DPR will continue to solicit the group's comments and suggestions on these program elements and update the group on progress being made. DPR plans to solicit the group’s comments and suggestions primarily in writing or by e-mail over the next few months, and schedule future meetings as needed. The advisory group will be asked to meet 2-3 times/year. Smaller sub-groups are a possibility for specific issues.
ACTION: DPR asked group members and observers to send in additional comments and suggestions if possible, by March 30, 2001, to Madeline Brattesani. She can be reached by telephone at (916) 324-4082, or via e-mail at <mbratessani@cdpr.ca.gov>.
8. OTHER
(a) Pest Control Operators of California distributed a copy of their recently developed IPM Guidebook.
(b) DPR agreed to add a representative from the Long Beach Unified School District to the Advisory Group.
The following handouts were distributed at this meeting. Hard copies will be mailed upon request, or you can view them on DPR's Home Page at <www.cdpr.ca.gov> and click on School IPM.
1. Meeting
agenda
2. Overview
of DPR’s school IPM program
3. Assembly
Bill 2260
4. Invitation
to prospective members of the School IPM Advisory Group
5. Notice
to interested parties regarding availability of school IPM temporary Web site
6. Draft
goals for the school IPM permanent Web site
7. Content
requirements/wish list for the school IPM permanent web site
8. Questions
to guide discussion
9. Frequently
asked questions about DPR’s school IPM program
If you have any questions about this meeting summary, please feel free to contact Sewell Simmons at (916) 324-4245.
This meeting summary was prepared on February 23, 2001 by Madeline Brattesani, Nita Davidson, Chris Geiger, Belinda Messenger, Sewell Simmons, and Angelica Welsh.