Grounds: Integrated Pest Management Plan

Purpose Statement
Vista Unified School District aims to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with a focus on long-term pest prevention and control. This approach involves accurate pest identification, regular monitoring for pest activity, and setting appropriate action thresholds. The district works to make environments less hospitable to pests through sanitation, as well as mechanical and physical controls. When necessary, effective pesticides will be used in a way that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment, but only after other control methods have proven ineffective.


Contact: 
Vista Unified School District
1234 Arcadia Avenue
Vista, CA 92084 

IPM Coordinator:
Anthony Arias, Grounds Manager
Email: anthonyarias@vistausd.org
(760) 726-2170 ext.  92704

IPM Team:

• Anthony Arias – IPM Coordinator, (QAL)
• Robert Johnson – Monitoring, applications (QAC)
• Ernesto Rivera - Monitoring, applications (QAL)
• Mark Henry-Monitoring, applications 

Pest Management Contracting:
Some pest management services are contracted out to pest management providers as needed. Prior to entering into a contract Vista Unified School district has confirmed that outside contractors understand and comply with all aspects of the Healthy Schools Act including training requirements. 

Pest Identification, Monitoring and Inspection:
Pest identification, monitoring and inspections for pests and conditions that lead to pest problems are regularly performed by school district staff, and the results are communicated to the IPM Coordinator. Specific information about monitoring and inspections for pests, such as locations, times, or techniques include utilizing tracer baits for rodents.

Pests and Non-Chemical Management Practices:
Vista Unified School District has identified the following pests and routinely uses the following non-chemical practices and organic treatments to prevent pets from reaching the action threshold level.

Chemical Pest Management Practices:
If non-chemical methods are ineffective, Vista Unified School district will consider pesticides only after careful monitoring indicates that they are needed according to pre-established action levels and will use pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property and the environment. Here is a listing of pesticides that could potentially be used throughout the year;

Healthy Schools Act:
Vista Unified School District complies with the notification, posting, record-keeping, and all other requirements of the Healthy Schools Act. (Education Code Sections 17608-17613,48980.3; Food and Agricultural Code Sections 13180 – 13188)

Training:
Vista Unified School District employees have all obtained their QAC certificate by the California State Department of Pesticide Regulation. In addition, every year school district employees receive the following training prior to pesticide use:

• Continued education to maintain each individual applicators QAC licensing in good standing
• Pesticide safety training (Title 3 California Code of Regulations 6724)
• School IPM training course approved by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (Education Code Section 16714; Food & Agricultural Code Section 13186.5).

Submittal of Pesticide Use Reports:
Reports of all pesticides applied by school district staff during the calendar year, except pesticides exempt from HSA recordkeeping, are submitted to the Department of Pesticide Regulation at least annually, by January 30 of the following year, using the form provided at www.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm. (Education Code Section 16711).