The New Hope-Solebury School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents, and weeds. Our goal in using this approach is to protect students from pesticide exposure. The IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for 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 building maintenance, office, and teaching staff. Pest sightings are reported to the IPM coordinator, who evaluates the ‘pest problem’ and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, and/or physically removing the pest.
From time to time, it may be necessary to use pesticide registered by the Environmental Protection Agency to manage a pest problem. A pesticide will only be used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When a pesticide application is necessary, the school will try to use the least toxic product that is effective. Applications will be made only when unauthorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for two days following the application.
Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications being made at the school. To receive notification, please contact the District in writing to be added to the school’s notification registry.
If the pesticide application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students; gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals. Each year the district develops a new notification registry.
If you have any questions, please contact George Arslanian, Supervisor of Operations, at 215-862-5372 extension 3119 or email at Email George Arslanian
This notice is to inform all parents, faculty and staff of the availability of the asbestos management plan for each building under the jurisdiction of the New Hope-Solebury School District (NHSSD), as required by law.
In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), 40 CRF Part 763.93, the District conducted initial inspections of all the School District buildings for the presence of Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM) in 1988. An asbestos management plan for each building was developed at that time, detailing the location and condition of all ACBM along with the short-term actions to be taken to protect building occupants, and documentation of response actions. These management plans are available for review by any interested person at either the NHSSD Administration Office located at 180 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA; or at the individual School during normal working hours. AHERA regulations require re-inspections of all ACBM every three years by an accredited building inspector, and this includes an update of the Management Plan. The latest 3-year re-inspection and management plan update was completed in November 2018 by Element Environmental Solutions, Inc. (E2S).
The AHERA regulations also require surveillance inspections of all ACBM every six months, by an individual with training and knowledge of ACBM. E2S completed the most recent 6-month surveillance inspection, which occurred in November 2018 (covered in the AHERA 3-year reinspection requirements). The next 6-month surveillance inspection is due in May 2019. These reports and management plan updates are also available for review by any interested person at either the NHSSD Administration Office located at 180 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA; or at the individual School during normal working hours.
