Community Activists
Win Pesticide Free Durham Public Schools
by Billie Karel
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Advanced notification in case of pesticide application at school is especially important for teachers and parents, since students can so easily be exposed to lingering pesticide residues that settle on the floor. Photo: Spanish Class at Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet Elementary School, Durham NC. |
This spring, Durham parents and community groups mobilized for least-toxic alternatives to pesticides in their public school system, and for their right to know in advance of broadcast pesticides applications at school – and won! On May 19, the Durham Board of Education adopted a new policy on pest management that requires the district to use prevention-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM), to notify staff and parents and guardians in advance of broadcast pesticide applications, and to require IPM in all contracts for pest control services. (You can see the new policy on Durham Public Schools’ Website at www.dpsnc.net)
This victory came after over a year of hard work and persistence on the part of community activists in Durham. Parent activists have used many different strategies to educate themselves and their target decision makers about pesticides and school health, and have worked with many different allies. The process was highly effective, and also accomplished something great in Durham; in taking action for local pesticide reform, numbers of environmental health and justice activists grew, relationships between activists, organizations, and decision makers were established and nurtured, and skill levels and confidence for activism improved dramatically.
“I feel prepared for the next battle,” said Michele Kloda, mom and IPM activist, on the ride home from a school board meeting in March.
Activists – including students, teachers, parents and grandparents – took action for change in numerous ways over the course of the campaign, including: meeting with decision makers, giving interviews to the press, writing opinion pieces for the newspaper, petitioning the Board of Education, researching pesticide issues, educating peers about pesticides and school health, managing and increasing turnout to meetings and events, lobbying decision makers in person and over the phone, composing advocacy letters, e-activism, and navigating the school district’s policy-making process.
Activists not only strengthened their ties to Toxic Free NC, and to decision makers in their school district, but also built working relationships with community organizations. The Durham People’s Alliance, the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association, Durham Farmers’ Market, the Durham Community Environmental Coalition, Precinct 4 Democrats, the Museum of Life and Science, and E.K. Powe’s PTA were all involved with the campaign, and most continue to be connected to ongoing efforts, both in Durham, and statewide – see the back page for more on the NC School Children’s Health Act!
Many thanks and congratulations to all the activists in Durham who worked on this campaign. We’re proud to have been a part of it, and hope that we can continue to work successfully with the Durham community for environmental health and pesticide reform!
Taking
Action for Toxic-Free Durham Public Schools: “(...) I am well aware of the
need to carry out pest control at our schools. (...)
I ask that you seriously consider adopting the Integrated
Pest Management program that is being proposed to
the Schools at this time. This is a long-term,
healthy growth strategy, and will effectively manage
the problem with less injurious results. “(...) I am an aunt of four children in Durham Public Schools, and I care about their health and that of their classmates. Also, as a teacher in a neighboring school district, I am concerned about the adults--staff, parents, and volunteers--who spend many hours in school buildings. All of these people deserve a safe, non-toxic environment. Sincerely, Sarah P.” |