Pesticide use analyzed by school district
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Chilliwack school district will be looking into its use of pesticides and researching whether or not it would be better to use more environmentally friendly alternatives.
School board chair John-Henry Harter put forth a motion at Tuesday's board meeting to look into the use of the district's current pesticide use.
"Personally, I would like to see us use environmentally friendly alternatives," said Harter. "But as a board, we don't know what our current pesticide use is. We need more information ... I don't want to just move a motion to ban pesticide use in the Chilliwack school district without more information."
Harter pushed forward the motion after being contacted by The Progress in the summer asking if the board has a policy on pesticide use.
It does not.
Spraying of cosmetic pesticides on school property is limited to fence lines, building perimeters and parking lots, and is always outside of school time, and never on sports fields.
The district applies pesticides in early spring and again in August before the students return to school.
The product currently used by the district is one per cent Roundup, or glysophate, and one per cent MCPA, or Amine 500, mixed with water.
"I don't think we can be careful enough really, especially when we're talking about young children," said trustee Heather Maahs, supporting the motion.
A pesticide report will be presented at a future board meeting.
kbartel@theprogress.com
