New York State Education Law Section 409-H, effective July l, 2001, requires all public and non-public elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year.

The Rockland Central School District is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications.

The following pesticide applications are not subject to prior notification requirements:

• A school remains unoccupied for a continuous 72-hours following an application;
• Anti-microbial products;
• Non-volatile rodenticides in tamper resistant bait stations in areas inaccessible to children;
• Non-volatile insecticidal baits in tamper resistant bait stations in areas inaccessible to children;
• Silica gels and other nonvolatile ready-to-use pastes, foams, or gels in areas inaccessible to children;
• Boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate;
• The applications of EPA designated biopesticides; The application of EPA designated exempt materials under 40CFR152.25•,
• The use of aerosol products with a directed spray in containers of 18 fluid ounces or less when used to protect individuals from an imminent threat from stinging and biting insects including venomous spiders, bees, wasps, and hornets.

In the event of an emergency application necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, a good faith effort will be made to supply written notification to those on the 48-hour prior notification list.

If you want to receive 48-hour prior notification of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur in your school, please send a note stating you would like to receive notification of pesticide application, along with your name, address, daytime and nighttime phone number, and email Facilities Director Paul Antizzo.

In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The law requires that all school buildings be inspected to certify any asbestos containing building materials. That law further requires the development of a Management Plan, based on the findings of the inspection, which outlines our intent in controlling the potential for exposure to asbestos fibers in our buildings.

The original AHERA inspection of Roscoe school buildings took place during the 1988-89 school years. At that time, the condition of all asbestos containing materials was assessed. Since then, appropriate response actions have been taken to ensure that asbestos is maintained in good condition. A periodic surveillance of each building has occurred every six months since the original inspection. Additionally, formal re-inspections were completed in all affected buildings every three years after the original inspection.

Copies of these reports are on file in the Office of the Director of Facilities.

In accordance with regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Rockland Central School District is required to notify parents, guardians, teachers and other employees each year of the availability of the Asbestos Management Plans and the response actions we are taking to maintain asbestos containing materials in our schools.

Custodians and maintenance workers have been instructed on the health effects of asbestos and the importance of maintaining the material in good condition during their normal day to day activities. Anyone who wishes to review the Asbestos Management Plan, is asked to contact the Superintendent's Office for arrangements to do so.