Annual Safety Notices
Updated August 2022
Asbestos Notification
Orono Schools has on file a complete and updated Management Plan dealing with Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM) within the School District’s buildings. The Management Plan is available for viewing by interested parties, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the District Office. Copies of the management plan are available from the District for nominal cost.
As required by Federal law, the condition of asbestos in our school is surveyed every six months as part of an ongoing operations and maintenance program. A comprehensive inspection is conducted every three years. Concerns identified from these inspections are remedied by professional asbestos abatement contractors in a timely manner. The remaining asbestos in the district buildings will remain unless its condition deteriorates or it becomes necessary due to renovation. If you have any questions or concerns, please address them to the District “Designated Person” for asbestos management, Ross Luken, Coordinator of Facilities and Safety, at 952-449-8345.
Integrated Pest Management
Pesticide Notice All Minnesota schools are required to inform parents/guardians and school employees that they may request to be notified prior to pesticide application on school property. Pesticides include chemicals which are used to control insects, weeds, rodents or other pests as defined by the law (M.S. 123B.575, Subd. 9).
In order to provide the required information, schools must maintain a list of parents/guardians and school employees who request notification. Schools must also provide information about individual pesticide applications upon request, including the name of the pesticide product, and the time and location of the planned application. An estimated schedule of pesticide applications is available for review or copying at the school office.
Pesticides and non-chemical treatments may be used in combination in and around schools for a variety of reasons, including the control of pests which have the potential to bite, sting, spread disease, cause asthma, and/or trigger an allergic reaction. Pesticides may also be used to prevent or control damage to materials within the school building or the or to the school building itself, or to control pests or weeds that are seen as a nuisance.
The long-term health effects on children from the application of such pesticides or the class of chemicals to which they belong may not be fully understood. Children may be more susceptible to pesticides than adults due to their smaller size and rapid growth and development. Also their playful behavior may expose them to more pesticide residue.
To limit the potential pesticide exposure, this school follows safety regulations to ensure pesticides are applied properly. All pesticide products, which are used in and around school buildings, are required to be registered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, school employees and certified and licensed applicators are required by state and federal law to comply with all requirements of the pesticide label, including building sites, application rates, re-entry intervals, posting, use of personal protective equipment, use restrictions, and disposal on the product label.
The estimated schedule of pesticide applications will be available in each school building to which they apply. To be notified individually about pesticide applications, please contact, Ross Luken, Coordinator of Facilities and Safety of Orono Schools, at 952-449-8345
Indoor Air Quality Management Plan
As an additional requirement by the Department of Education, Orono Schools has developed and implemented an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan that addresses indoor air quality issues throughout the District. Walkthroughs and inspections of the buildings are performed annually to detect current problems and prevent future problems from occurring. Information is also available from the Minnesota Department of Health at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/schools/index.html. If you have any questions or concerns regarding indoor air quality, please contact the District’s IAQ Coordinator, Ross Luken, Coordinator of Facilities and Safety, at 952-449-8345
Lead-in-Water Management Plan
Orono Schools has historically conducted, and continues to conduct, Lead in Drinking Water testing per the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Technical Guidance for Minnesota’s School and Child Care Facilities” recommendations. Any Public interested in discussing the district Lead in Drinking Water program or results, please contact, Ross Luken, Coordinator of Facilities and Safety, at 952-449-8345