Released on = April 30, 2007, 1:47 pm

Press Release Author = California Safe Schools

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = Executive Director, Robina Suwol Celebrates
Pioneering Pesticide Policy


Press Release Body =
LOS ANGELES - On Monday April 30, at Charles H. Kim Elementary, California Safe
Schools (CSS) celebrated the 8th Year Anniversary of
the Los Angeles Unified School District\'s groundbreaking Integrated Pest Management
policy called IPM. This policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation
for schools, stresses least-toxic methods
of pest control, and has become a national
and international model.

Joining the celebration and presentation of special awards by CSS to Los Angeles
Unified Boardmember Julie Korenstein and Director of
Environmental Health & Safety Angelo Bellomo were Steven John, LA Office Director,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Javier
Hinojosa of the California Department of Toxic Substance and Control, as well as
other officials.

California Safe Schools is a grassroots children\'s environmental health
Organization formed by parents who witnessed their children walk through a toxic
cloud of insecticide at an LAUSD campus nine years ago.
Founded by activist Robina Suwol, CSS has gained a national reputation for its
effective education of parents, schools, and elected officials about protecting
children from toxins.

\"It takes a village -and several bureaucracies! -to protect children\'s health," said
Suwol, Executive Director of CSS. "I am so pleased to see how far we have come and
grateful that so many school districts, communities, and government officials have
contacted us for assistance in replicating our policy and protocol. All children
everywhere deserve
the protection of IPM."

IPM is an inherently sustainable method using low risk measures to eliminate pest
and weeds. The CSS policy adopted by LAUSD was the first
in the United States to embrace the
Precautionary Principle and Right
to Know about pesticides used on school campuses. To ensure implementation, the
policy includes an IPM Oversight Committee.
The fifteen member team which has met monthly for almost a decade, includes parents,
environmentalists, community members,
teacher, principal, physician, school staff, County Health Representative and an
\"independent IPM expert.\"

\"As a physician who practices Environmental and Preventive Medicine, I appreciate LA
Unified's groundbreaking Integrated Pest Management
Policy," said Dr. Cathie Lippman. I\'ve enjoyed serving on the LA Unified oversight
IPM Team, and often cite the successful program for
understanding the link between health and the environment. Happy 8th Year Anniversary!\"

Last month CSS and its founder Robina Suwol were honored by Volvo of North America,
and the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 for
their \"Outstanding Achievement \" to protect human health and the environment.

For further information:

Robina Suwol
Executive Director
California Safe Schools
Box 2756
Toluca Lake, California 91610
818-785-5515
www.calisafe.org



Web Site = http://www.calisafe.org

Contact Details = Robina Suwol, Executive Director
California Safe Schools
818-785-5515