Operational Documents

Below you will find important operational documents for the Phoenixville Area School District

Phoenixville Area School District
2023-2024 Annual Asbestos Federal AHERA Compliance Report

In 1987 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicized the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) under Title 40 Part 763, Subpart E of the Code of Federal Regulations.  The rule required local education agencies (LEAs) to identify friable and non-friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) in public and private elementary and secondary schools by visually inspecting school buildings for such materials, sampling such materials if they are not assumed to be ACM, and having samples analyzed by appropriate techniques referred to in this rule.

In accordance with this legislation the Phoenixville Area School District was inspected by EPA accredited inspectors and a comprehensive management plan was developed for handling asbestos containing materials in a safe and responsible manner. 

The following information is presented as an annual update of the Phoenixville Area School District’s on-going asbestos management activities.  The District’s Asbestos Management Plan is updated every three years and a re-inspection is conducted by an EPA accredited inspector for the purpose of auditing the progress of our program. The District has completed / updated the Three Year Plan as of August 2021.  The next Three Year Plan will be updated in 2025.

The Phoenixville Area School District completed the AHERA required Six-Month Periodic Surveillance of its District facilities on June 20, 2023. This surveillance/inspection is required every six months and was performed by EHC Associates, the School District’s outside consultant. 

The District’s Asbestos Management Plan is available for inspection by contacting the District Supervisor of Maintenance, Mr. Philip J. Vontor, at 484-927-5480.  You may also contact Mr. Vontor if you have any questions in general about the District Program. 

Phoenixville Area School District
2023-2024 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

August 1, 2023
 
Dear Parent or Guardian,

The Phoenixville Area School District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. District personnel monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator's office. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pests, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency to manage a pest problem. A pesticide will only be used when necessary and will not be routinely applied. When a pesticide is necessary, the school will try to use the least toxic product that is effective. Applications will be made only when authorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for 48 hours following the application.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the school's notification registry. If you would like to be placed on this registry, please notify the district in writing. Prior requests will no longer be valid. Written requests must include name, address, phone number and names, school and grades of students enrolled. Please include your email address if you would like to be notified electronically.

If a pesticide application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone or email to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized bait placed in areas not accessible to students and gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids.

Each year the district will prepare a new notification registry. The next notification letter will be issued during the summer of 2024. If you have any questions, please contact my office at 484-927-5480.

Sincerely,

Philip J. Vontor
IPM Coordinator
Supervisor of Maintenance
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