Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grounds Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SLPS board approves amendment barring pesticides, herbicides in grounds contract
Summary
The Saint Louis Public Schools board voted to amend a grounds-maintenance contract to prohibit the use of herbicides and pesticides; the motion passed by roll call after staff confirmed current practice does not use those chemicals.
The Board of Education approved an amendment to the district’s grounds-maintenance contract to specify that no pesticides or herbicides will be used on district grounds.
Board member Brian Morrison moved to amend the contract with Ideal Landscape Management to remove authorization for pesticide or herbicide use; the motion was seconded and brought to roll call. Chief Operations staff told the board the district currently does not apply pesticides or herbicides through that contract, but the board voted to put the restriction into the contract in writing to remove ambiguity.
The amendment passed on a roll-call vote. During discussion board members asked for clarity about which closed or vacant properties are included in the contract and noted the packet lists vacant sites; staff said the contract covers all open active schools and that they would provide a list of owned and closed schools on request. A subsequent board member pointed to a small discrepancy between an exhibit listing 25 closed schools and the contract's reference to 24 sites; staff agreed to follow up with clarification.
The amendment will be incorporated into the grounds-maintenance contract and staff will notify the vendor and update the contract language accordingly. Board members said the written prohibition answers community concerns about children’s exposure and ensures a consistent districtwide approach to grounds care.
