The Tahoma School District's pesticide-use list is short: there's nothing on it at all. "We try not to use any pesticides at all," said district Maintenance Supervisor Bob Schuler. "We have in the past used some, but we try to always use least-toxic pesticides, and use them very sparingly and only in extreme cases." Instead, the district has taken simple steps like moving the dumpsters away from buildings, keeping the lids closed on garbage cans, and collecting trash regularly. These fairly obvious actions can significantly reduce the risk of rodent and insect infestations in buildings, transferring work for district personnel from reaction to prevention. Tahoma focuses also on monitoring for insect problems, using various traps to check if insect populations are reaching a threshold that would indicate action is necessary. Schuler is also in the process of developing a district policy to formalize the least-toxic approach to pest management. 

The parent of several children in the district, Julie Novak is pleased with what the district is doing. "The key word here is prevention -- prevention of pest problems, prevention of exposure to pesticides, and prevention of possible health problems for our children. Reducing pesticide use is vital in protecting our children's health, and I'm glad that our school district has taken positive steps to reduce their use."