Tag Archives: Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Unified School District and Others Learn Elementary Lesson in Contract Law After $2.5 Million Verdict and Seven Year Legal Battle

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A small business construction subcontractor emerged victorious from a hard fought seven-year legal battle when $3.2 million in services, labor and materials were not paid by the Los Angeles Unified School District, their contractor, and their Insurance Bonds company. Nowland Law, a business litigation firm, secured a ruling in favor of the plaintiff December 9th, 2022 for work that the plaintiff performed in 2015.

In the David vs. Goliath legal battle, the well-funded trio of defendants used an array of strategies to shake off George Toro of WnG Construction, including accusing him of deleting emails relevant to the case, stealing trade secrets, other frivolous claims that caused turnover of 2 prior counsels for the plaintiff.

George Toro of WnG Construction JV Inc., was excited when, in 2015, he signed a deal to do work as a subcontractor for the Los Angeles Unified School District. It was a large project, ultimately composed of 18 separate jobs, where George Toro worked with his team to build out internet and WLAN infrastructure on solar projects for the school district. The project represented $5.5 million worth of work for WnG Construction.

Toro's excitement faded when his company completed the work as agreed but was not paid by Los Angeles Unified School District, nor by the general contractor of the projects, AAA Solar Electric. By late 2015, Toro had requested meetings with the general contractor. Instead of scheduling a sit down, WnG was promised payments soon, but was then subsequently ghosted by AAA Solar Electric.

Contractors engage in large projects confidently because they are typically covered by bonds. In this case, Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company had a set of existing bonds for the project, which should have been accessible to WnG. The bonds were not paid to WnG. Despite multiple requests for payment to LAUSD, the indemnity company and the general contractor, payment in full was withheld for reasons that the court mostly rejected in its ruling. The costs, delays, and financial impact resulted in the smaller subcontractor going out of business as it was forced to lay off its employees and close. George Toro had no idea that what lay ahead of him was a seven-year legal battle in order to finally reach a victorious verdict in his favor.

The case, "WNG Construction JV, Inc V. AAA Solar Electric, Inc" (case number VC065473) filed in the Southeastern district of Los Angeles Superior Court, has been worked on by at least 15 individual attorneys from a variety of law firms, racked up almost 300 calendared events in the court room, and is likely to exceed its current count of 988 filed documents, across its seven years of litigation. The $2.5 million complaint will not include yearly interest fees that can legally be imposed by the judge, as well as attorney's fees and court costs. These costs are expected to be substantial and may double the total liability of the general contractor, the indemnity company, and the school district to an estimated rough total of $5 million.

Before the trial, George Toro tapped Nowland Law to take on the case due to the firm's strong history in business litigation. Nowland Law had been victorious on behalf of the plaintiff in a similarly high profile case, in which the California State University system had attempted to flout millions of dollars in payments to another subcontractor.

Lead Attorney, Thomas F. Nowland said, "This was a 31 day trial which lasted over 4 months due to delays related to the COVID pandemic. The court awarded WnG the majority of its claims plus interest, costs, and prevailing party attorney's fees. The final judgment could be well over $5 million dollars."

Learn more: https://www.nowlandlaw.com

A small business construction subcontractor emerged victorious from a hard fought seven-year legal battle when $3.2 million in services, labor and materials were not paid by the Los Angeles Unified School District, their contractor, and their Insurance Bonds company. Nowland Law, a business litigation firm, secured a ruling in favor of the plaintiff December 9th, 2022 for work that the plaintiff performed in 2015.

Related link: https://www.nowlandlaw.com/

LA Unified Appears Poised to Weaken Public Oversight, Again – This Time on a Crucial Public Health Issue

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Tuesday, November 15, 2022 a majority of the Los Angeles Unified School Board voted to begin a process some fear would dismantle an oversight Committee that has been in place for decades ensuring the globally celebrated environmental policy was implemented according to the district's policy and California's Healthy Schools Act. In its place the Board is recommending establishing an Ad Hoc Committee, says celebrated children's environmental health non-profit California Safe Schools.

Concerned members of the public that included members of the Oversight Committee who signed up in advance to speak, were repeatedly disconnected, not called upon, or were unable to connect on the district's dedicated phone line.

In spite of the district acknowledging technical problems, they proceeded ahead. As a result a notice of Brown Act Violation was filed, with a request to have the Board add the item to the next Board Meeting to ensure the public had an opportunity to express their deep concerns about the misguided process.

The Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management Policy (IPM) was unanimously adopted by the School Board in March of 1999 following a year-long drafting of a more protective policy. This effort was prompted after elementary school students were sprayed with pesticides by a school gardener in a hazardous materials suit as they walked into their classrooms.

"My six-year-old son had a reaction to the toxic cloud, which resulted in a severe asthma attack. Fortunately, he recovered and the Board immediately authorized district staff, members of the public, parents, medical experts, scientists, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and environmentalists to work together to craft a more protective policy. The result was the creation of the most stringent pesticide policy for schools in the nation. It was the first policy to embrace the Precautionary Principle and the Right to Know with regard to the application of pesticides in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)", said Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools.

To ensure implementation, an IPM Oversight Committee was formed comprised of 15 independent members which included the following: one LAUSD non-management representative from Maintenance and Operations, one District representative from the Environmental Health and Safety Branch, one District representative from Food Services, the District IPM Coordinator, one IPM expert, two parents of District-enrolled students, two community members, one public health representative, two environmental representatives, one District teacher, one District principal, and one medical practitioner.

The success of the policy led to California legislation, The Healthy Schools Act, and later AB 405 (Montanez) which prohibits the use of experimental, conditional or phased out pesticides at all California K-12 schools. Today, the policy has become a national and international model for school districts and communities.

But recent actions by the LA Unified Maintenance and Operations Management, coupled with misrepresentation from them to the LA Unified Board, may undermine the ability of the IPM Committee to oversee the IPM Policy. This includes canceling publicly noticed meetings and limiting the independence, diversity and impartiality of the appointed Committee members. We are opposed to these efforts as they weaken the very oversight mechanisms that have enabled the meaningful implementation of the IPM Policy.

The recent audit of the IPM Program, completed June 29, 2022, includes troubling recommendations that would eliminate the ability of the public representatives on the Committee to self-appoint members most representative of their group and replace those members with individuals hand-picked by Maintenance and Operations or others. Such a change is in direct conflict with the IPM Policy.

Additionally, the audit's recommendation of term limits without the ability of public groups to select their representatives would eliminate members with vast experience in upholding the IPM Policy and knowledge of institutional history essential to understanding the successes and challenges of years past.

Further troubling was the abrupt decision to cancel the publicly-noticed meetings beginning July 8, 2022, and "all further meetings until further notice", without sufficient notice or explanation. Meetings for the IPM Committee are required by the IPM Policy to be held monthly. In the past 24 years, only one meeting has been cancelled because of weather conditions. Due to the recent pandemic, the meetings have been held online on the second Friday of each month.

There are other serious issues the IPM Committee is currently addressing, including:

1 - District use of an unauthorized and unapproved agricultural pesticide product on school campuses.

2 - The June audit revealing widespread violation by the District of its own IPM Policy and the Healthy Schools Act.

3 - Increased pest activity due to failure to address issues in a timely fashion.

4 - Reports related to the lack of needed supplies to properly address pest issues.

Executive Director of California Safe Schools Robina Suwol added, "The IPM Committee meetings must continue as publicly noticed in order to properly address the issues and ensure compliance with the IPM Policy, which over the years has set the gold standard in keeping our children, teachers and all school stakeholders safe from pesticide exposure."

Over the years, the LAUSD went from using 160 products to fewer than 25 - many of which have never been used. Additionally, Round Up and any other herbicides have also not been used on any Los Angeles Unified school grounds for more than 20 years. This has resulted in Los Angeles Unified avoiding the lawsuits that other districts experienced and has protected the health and safety of countless students, faculty, staff and parents.

"The IPM Committee must be permitted to continue its work to oversee and implement the IPM Policy without further interference or efforts to weaken the inherent internal mechanisms that protect the independence, diversity and impartiality of the IPM Committee and its important oversight role, said Sandra Schubert, Esq., Advisory Board Member California Safe Schools.

Note: This information was prepared by Robina Suwol, Executive Director California Safe Schools and Sandra Schubert, Esq. Advisory Board Member California Safe Schools. They helped spearhead the drafting of Los Angeles Unified School District's IPM policy and have served as members of the IPM Committee.

About California Safe Schools:

California Safe Schools (CSS) is children's environmental health and environmental justice non-profit committed to ensuring that all students, teachers, staff, and community members who live near school sites are in a safe, toxic-free environment. CSS works closely with diverse communities and regulatory agencies on toxic issues (air, water, soil). CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified School District's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools. This was the first school district to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know" in a policy and led to the passage of California's Healthy Schools Act. Today, the LA Unified IPM policy serves as a national and international model for school districts and communities.

Learn more at: http://calisafe.org/

On Tuesday, November 15, 2022 a majority of the Los Angeles Unified School Board voted to begin a process some fear would dismantle an oversight Committee that has been in place for decades ensuring the globally celebrated environmental policy was implemented according to the district's policy and California's Healthy Schools Act. In its place the Board is recommending establishing an Ad Hoc Committee, says celebrated children's environmental health non-profit California Safe Schools.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

California Safe Schools Celebrates 22nd Anniversary and Earth Day

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- March 30th, 2020 marked the 22nd anniversary of California Safe Schools (CSS) a celebrated children's environmental health and justice coalition founded by Robina Suwol in 1998 after grade school students, including Robina's two sons, were sprayed with the herbicide Princep, as they headed to class.

A school gardener in a hazardous materials suit, employed by LA Unified School District, unaware students were present, sprayed the herbicide creating a cloud of pesticide mist students were forced to walk through to reach their classrooms. Several parents who had dropped off their children at the school were alarmed to witness this event. Robina's youngest son, Nicholas, whose asthma had been under control, experienced a severe asthma attack after the incident.

Robina and CSS sprung into action, contacting the school district, experts in the area, teachers and other parents - leading the effort to ensure incidents like this would not happen again. And, one year to the date Nicholas became ill, CSS and LAUSD enacted the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for schools. The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle and Parents Right to Know regarding pesticides in schools.

The success of the policy led to California legislation, The Healthy Schools Act 2000, and AB 405 spearheaded by Suwol and CSS, which prevents experimental pesticides whose health effects are unknown from being used in all K-12 California schools. As a result, 6 million students, hundreds of thousands of teachers and school employees are protected. For 22 years LA Unified has not used Roundup, or any herbicides, on the grounds of any schools in a district spanning 28 cities, 703 square miles and 1000 sites.

"While celebrating together has been temporarily postponed, honoring our 2020 heroes cannot be delayed. We thank each of them for their enormous and selfless contributions. They make our world a much safer and better place," said Robina Suwol, California Safe Schools, executive director.

Honorees:

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Monsignor John Moretta

John Moretta was born in Los Angeles on July 12, 1941. He entered St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, in 1960. After completing Philosophy and Theology studies, he was ordained on April 27, 1968. He has served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as a parish priest in five parishes. He is at presently the pastor of Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights. This May he will have served there for thirty-five years. Throughout his ministry he has worked with the Latino community and has been on several advisory boards of the Archdiocese. He was invested as a Domestic Prelate to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor on February 2, 1992.

He has been an advocate for the empowerment of people. Whether it is in educating people to speak English, preparing for citizenship, organizing the Mothers of East Los Angeles, establishing a first-time homeowners center, the Boyle Heights Resident Homeowners Association, Neighborhood Watch Groups, sitting on advisory boards of high schools, member of the Guadalupe Procession Committee, Dean of Deanery 9, serves on the Priests Council and Personnel Board for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and also for the Police Department.

Most recently he helped fight the battle to close down Exide Technologies after many years of releasing lead into the environment. Monsignor Moretta has a great love for the people he serves and is always looking for ways to improve the community.

HEALTH HERO

Evelyn Cortez-Davis, P.E., BCEE

Evelyn Cortez-Davis is the Assistant Director of Water Operations t the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest municipal utility in the nation. She has over 25 years of engineering experience in water quality, water conservation, pipeline design and construction, environmental compliance, recycled water, water rights, groundwater remediation, and groundwater planning. She currently leads the team that safely treats, stores and conveys water for the 4 million people in the City of Los Angeles.

In previous roles, she oversaw projects to clean up contaminated groundwater throughout the City, to capture more stormwater, increase conservation, and expand the use of recycled water and groundwater. She represented the City of Los Angeles on the Colorado River Board of California and the Board of Directors of the National Water Research Institute.

She is a graduate of UCLA, a registered Civil Engineer in the state of California, and is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer. Ms. Cortez-Davis is also the author of the book December Sky- Beyond My Undocumented Life relating her family's story as first -generation immigrants from El Salvador and their path to U.S. citizenship

LEADERSHIP AWARD

Christian Arana

Christian strongly believes in the promise of America, and that begins first with California's estimated 15 million Latinos. As the Policy Director at Latino Community Foundation, Christian leads the foundation's efforts to advance policy solutions that will improve the lives and political power of California's Latinos.

Christian served as the Senior Governance Specialist at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) in Washington, D.C. During his tenure, he worked with the nation's top political, corporate, and nonprofit leaders to develop the next generation of Latino leaders in policy. He also managed CHCI's transition towards the use of impact metrics and led two successful strategic planning sessions with CHCI's leadership. Prior to CHCI, Christian worked at the Aspen Institute for the College Excellence Program. He helped administer the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Competition honoring the top performing community colleges in the nation. Dedicated to the advancement of Latino communities, Christian began his career as an AmeriCorps member where he served as a college counselor at Cristo Rey New York High School in East Harlem, New York.

Christian received a Master's Degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Georgetown University in International Politics. In his free time, Christian enjoys cooking, watching Dodgers baseball, and traveling.

IMPACT AWARD

Stellaluna Lopez-Ramirez is a sophomore at Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School in Boyle Heights. She is an honor roll student, a sophomore class representative, and a leader in academic performance. She is also a member of the junior varsity girls basketball team, and led the league with sixteen points per game this season. When not at school, she works with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles playing violin and mentoring elementary and middle school students in music and leadership, or runs free tutoring sessions with her peers. Additionally, through Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, she has performed at major venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl. After high school, she plans to double major in a STEM field and a humanity.

HEALTH & SAFETY CHAMPION AWARD

Los Angeles Unified School District

Honoring the management and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District for 22 years of embracing the Precautionary Principle and Right to Know while successfully implementing the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for schools , including their phenomenal efforts to serve more than 10 million meals to students, and quickly employing virtual academic programs during this challenging pandemic.

Learn more about California Safe Schools at: http://www.calisafe.org/

SPONSORS:

Sponsors for the CSS Anniversary: South Coast Air Quality Management District, Metropolitan Water District, California Air Resources Board, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Earthjustice, Republic Services, Natural Resource Defense Counsel, Galpin Ford, & Libertyhill.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robina Suwol
California Safe Schools
calisafe@earthlink.net
818-785-5515

March 30, 2020 marked the 22nd anniversary of California Safe Schools (CSS) a celebrated children's environmental health and justice coalition founded by Robina Suwol in 1998 after grade school students, including Robina's two sons, were sprayed with the herbicide Princep, as they headed to class.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

Pandemic Pushes L.A. Arts Nonprofit, Dream A World Education, from Classroom to Television

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Dream A World Education, an LAUSD and Hawthorne School District provider of arts and social-emotional education working in areas of extreme poverty, has turned school closures into an opportunity to move their artists from classrooms to television and virtual recyclable programming.

This will fill a need beginning April 20 when students are depending on learning delivered into homes from now until the end of the school year. They are working with their 11 partner schools and teachers to make this happen.

"Beyond the need for the continuation of their academic education, there's a need for children's mental and emotional health that needs to be met, especially in the communities we serve," says Bunny Hull, Dream A World Education's Founder and Executive Director. "There's also a need for us to continue to support our artists who have been hard hit by this."

Secrets of the Heart TV features core national standards-based educational content which provides arts, language, culture and social-emotional learning for children 4-8. It's delivered by professional working artists, multicultural Teaching Artists, who have been left scrambling for work and have moved seamlessly from classroom to screen. This is programming that's not Wifi dependent for the 700,000 families across L.A. County who have no connection to the internet.

Episodes of Secrets of the Heart TV will be broadcast in Los Angeles starting April 20 on LA36 public access television, and through YouTube on their website. These are reusable tools that Dream A World Education is offering not only to the 4,000 students they normally serve, but making it available to anyone who can benefit. They are looking for additional television partners nationwide.

This is FREE programming which provides meaningful experiences and discussions to children and families at home. There is a lesson plan attached to each video, in English and Spanish. LA36 will air episodes multiple times a week beginning Monday, April 20, the official launch day.

For more information about Dream A World Education: https://dreamaworldedu.org/

View selection from first episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4AOXWd04LDc

About Dream A World Education:

Dream A World Education is a 501(c)(3) which provides enrichment programs for children 4-8 and their families who live in poverty in Los Angeles. Bunny Hull founded Dream A World Education in 2008 after a long career in the arts as a professional dancer, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, and award-winning children's author. "The Ripple Effect," a documentary short about the organization's work garnered an Emmy(R) nomination and a Global Impact Award in Washington, D.C. in 2019.

LEARN MORE:
* Web: https://dreamaworldedu.org/

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreamaworlded
* Twitter: https://twitter.com/dreamaworldedu
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamaworldedu/

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0420s2p-sohtv-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Secrets of the Heart TV features core national standards-based educational content.

Dream A World Education, an LAUSD and Hawthorne School District provider of arts and social-emotional education working in areas of extreme poverty, has turned school closures into an opportunity to move their artists from classrooms to television and virtual recyclable programming.

Related link: https://dreamaworldedu.org/

Celebrating Los Angeles Unified School Districts Outstanding Plant Managers

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- California Safe Schools celebrated the outstanding efforts of more than 800 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Plant Managers and their supervisors at four luncheons honoring elementary, middle school, and high school Plant Managers for their exceptional efforts in implementing the most stringent school pesticide policy in the nation for the past 20 years.

The LAUSD Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy embraces the Precautionary Principle, Right to Know, training and communications, and a 15-member committee oversees implementation. As a result of these efforts, Roundup and other highly toxic pesticides, herbicides, and antimicrobials have not been used at LAUSD campuses for two decades. In place of toxic chemicals the district works to prevent infestations though inspections, exclusion (i.e. door sweeps), eliminating clutter, extensive cleaning, and gardening practices that reduce weeds and pests. In addition heat treatment has been the preferred method for eradicating termites, eliminating potential exposure of other toxic chemicals.

"The Los Angeles Unified School District, second largest school district in the nation, spans 28 cities and 710 square miles, with more than 25,000 buildings covering 80 million square feet," said Robina Suwol, founder and executive director of California Safe Schools. "The success of the policy is a result of extremely well trained and committed management, plant managers, pest, and turf and landscape management experts. celebrating our plant managers for all of their tremendous work was long overdue given their tireless efforts to make our schools safe for all."

The guests enthusiastically received Douglas Anderson, Area Facilities Director and Master of Ceremonies for the event. Between introducing the Los Angeles Unified Maintenance & Operations Management, Chief Facilities Executive Mark Hovatter, Director of Facilities, Roger Finstad, Angelita Khazei, Deputy Director, Adriana Salazar of the Teamsters, and Robina Suwol Executive Director of California Safe Schools, he energized the crowd with trivia questions, and distributed honors and prizes.

While all Plant Managers were praised, LAUSD supervisors selected Plant Managers whom excelled and represented their colleagues to receive awards from California Safe Schools, designed by celebrated artist Michael Bruza, for their 20 years of achievements, and commendations from Mayor Eric Garcetti, Assemblyman Adrin Nazarrian and Senator Robert Hertzberg. In addition to these honorees, each and every Plant Manager received a special commendation.

Additional guest speakers expressing thanks and congratulations include: Brian Gavidia from the Office of Mayor Garcetti; Jacqueline Lawson, Los Angeles City Attorney; Dr. Alfonzo C. Webb, II and Maryhelen Torres of Local District East; and Min Wang of Republic Services. All expressed their desire to make this an annual event.

"For twenty years, LAUSD has implemented one of the most stringent, collaborative and effective school IPM programs in the nation, one that has become a model for the state and the nation. This has only been possible because of the daily efforts and dedication of our Plant Managers. They have ensured the success of this program and we salute their tireless efforts to protect LAUSD students and staff," added Douglas Anderson, Los Angeles Unified Area Facilities Director.

Dr. Cathie Ann Lippman, celebrated physician from the Lippman Center for Optimal Health, joined in the praises. "A clean environment is imperative for good health. Congratulations to all of the exceptional Los Angeles Unified School District Plant Managers and staff for their commitment to groundbreaking environmental policies and protocols that ensure vulnerable students and staff are protected."

"It is important to take the time to honor and give thanks to those who are literally the gate keepers of our schools. Hats off and double high fives to each and every Plant Manager who takes on the often-complicated task of navigating a day in the life of a school. I thank you as a parent, and on behalf of the children who are our future!" underscored Kristina L. Jasiukonis, Los Angeles Unified School District parent.

Sponsors include:
Teamsters, Republic Services, Galpin Motors, South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Endowment, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Global Environmental, Inc., NATEC International, Inc. Anderson Trophy, and Farm Table

About California Safe Schools (CSS):
CSS is a children's environmental health and environmental justice coalition founded in 1998. CSS was formed after its founder's child was accidently sprayed with pesticides on his way into an LAUSD elementary school by a LAUSD gardener on, a pivotal event that catalyzed LAUSD's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy formation. The success of the policy led to the California Healthy Schools Act 2000, and AB405 (Montanez), sponsored by California Safe Schools, which bans the use of experimental, conditional, or phased out products at all California K-12 public schools.

Learn more at: http://www.calisafe.org/

Follow on social at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/calisafe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calisafe/

California Safe Schools celebrated the outstanding efforts of more than 800 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Plant Managers and their supervisors at four luncheons honoring elementary, middle school, and high school Plant Managers for their exceptional efforts in implementing the most stringent school pesticide policy in the nation for the past 20 years.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

On California Safe Schools Coalition 19th Anniversary, CSS Recognizes L.A. Unified School District’s Adoption of Groundbreaking Pesticide Policy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- California Safe Schools Coalition (CSS) commends the pioneering achievement of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest school district in the nation, spanning 740 square miles, 28 cities and more than 1,000 sites, for early adoption of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy in 1999. CSS was formed in 1998, after its founder's child was accidently sprayed by pesticides by a Los Angeles Unified gardener on his way into an LAUSD elementary school, a pivotal event for LAUSD's IPM Policy formation.

The IPM policy, created with CSS, had one main purpose: to eliminate all highly toxic chemical controls, and to use exclusion and consistent cleaning schedules as the primary pest management tool for all schools. With a deeper understanding based on scientific research, the Precautionary Principle was instituted as the LAUSD's benchmark and long-term objective. This Principle acknowledges that no pesticide product is free from risk and all may be a threat to human health. In the face of such risk, we must protect our children.

"LAUSD requires that only highly trained staff implement this IPM program," said Robina Suwol, Founder and Executive Director, CSS. "And, it's no secret, the program's success and reputation is a result of absolutely phenomenal district management and staff, including exceptional plant managers and pest, turf and landscape management experts.

"The IPM program is so highly regarded that CSS receives calls from parents, school districts and communities throughout the USA and internationally - Australia, Japan and England - asking how they can create similar policies."

The outstanding success of the IPM Policy led to the passage of the California Healthy Schools Act in 2000 and AB 405 (Montanez) in 2005. Together, these laws act to ensure the wellbeing of students, teachers, staff and parents each day by maintaining an environment free from toxic pesticides whose vast and cumulative impact is only beginning to be acknowledged.

"I applaud California Safe Schools and LAUSD on their Anniversary. The adoption of their innovative IPM policy and support of Assembly 405, which bans experimental pesticides on school grounds, has led the state and country in ensuring that our students and teachers' health are protected," said Michael Mendez, Pinchot Faculty Fellow Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

On July 7, 2017, glyphosate, (an ingredient in the ubiquitous weed control product Roundup) was listed under California's Proposition 65 as "known to the State of California to cause cancer." Before LAUSD's IPM Policy went into effect, Roundup was used extensively at LAUSD schools. The LAUSD IPM Policy reigns as one of the most successful efforts of the District to protect the health and safety of students and school personnel.

"This action by the State of California to fairly warn people about the risk of cancer associated with use of glyphosate is a step forward for the right to know and the ability to act. Policies such as those adopted for Los Angeles schools move products with the potential for toxicity out of children's environments and are good for everybody," said Dr. Amy D. Kyle, Research Professor (ret), University of California Berkeley School of Public Health.

For further information:
California Safe Schools
818-785-5515
http://www.calisafe.org/policy.html

California Safe Schools Coalition (CSS) commends the pioneering achievement of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest school district in the nation, spanning 740 square miles, 28 cities and more than 1,000 sites, for early adoption of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy in 1999. CSS was formed in 1998, after its founder's child was accidentally sprayed by pesticides by a Los Angeles Unified gardener on his way into an LAUSD elementary school, a pivotal event for LAUSD's IPM Policy formation.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

California Safe Schools Honors 2017 Earth Day Heroes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- In honor of Earth Day 2017, California Safe Schools celebrates all of the heroes who strive every day to protect our environment. This year, CSS is honoring the following 2017 Earth Day Heroes with awards and commendations for their exceptional efforts to protect human health and Mother Earth.

Founded by Robina Suwol in 1998, California Safe Schools (CSS) is a children's environmental health and environmental justice non-profit. CSS achieved national and international prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, as has since been a leader in protecting children's environmental health.

2017 Earth Day Heroes:

Sandra Schubert, Esq. - Sacramento, California:

CSS celebrates Sandra for more than two decades of public service, beginning with helping to craft the LAUSD IPM Policy, followed by her work as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer of California, counsel to U.S. Senate Leader Harry Reid from Nevada, her role as the State of California Food & Agriculture Undersecretary, and all of her volunteer efforts working with California's groups which have led to greater protection for children's health and the environment.

Stephanie J. Harker & Cathy Blaivas - West Hollywood, California:

For their passionate community campaigns and tireless efforts to protect historic Plummer Park in West Hollywood, California Safe Schools celebrates Stephanie J. Harker and Cathy Blaivas co-founders of Protect Plummer Park. Their hard work prevented the destruction of 56 heritage trees and the demolition of nationally designated Great Hall/Long Hall, originally constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1937.

Douglas Anderson - Area Facilities Service Director, Los Angeles Unified School District, California:

CSS celebrates Douglas Anderson for his enormous efforts working with LAUSD's exceptional Maintenance & Operations staff, whose meticulous work ensures the successful implementation of LAUSD's groundbreaking IPM Policy in place for almost twenty years. LAUSD's IPM Policy is the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools and the first to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know", and includes a 15-member oversight committee to ensure implementation. The success of the policy in the 2nd largest school district, which spans 740 square miles, 28 cities and more than 1000 sites, led to California's Healthy Schools Act of 2000. Today the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts' and communities' pesticide management programs.

On October 6, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 405 (Montanez) sponsored by CSS, which strengthens The Healthy Schools Act. The bill bans experimental pesticides, whose health effects are unknown, from California K-12 public schools. As a result, more than six million California children and hundreds of thousands of school children are protected from experimental chemicals whose health effects are unknown.

"In honoring these outstanding, committed individuals, we are acknowledging the hard work and collaboration that has enabled us to protect not only current generations, but future generations to come," said Robina Suwol, founder and executive director of California Safe Schools.

For additional information:
California Safe Schools
818-785-5515
http://www.calisafe.org/

In honor of Earth Day 2017, California Safe Schools celebrates all of the heroes who strive every day to protect our environment. This year, CSS is honoring the following 2017 Earth Day Heroes with awards and commendations for their exceptional efforts to protect human health and Mother Earth.