Operations, Maintenance, & Facilities

In the past, asbestos was used extensively in building materials because of its insulating, sound absorbing, and fire retarding capabilities. Virtually any building constructed before the late 1970s contained some asbestos. Intact and undisturbed asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk. Asbestos materials, however, can become hazardous when, due to damage or deterioration over time, they release fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can lead to health problems, since as cancer and asbestosis.

In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which requires schools to be inspected to identify any asbestos containing building materials. Suspected asbestos-containing building materials were located, sampled (or assumed) and rated according to condition and potential hazard. Every three years, Governor Mifflin School District has conducted a reinspection to determine whether the condition of the known or assumed asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) has changed and to make recommendations on managing or removing the ACBM. At the last reinspection conducted in August 2022, all materials listed in the Management Plan as asbestos containing (or assumed to be asbestos-containing) were inspected and found to be in good condition.

The law further requires an asbestos management plan to be in place by July 1989. Governor Mifflin School District developed a plan, as required, which has been continually updated. The plan has several ongoing requirements: publish a notification on management plan availability and the status of asbestos activities; educate and train its employees about asbestos and how to deal with it; notify short-term or temporary workers on the locations of the asbestos containing building materials; post warning labels in routine maintenance areas where asbestos was previously identified or assumed; follow set plans and procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of asbestos containing building materials; and survey the condition of these materials every six months to assure that they remain in good condition.

The following buildings contain no asbestos-containing building materials; therefore, no operations and maintenance programs or future inspections are required: Mifflin Park Elementary School and GMACC. During the past year, asbestos containing materials have been removed, encapsulated, or enclosed in the following buildings: Governor Mifflin High School and Cumru Elementary School. During the next year, we have plans to conduct asbestos related activities at Governor Mifflin High School and Governor Mifflin Middle School. It is the intention of the Governor Mifflin School District to comply with all federal and state regulations controlling asbestos and to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure students and employees a healthy and safe environment in which to learn and work. You are welcome to review a copy of the asbestos management plan in school district administrative office or administrative office of the school during regular business hours. Governor Mifflin Director of Operations Timothy Ziegler is our designed asbestos program coordinator, and all inquiries regarding the asbestos plan and asbestos-related issues should be directed to him at 610-775-5087.

The Governor Mifflin School District uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents, weeds, and plant diseases. Our goal in using this approach to pest management is to protect every student from pesticide exposure. Our IPM approach focuses on making the building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office, and teaching staff and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator, who evaluates the “pest problem” and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use pesticides registered by the U.S. 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 application is necessary, the school will try to use the least toxic product that is effective. Applications will be made only when unauthorized 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 two days 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. 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 to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students; gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices, or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals. Each year the district will prepare a new notification registry. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Ziegler, IPM coordinator.