​For immediate release
Contact: Annie Jones
Citizens for a Non Toxic City
(123) 456–7890 | [email protected]

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Title: Hundreds of Parents Expected at School Board Meeting to Speak Out on Regular Use of Toxic Pesticides on Campuses
 
Summary: World Health Organization recently declared Roundup a probable carcinogen.
The pesticide is one of four routinely used at all School campuses.
 
Body: May 4, 2015 – Hundreds of parents concerned with routine use of Roundup and other
toxic pesticides at City Unified School District campuses are expected to attend the
School board meeting on May 5 to show their concern and speak out regarding the
practice during the three minute open forum offered to attendees.
 
Ground maintenance staff at all School campuses regularly use carcinogenic chemicals,
including Roundup and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on and around
play and classroom areas at the schools. School district recently ordered that use of Roundup
be temporarily suspended around play areas, but it is still used in non-play areas and
several other toxic chemicals are still in use.
 
Susan Smith, Chair of Health and Safety for City’s School PTA, has been in communication
with School for a year to find a better solution.  She is on the agenda to make the case for
a switch to non-toxic alternatives at Tuesday night’s meeting. 
 
School Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 6:30 p.m.
2020 Banana Leaf Parkway, City
 
The four principal chemicals that have been applied to all campuses are Roundup Pro-
Max, Pendulum Aqua Cap, Speedzone Southern Syngenta, and Fusilade II. As part of
its formulation, the active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, which has recently been
declared a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization as well as the
American Cancer Society. The active ingredient in Speedzone is 2,4-D, which was one of
the two main components of Agent Orange.
 
Smith has suggested that School use the non-toxic and organic products employed by
Harvard University, Universal Studios, the town of Scarborough Maine, and several
other schools. The cost of non-toxic pest control practices have the same cost as the
chemical program currently employed by the district.
 
The parent group has a Facebook page to update the public -https://www.facebook.com/CitySchoolsPesticideFree.

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