It is the mission of the Gloucester Township Facilities Department to provide a school environment that is clean, safe and conducive to learning for all students, staff and guests.

• We believe all students will achieve at a higher level of excellence if they are able to learn in a safe and clean environment.
• We believe all students, staff and community members can expect the finest facilities Gloucester Township Schools has to offer.
• We believe our diversity is our strength and that everyone will work together to move our facilities to the next level of excellence.
• We believe that effective staff development and training, preventive maintenance, and a commitment to excellence will enable the Facilities Department to achieve our mission.

The Facilities Department is responsible for maintenance and repair of all district buildings, grounds and equipment. We coordinate custodial, maintenance and landscape operations, perform minor remodeling and construction projects and conduct preventive maintenance on building systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc.).

Gloucester Township Board of Education consists of 11 schools and 4 administrative buildings that cover 985,270 square feet of building space and over 385 acres of ground space.

The Facilities Department also has the primary responsibility for being in compliance relating to:

• AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act)
• IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)
• IPM (Integrated Pest Management)
• Fire department inspections of facilities and certification Fire extinguisher & kitchen hood suppression system inspection and certification
• Fire sprinkler inspections and certification
• Boiler inspections and permits
• ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliance and inspections
• N.J. Department of Health inspections and permits
• Employee equipment general safety training
• Intrusion alarm systems, door security, digital video surveillance

Annual Integrated Pest Management Notice

This notice is being distributed to comply with the New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act. The Gloucester Township School District has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy and has implemented an IPM Plan to comply with this law. IPM is a holistic preventive approach to managing pests that focuses on non-chemical prevention of pest populations utilizing physical, sanitation, exclusion and cultural practices These practices are explained further in the schools IPM Policy.

All schools in New Jersey are required to have an Integrated Pest Management Coordinator (IPM Coordinator) to oversee all activities related to IPM and pesticide use at the school.

The IPM Coordinator for the school district is:
Sani Umar
Business Phone number: 856-227-7688
Business Address: 1000 Davistown Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012

The IPM Coordinator maintains the pesticide product label, and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of each pesticide product that may be used on school property. The label and the MSDS are available for review by a parent, guardian, staff member, or student attending the school. Also, the IPM Coordinator is available to parents, guardians, and staff members for information and to discuss comments about IPM activities and pesticide use at the school.

As part of a school pest management plan, the Gloucester Township school District may use pesticides to control pests. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) register pesticides to determine that the use of a pesticide in accordance with instructions printed on the label does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. Nevertheless, the EPA and the DEP cannot guarantee that registered pesticides do not pose any risk to human health; thus, unnecessary exposure to pesticides should be avoided. The EPA has issued the statement that where possible, persons who are potentially sensitive, such as pregnant women, infants and children, should avoid unnecessary pesticide exposure.

A copy of the school district’s IPM policy as well as a list of pesticides contemplated for use under the program guidelines may be viewed at any school office or the Office of Facility Management.

Asbestos Management Program

In October 1986, the U.S. Congress enacted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Under this law, comprehensive regulations were developed to address the issue of asbestos containing building materials in our nation’s schools. The regulations require that all Kindergarten through 12th grade educational systems must provide for the inspection of their school facilities for asbestos containing materials. When asbestos containing materials are found, the school must develop a comprehensive asbestos management program to ensure that the school facility is free of any potential health hazards that may be related to the presence of asbestos building materials.

The District has contracted USA Environmental Management, Inc. (USAEMI) to provide AHERA-related Asbestos Management Program administration. In July 2005 and January 2005, USAMEI completed a surveillance inspection of the asbestos-containing material in all district facilities. The AHERA regulation requires that this inspection be conducted every six months.

During the past school year no asbestos abatement projects or repairs were required.

All Asbestos Management Program documents are available for review during normal business hours at each school administrative office and in the office of the Director of Facilities Management, Maintenance and Transportation Building, 1000 Davistown Road. Copies of the Asbestos Management Plan can be obtained with payment of a nominal copying charge.

For additional information regarding the Gloucester Township Public Schools Asbestos Management Program you may contact:

Sani Umar
Supervisor of Maintenance and Custodial
856-227-7688, Extension 4100

James R. Amendt
Asbestos Management Program
USA Environmental Management, Inc.
609-656-8101