We are students at Campolindo, Miramonte, Acalanes and Las Lomas High Schools. Our School District recently approved the use of chemical weed control on the playing fields at our school campuses, and routinely rely on RoundUp for killing weeds. Students and teachers can be exposed to these pesticides while walking along school pathways, sitting and eating lunch on the playing fields, participating in P.E. classes, during after-school sports, and in classrooms. Exposure can occur from direct contact with the treated turf, through dust that becomes air-borne by wind, and by tracking of shoes into classrooms.  Weed killing chemicals have long residual periods of activity, from weeks to months, and are invisible, so it is difficult to avoid.

Exposure to pesticides is linked to long-term neurobehavioral and other health disorders, especially for children and teens who have not yet fully developed. People exposed to pesticides are at risk of cancer; a large on-going California state study shows a higher risk for breast and other cancers among school teachers only second to airline stewardesses among all professional women. We would like the school district to discontinue use of toxic substances on our campuses and to adopt a policy that puts our health first.  For starters, we propose that a committee be formed that includes students, parents, teachers, an expert, and district staff. The committee would help create an integrated pest management program like those successfully adopted by other school districts, using least toxic alternative methods.

 Thank you for your support,

Ashley Bernardo, Emma Price, Erica Wilson, Gyu Bin Jang, Justine Tso, Kelly Williams, Sammy Wang, Sara Becker-Mayer, Zerina Mehmedovic 

Please help us spread this message by signing our petition and then text the link to the Change.org petition to every student you know and ask them to do the same.