Stop Pesticide Use on Wauwatosa School Grounds
The Issue
Like many parents, I want my children to be able to "be kids"--play and explore in a safe environment. That's why I am concerned with the routine spraying of pesticides on school grounds. Kids don't care about harmless weeds—they just want to play.
Our neighborhood elementary school grounds are sprayed regularly, and while "keep off, pesticide application" signs are posted, they are not effective - the signs blow over, kids don't read them, etc. On many occasions I've alerted kids, parents, and even district led childcare programs that missed these ineffective signs --all too late because they have already been unnecessarily exposed. Research shows that even low levels of pesticide exposure can affect young children's neurological and behavioral development. Liu J, Schelar E. Pesticide exposure and child neurodevelopment: summary and implications. Workplace Health Saf. 2012 May;60(5):235-42; quiz 243. doi: 10.1177/216507991206000507. PMID: 22587699; PMCID: PMC4247335, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4247335/. The risks to our children's health are too great to ignore and certainly do not outweigh the benefits of killing a weed or the money/resources being spent to do so.
Currently, the Wauwatosa School District (WSD) spends over $37,000 annually on pesticide applications. These chemicals pervade the very spaces where our children gather, learn, and play. This expenditure not only jeopardizes their health but also restricts their outdoor activities—vital for their physical and social development.
Change is possible. The City of Wauwatosa's Superintendent of Parks and Forestry, Alex Krutsch, mentioned in an email (August 2025) that they "work hard to minimize application of pesticides", demonstrating that alternatives are viable. By adopting similar practices, WSD can protect our children's well-being and foster an environment where they can thrive without fear of chemical exposure.
Join me in urging the Wauwatosa School District to discontinue the use of harmful pesticides on our school grounds. Let us demand safer and more sustainable methods that will allow our kids to enjoy their surroundings without risking their health. Please sign this petition to help create a healthier, safer environment for EVERYONE in these community spaces.
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The Issue
Like many parents, I want my children to be able to "be kids"--play and explore in a safe environment. That's why I am concerned with the routine spraying of pesticides on school grounds. Kids don't care about harmless weeds—they just want to play.
Our neighborhood elementary school grounds are sprayed regularly, and while "keep off, pesticide application" signs are posted, they are not effective - the signs blow over, kids don't read them, etc. On many occasions I've alerted kids, parents, and even district led childcare programs that missed these ineffective signs --all too late because they have already been unnecessarily exposed. Research shows that even low levels of pesticide exposure can affect young children's neurological and behavioral development. Liu J, Schelar E. Pesticide exposure and child neurodevelopment: summary and implications. Workplace Health Saf. 2012 May;60(5):235-42; quiz 243. doi: 10.1177/216507991206000507. PMID: 22587699; PMCID: PMC4247335, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4247335/. The risks to our children's health are too great to ignore and certainly do not outweigh the benefits of killing a weed or the money/resources being spent to do so.
Currently, the Wauwatosa School District (WSD) spends over $37,000 annually on pesticide applications. These chemicals pervade the very spaces where our children gather, learn, and play. This expenditure not only jeopardizes their health but also restricts their outdoor activities—vital for their physical and social development.
Change is possible. The City of Wauwatosa's Superintendent of Parks and Forestry, Alex Krutsch, mentioned in an email (August 2025) that they "work hard to minimize application of pesticides", demonstrating that alternatives are viable. By adopting similar practices, WSD can protect our children's well-being and foster an environment where they can thrive without fear of chemical exposure.
Join me in urging the Wauwatosa School District to discontinue the use of harmful pesticides on our school grounds. Let us demand safer and more sustainable methods that will allow our kids to enjoy their surroundings without risking their health. Please sign this petition to help create a healthier, safer environment for EVERYONE in these community spaces.
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Petition created on August 22, 2026