Weed Control at Schools

* Re “LAUSD Settles on Use of Herbicide,” Aug. 27.

Photographs and the story showing our weed-infested schoolyards were both predictable and expected. If the school district continues on the same path, next year’s crop of weeds will be even bigger and better, guaranteed. Hopefully this blue-ribbon pest-management team is made up of concerned citizens volunteering their time and expertise and not getting any monetary compensation from the school district. If they are getting paid, the longer they take, the more they make, and the taxpayers loose again. The Los Angeles Unified School District isn’t known to be very frugal with our money. The stories failed to say that since 1969, gardening services to the schools have been reduced, yet management keeps growing. Weed abatement is a year-round deal, not just seasonal as some may think.

Roundup sprayed at 1% or 2% has shown to be not only one of the most effective, but more important, one of the safest products around. . . . Thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent on research and testing, compiling hard data for the label to meet strict government approval, yet the LAUSD wants to reinvent the wheel, which is typical.

RALPH L. EMERSON

Van Nuys