School IPM
No one wants pest infestations in schools. But automatically reaching for that can of Raid or weed killer can damage children’s health even more than the pest itself. Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools helps reduce both pests and pesticide applications. Pests like cockroaches and mice are not only unsanitary and displeasing, they can also carry disease or cause and exacerbate chronic illnesses like asthma. However, pesticides are not always the right solution for pest problems. Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals in the environment than adults. Young children can also have greater exposure to pesticides from crawling and exploring areas or objects that may be contaminated with a pesticide. Pesticide hazards can include:
Pesticides are an important tool for controlling pest problems in public buildings. Too often, however, schools use only a broad application of chemical pesticides to control infestations. Limiting children’s contact with such chemicals through IPM is a simple, practical way to protect them from these health problems. Savings from reduced pesticide applications can be used in other ways. |
IPM is an effective, environmentally sensitive, and commonsense approach to pest management. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interactions with the environment to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. IPM programs take advantage of all pest management options possibly including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. Pest populations can be prevented or controlled by creating inhospitable environments, by removing some of the basic elements pests need to survive, or by simply blocking their access to buildings. Pests may also be managed by other methods such as traps, vacuums, or pesticides. An understanding of what pests need in order to survive is essential before action is taken. There are 4 steps to an effective IPM program.
IPM applies pesticides carefully and sparingly, generally in spot-treatments to reduce both human exposure and cost. Pesticides are never applied by schedule, but only according to need, when pests are actually present and cannot be controlled by other methods. |
Over the next year, Boulder Valley School District and Denver Public Schools will be conducting a pilot integrated pest management (IPM) program in selected schools. The purpose of the IPM in Schools pilot program is to reduce both pests and pesticide applications in Colorado schools, thereby reducing the cost of pest control programs, and to educate faculty, staff, administrators, and parents about integrated pest management. The specific IPM program implemented in each school will differ according to the school’s location, character, and specific pest problems. Therefore, the first step is a thorough inspection and evaluation by pest management specialists and experts. This inspection will cover food sources, pest identification, waste management and cleanliness, and will take note of any problems that are unique to the school. Each school district has identified an IPM Coordinator, and each
pilot school will also create an IPM Coordinator position. As part of this effort, faculty, staff, parents, and students will need to be educated about IPM and the particular problems in their school. IPM trainings will take place, and information will be distributed to parents. As the IPM program gets established and management strategies are enacted, the school will monitor its pest populations, provide progress reports, and further inspections by the School IPM Implementation Team will take place. Evaluations of the program’s effectiveness and the achievement of its goals will be based on these progress reports, and adjustments to the program will be made accordingly. Information from the initial inspection and progress reports, along with general information about IPM and the pilot program, will be used to write short newsletter articles to be distributed through the school and to parents. This effort will help keep the community actively engaged in the implementation effort. There are 6 participating schools: Boulder Valley School District: Fairview High School Monarch K-8 Aurora 7 Campus Denver Public Schools: Ebert Elementary School East High School Merrill Middle School |
The Colorado IPM in Schools Implementation Team includes representatives from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, and the Colorado Department of Education, as well as pest management professionals and community members. The implementation team hopes that watching the pilot program in action will inspire other schools to begin planning IPM programs for themselves. The current pilot is closed, but the team encourages members to inform other schools about the program, and to distribute information about IPM to principles, parents, teachers, and staff who may be interested. Many resources are available to help schools begin this process. Contacts:
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Pest Notes |
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