A Model Structural Integrated Pest Management Plan & Policy for Schools

Luckily, researchers, pest control practitioners and school facilities managers across the country have been working hard to develop safe, effective and economically-competitive alternatives to chemical pesticides. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the most comprehensive alternative available, and is actively endorsed for schools by NYCAP, the NYS Attorney General’s Office, the NYS PTA, the US EPA and others.

This model school IPM plan and policy has been developed by working directly with schools across New York that have successfully implemented IPM plans and policies. This information is designed to assist superintendents of buildings and grounds, parents, teachers, maintenance personnel, health & safety staff, students and others in establishing and enhancing high quality IPM programs in their own schools.

The model plan and policy may be adopted verbatim, or adapted as needed. The importance of an IPM committee, plan and policy are outlined in the Quick Guide to the Who, What, Where, Why, When & How of IPM for Schools, and useful resources can be found in Integrated Pest Management Resources for Schools, both available from NYCAP. We are in the process of developing a companion IPM plan for school turf and grounds - the following policy does, however, cover both indoor and outdoor pest control.

We hope that you will use this model plan and policy and the other Partnerships for Healthy Schools publications to start eliminating hazardous pesticide use in your schools today!

A Model Structural IPM Plan for Schools

The IPM program should be implemented and reviewed before a formal policy is enacted - the alternative "top down" approach, where a policy is put in place with no input from members of the IPM committee, can lead to stifled communications and an ineffective program.

The other booklets in the Partnerships for Healthy Schools series (available from NYCAP) provide critical information on how to form an effective IPM Committee, implement an IPM program, and find resources for policy development and least-toxic pest control.

The following plan for school structural IPM may be adopted verbatim, or adapted to suit your needs. Please contact NYCAP at (518) 426-8246 if you would like an electronic copy of the document. A companion plan for school turf and grounds is under development.

Statement of Purpose

This plan will rely on sanitation, habitat modification, monitoring and the use of non-toxic and least-toxic products and techniques to control pests, rather than the use of potentially-dangerous chemical pesticides.

This plan recognizes that IPM is a collaborative effort involving the administration, teachers, students, facilities staff and pest control operators, among others, and that the gathering and sharing of information is critical to ensuring the success of this IPM initiative.

Definition

Integrated Pest Management involves the monitoring of pest populations, establishment of injury levels, modification of habitats (to eliminate sources of food, water, harborage and entry), utilization of least-toxic controls, keeping of records and evaluation of performance on an ongoing basis.

Structural IPM Guidelines

Monitoring

Understanding what kind of pests are present, where they are, and how big their populations are is essential for successfully eliminating problems. Treatments will not be applied unless monitoring indicates a pest problem in excess of specified injury levels.

Structural pests will be monitored via direct inspection, sticky traps, pheromone baits, tracking powder, mechanical traps and glueboards as necessary. Captured pests will be recorded and disposed of on a daily basis.

Injury Levels

Also known as "tolerance" or "threshold" levels, injury levels determine the point at which treatment is necessary. Appropriate injury levels will be set, and may take into consideration economic losses (ex: amount of foodstuffs contaminated by pantry pests), health risks (ex: occurrence of disease-bearing pests), aesthetic evaluations (ex: temporary presence of ants), nuisance problems (ex: stinging insects) and pest visibility. It is neither possible, nor desirable to completely exterminate every pest and potential pest from every population on school property.

Habitat Modification

In every structural environment the food, water, harborage and entry points that attract and sustain pest populations will be eliminated. Proper sanitation, which will involve a coordinated effort by all building occupants, is absolutely essential. Sanitation will be conducted effectively and routinely, will extend to all areas of the school facility, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to improve performance and correct oversights.

The following is a general guide to habitat modifications to be assessed and implemented in key areas throughout the school facility. Appropriate pest monitoring will also be conducted in each area.

Entryways (including doorways, overhead doors, windows, wall cracks and crevices, electrical fixtures, pipe spaces, drains, ducts and loading docks)

• make sure doors are not propped or left open
• install weather-stripping and door sweeps
• caulk wall cracks and crevices
• install screens in doors and windows and keep them in good repair
• keep shrubs, grass and mulches at least one foot away from buildings
• eliminate food waste and debris from loading docks

• allow food and beverages in designated areas only
• clean dishes, coffee machines, microwave and toaster ovens, and utensils thoroughly on regular basis
• store condiments and food (including craft supplies and pet food) in tightly sealed containers
• prohibit the extended storage of food in desks and lockers
• inspect plants and animals (ex: science projects, houseplants) regularly for pest problems
• vacuum and remove trash on a daily basis

• store food, beverages and food wastes in tightly sealed, lidded containers
• remove food waste daily
• screen vents, windows and floor drains
• keep area clean and dry by sweeping and mopping, quickly disposing of food waste, removing clutter, and fixing leaky pipes and faucets
• clean grease traps regularly
• caulk cracks and crevices
• clean behind and underneath appliances, coolers, vending machines and waste disposal units

• repair leaks and other plumbing problems immediately to eliminate water sources
• clean floor drains routinely
• clean mops and buckets promptly, dry buckets and hang mops off of floor above drain
• seal pipe chases
• eliminate piles of clutter
• remove trash regularly

• secure dumpsters with heavy, tight-fitting lids
• clean the outsides of dumpsters regularly
• store food wastes securely
• clean in, under and around recycling bins routinely
• remove recyclables frequently
• empty garbage cans daily

Least-Toxic Controls

Biological and physical controls will be instituted prior to the use of chemical controls. Only chemical controls least-toxic to humans, non-target species and the environment will be acceptable. Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides will not be employed for pest control.

Least-toxic controls have been formulated for each type of structural pest, and continue to be developed and improved. Refer to Integrated Pest Management Resources for Schools for references that will help you choose and purchase the most effective, least-toxic products for your particular situation.

Biological controls include the appropriate conservation of pests’ natural predators, parasites and diseases, and the judicious augmentation of these species via predator releases, applications of parasites, and inoculations of diseases.

Physical controls include ...

• desiccants (diatomaceous earth, silica aerogel)
• barriers (sticky, band, water)
• traps (mechanical, glueboard, sticky)
• environmental manipulation (of temperature, humidity or light)
• electric currents (electrogun, electric fences and traps)
• manual removal (nets, lice combs).

A Model IPM Policy for Schools

An IPM policy is a fairly straightforward document, no more than one or two pages in length. The following policy, which applies to both indoor and outdoor pest control, can be adopted verbatim or adapted for your needs. Call NYCAP at (518) 426-8246 if you would like an electronic copy of this policy.

IPM Policy

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be defined as the coordinated use of physical, biological and cultural controls and least-toxic pest control products and techniques to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment.

Integrated Pest Management will be understood to involve the monitoring of pest populations, establishment of injury levels, modification of habitats (to eliminate sources of food, water, harborage and entry), utilization of least-toxic controls, keeping of records and evaluation of performance on an ongoing basis.

A pesticide will be defined as any insecticide, rodenticide, herbicide, acaricide, algicide, slimicide, disinfectant or other chemical utilized to kill or repel a pest.

The District/School is specifically charged with:

• establishing, or recognizing an existing IPM Committee (which will include but not be limited to the school facility manager, superintendent, science teacher, PTA or PTO representative, school nurse, head custodian, head groundskeeper, entomologist, teacher’s union representative, and student environmental or science club president);
• implementing, overseeing and reviewing a comprehensive IPM program as specified by the IPM Committee’s Plan (either directly, or via the auspices of the IPM Committee);
• eliminating all routine pesticide spraying and fogging;
• eliminating the use of all organophosphate and carbamate pesticides;
• utilizing the least-toxic pest control products and techniques available;
• posting notices in advance of any pesticide application;
• maintaining detailed records of all pest control procedures;
• and prohibiting the use of any chemical pesticide for purely aesthetic purposes.