by Brianna Crandall — March 14, 2014—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on March 12 three grants to facilitate integrated pest management practices in schools. This funding will help reduce student, staff and faculty exposure to pests and pesticides in the nation’s schools, while saving money, energy and pesticide treatment costs.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) reduces pesticide use, helps to eliminate pests, and saves schools money, says EPA. For example, 18 schools in Monroe County, Indiana, have reportedly reduced both pesticide use and pest control costs by 90 percent using IPM practices.
EPA says this approach has the potential to reach all 15,000 school districts in the nation and to improve the health and well-being of the 49 million children attending public and tribal schools in the United States, as well as their teachers and the staff at each facility. The approach also seems to be the wise choice for higher educational facilities, multifamily residences, and other facilities.
IPM measures help prevent pests from becoming a threat by taking action to address the underlying causes that enable pests to thrive in schools, explains EPA. These actions, such as repairing water leaks, adding weather stripping to windows, and installing door sweeps, reduce pesticide use and treatment costs while reducing water and energy costs, says the agency.
EPA notes that the IPM common-sense approach is a stark contrast to conventional pest management in which an exterminator uses pesticides school-wide on a regular schedule, potentially exposing school children, teachers and staff to pesticides, with little emphasis on removing the underlying conditions that make it inviting to pests.
The three grants will be awarded to:
- The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension to develop a central, Internet-based hub for materials and phone apps that will give school districts the information and tools they need to adopt an IPM program. While the project aims to reach one percent of schools (552,350 students) within three years, it has the potential to reach all of the 15,000 school districts nationwide.
- The University of Arizona to develop and carry out a pilot training and certification program for school staff (custodians, kitchen staff, and school administrators) in eight states and four tribes, working with five other universities and stakeholders. Once finalized, the materials will be made available to schools nationwide through partners.
- The Michigan State University to help five percent of Michigan and Indiana schools adopt IPM through hands-on education, training and coalition-building, including Web-based trainings and a Web site. About 135,000 children may be protected.
For additional information on the three funded grants and IPM in schools, visit EPA’s School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Grants Web page. More information on IPM in schools can be found on EPA’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools Web page.
