access, improving sanitation around food preparation and waste/recycling storage
areas, and limiting where food can be eaten will help prevent many problems. IPM
addresses the cause of the problem (food scraps and crumbs throughout the building)
to avoid the development of the symptoms of the ant infestation.^15
Educating IPM Participants
A school IPM program should include a commitment to the education of students,
staff, and parents. This education should include not just teachers, but also school
nurses, cafeteria workers, housekeeping staff, and administrative personnel as well. All
school occupants must understand the basic concepts of IPM and who to contact
with questions or problems. Specific instructions should be provided on what to do
and what not to do.
Faculty and staff work in the classrooms and cafeteria areas just like students. As a
result, teachers and staff are exposed to all of the same risks as students. In addition,
faculty and staff should not introduce potentially harmful bug sprays into the class-
room. Commonly used over-the-counter products available at local stores often con-
tain the same ingredients as those products available only to licensed pest control
operators. When used in the classroom, these sprays are potentially dangerous to
chemically sensitive children. Also, these products can make some pest problems
worse because they may interfere with or even reduce the effectiveness of treatments
made previously by the pest management staff.
Many schools across the United States haveincorporated environmental issues into
their curricula. Science classes might include discussions and activities to learn more
about the fascinating and diverse roles of insects, plants, rodents, and birds in our world.
Most are harmless, and many, for example, some spiders, predatory mites, centipedes,
and certain beetles, are actually beneficial incontrolling pest populations. If good sanita-
tion is practiced, the population of these beneficial insects can be kept at tolerable levels.
Staff and students need to understand how their own behavior helps alleviate or
contributes to pest problems. School staff should encourage the parent-teacher associ-
ation, student organizations, and other school-affiliated groups to participate in the
IPM program.
The first step to reducing pesticide use is to understand the risks of pesticide expo-
sure. If the problem can be laid out clearly in a school district, including listing what
pesticides are used and their health effects, it will be a powerful tool in calling for
change. Pesticide use and pest management policies vary dramatically from school
district to school district. Determining how pest management decisions are made and
what types of pesticides are used is the place to start.
Informational Roadblocks
Unfortunately, finding the answers is not as simple as asking the right questions. In
fact, the process may be long and frustrating. There are several reasons for this. The
first and most fundamental problem in many school districts is that there is no one
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