The NYS IPM Program works with schools to reduce risks to children from both pests and the overuse of pesticides.

Pest management in schools has received increased attention in New York State and nation-wide. This is due to the critical need to decrease pesticide use to protect our children, who, by nature of their size and developmental stage, are at greater risk than adults. Yet, at the same time, we cannot compromise the quality of pest control because pests represent an equally important health hazard. Schools are especially challenging to manage because they include such varied settings as classrooms, cafeterias, laboratories, auditoriums, theaters, playing fields, playgrounds, and gardens. These areas are heavily used for a variety of purposes, including after-hours public meetings. Visitors, staff, and students are frequently in direct contact with the lawns, athletic fields, flowers, trees, playgrounds, and buildings on the school grounds. Recent passage of a New York State (NYS) pesticide notification law has resulted in additional pressure on schools to reduce pesticide use.

We are developing a "learning community" of school district personnel, peer mentors, and cooperative extension educators to develop district-level model school IPM programs in the lower Hudson River Valley. In 2004, we organized the "learning community" team and conducted the initial assessment of the cooperating school districts. Throughout 2005, the school districts have been implementing their IPM improvement plans based on the initial assessments. To supplement a 2001 statewide survey of NYS public school pest management policies and practices, we initiated on-site school interviews in 2002. In 2005, six school districts were interviewed bringing the total to 38 school districts. In October, 2005, we held a fourth meeting of the Statewide School IPM Committee. In addition to the diverse membership updating each other on their school IPM activities, we had special presentations by invited representatives from the NYS Education Department (proposed High Performance Schools guidelines for facilities) and BOCES (pest management challenges of small, rural schools). Also in 2005, the NYS IPM Program participated in a ceremony where the City of Buffalo Schools received the IPM Institute`s school IPM STAR certification. Throughout 2005, NYS IPM Program staff made presentations on school IPM related topics. Audiences included landscapers, school facilities staff, teachers, health and safety officers and pest control operators

We are one and a half years into the two-year "learning community" project. A major goal is that all three cooperating school districts will become eligible to receive the IPM Institute's STAR certification award as Buffalo did in 2005. This is a national award indicating achievement of a high level of school IPM policies and practices. The school interviews are providing valuable input for school IPM research and extension activities. NYS IPM Program staff have been using the interview results to guide project development. The "learning community" project is one such effort. One of the highlights of the interview results is that, when implemented, schools consider IPM successful because they have fewer pest problems while reducing pesticide use. The interviews have revealed that the major challenges to schools in practicing IPM include lack of funds, food in classrooms, constituency apathy/resistance, and heavy use of facilities. The Statewide School IPM Committee meeting helped participants to address needs identified in 2004. Desired indicators included effective IPM record keeping, IPM in the curricula, pest prevention incorporated into facility construction, and IPM incorporated into teacher training.

• Other USDA (e.g., Water Quality, Special Grants, NRI)
• State or Municipal (e.g., NYSDAM)

• Gary Couch
• Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
• Rose Baglia
• Rick Harper
• Kevin Trotta
• Dan Dickerson