WHO DOES IPM

Self-Guided Module

Introduction to IPMLesson 3 of 4

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the important roles and responsibilities of the school IPM team.

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Important People for IPM

School IPM Coordinator

School Administrator

School Nurse Students and

Teachers Parents

Maintenance/Custodial Staff

Grounds Staff Kitchen Staff Vendors and

Contractors Pest Management

Professionals

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School IPM Coordinator’s Role

Your School IPM Coordinator can be your primary contact for all pest management matters for your school. He/she can be the go-between for your school and your pest management professional.

This position is usually assigned to a school facilities leader. In smaller districts the IPM coordinator may also be the superintendent, principal or person under contract to the school.

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School IPM Coordinator’s Role

To avoid conflict of interest it is generally recommended that the your IPM Coordinator NOT be employed by your contracted pest management service provider, if you have one.

The IPM Coordinator should have the authority to request cleaning, repairs or other improvements to manage and prevent pest problems.

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School IPM Coordinator’s Role

The IPM Coordinator: Is responsible for the day-to-day

operation of your IPM program. Determines what IPM practices are

needed for specific pest problems. Needs training to do the job

effectively. Is usually in charge of evaluating the

need for pesticide application and approving applications if necessary.

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School IPM Coordinator’s Role

The IPM Coordinator: Typically maintains the IPM Plan,

which can include a list of allowable pesticides.

Works with everyone including: administrators, teachers, custodians, kitchen, grounds and maintenance staff, and parents and students, to prevent and solve pest problems.

Educates appropriate individuals about their role in IPM.

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School IPM Coordinator’s Role

The IPM Coordinator: Ensures bid requests, contracts and

design and construction for new facilities and renovations include IPM.

Can establish partnerships with universities, Extension, PMPs, Department of Agriculture or Department of Health and non-government organizations such as the IPM Institute of North America Inc.

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Administrator’s Role

Administrators and school boards set the tone for the IPM program. IPM programs need administrative

support for sustainability and effectiveness.

Administrators should be aware of state laws about IPM in schools, pesticide use in schools, any other regulations addressing pest management and the district’s IPM policy, if one is in place.

The IPM Coordinator should communicate with school administrators on a regular basis.

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Administrator’s Role

The most important responsibilities of administrators are to: Adopt and maintain an IPM policy. Include IPM as part of your health and/or

safety committee(s). Designate and train a competent IPM

Coordinator. Support priorities for maintenance and

sanitation, identified by the IPM Coordinator.

Encourage faculty and staff understanding and full participation in the IPM program.

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School Nurse’s Role

School nurses have an important role in IPM. A nurse should: Be aware of the IPM Policy, IPM

Plan and pesticides on school property.

Be familiar with the signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning.

Be aware of signs of pest exposure including head lice, fire ants, bed bugs, asthma, rabies and mosquito and tick-borne diseases present in the region.

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School Nurse’s Role

A nurse should: Be aware of any children or staff with

asthma, chemical sensitivities or allergies to stinging insects.

Have information on IPM strategies for pests that can impact student health.

Keep a list of students who have serious reactions to stinging insects.

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Students and Staff Roles

Students and staff can support IPM by practicing good sanitation and immediately reporting pest sightings to the school office.

Students and staff should avoid: Leaving food in lockers, classrooms and

common areas. Eating or drinking in areas not

designated for food consumption. Clutter, which can provide shelter and

makes inspection and cleaning difficult. Bringing pesticides from home.

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Parent’s Role

Parent support of IPM motivates and reinforces school staff efforts to provide effective, low risk pest control.

Parent support for IPM can strengthen your district’s IPM program.

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Parent’s Role

Parents should express any concerns to the IPM Coordinator, the school district superintendent, the school principal, school-based improvement committees or the parent-teacher organization.

Parents should use IPM practices in their homes to extend the benefits of IPM.

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Maintenance/Custodial/Grounds Staff Role

Staff are responsible for recognizing and correcting conditions that may lead to pest problems.

Examples: water leaks, potential pest entryways, plants touching buildings (providing pest access).

It is essential that all maintenance, custodial and grounds staff be adequately trained to recognize and prevent pest problems.

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Kitchen Staff Role

Kitchen staff should: Understand that food

handling, preparation and serving areas are among the most vulnerable.

Understand that avoiding foodborne pathogens requires a good understanding of IPM.

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Keep areas under kitchen equipment clean and dry.

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Check Point Match the Responsibility With the Role

1. Responsible for the day-to-day operation of your IPM program

2. Support priorities for maintenance and sanitation, identified by the IPM Coordinator.

3. Be aware of any children or staff with asthma, chemical sensitivities or allergies to stinging insects.

4. Staff is responsible for recognizing and correcting conditions that may lead to pest problems.

5. Understand that food handling, preparation and serving areas are among the most vulnerable.

a. Kitchen Staff

b. School Nurse

c. School IPM Coordinator

d. Administrator

e. Maintenance/Custodial/Grounds Staff

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Responsibility Role

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Vendor and Contractor Roles

Vendors and Contractors can expect: School districts to enforce good

sanitation practices by including specific language in bid specifications and contracts.

Contracts to include specific best practices such as cleaning under, behind and inside vending machines, sealing all plumbing and electric penetrations, use of any pesticides are in accordance with IPM policy, etc.

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Vendor and Contractor Roles

Vendors and Contractors may expect that:

Districts to prioritize the correction of problems that may support pests, such as leaks or harborage areas.

Districts may administer penaltiesfor not following the district’s IPM policy.

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Pest management contracts should include:

Services in line with the school IPM policy.

Regular consultation with the IPM Coordinator.

Procedures for timely response to pest sightings.

Schedules for conducting regular inspections of pest-vulnerable areas.

Requirements for detailed record keeping of pest sightings and pesticide use.

Pest Management Contractor Role

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Pest Management Contractors should: Provide labels and SDS documents

to school staff. Give specific recommendations to

correct pest-conducive conditions.

Facilitate proper posting and notification. Legal requirements vary by state.

Pest Management Contractor Role

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Pest Management Contractors should: Correctly diagnosis the cause of pest

problems i.e., “why is the pest present?”

Promote the appropriate least-hazardous methods to correct pest problems.

Ensure that all applicators are properly licensed and supervised by knowledgeable, trained personnel.

Educate school staff on pest issues, as appropriate.

Pest Management Contractor Role

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Check In!

In this lesson you learned:1. The important roles and responsibilities of

the school IPM team.

Next you will learn how to do IPM!

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Resources

Arizona Cooperative Extension. (2009). Integrated Pest Management: The most effective way to manage pests in your school. Retrieved from http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1234.pdf

Illinois Department of Public Health. (1994). Integrated management of structural pests in schools. Retrieved from http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pdf/imsps.pdf

IPM Institute of North America. (2011). The Business Case for Integrated Pest Management in Schools: Cutting Costs and Increasing Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.ipminstitute.org/school_ipm_2015/ipm_business_case.pdf

University of Nebraska, Lincoln Extension. (2006). An Introduction to Integrated Pest Management. Retrieved from http://pestfiles.unl.edu/concepts.swf