Education & Training

Green & Healthy Schools

Becoming a Green & Healthy School

Support Materials

Current Green & Healthy Schools

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Resources

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is an approach to pest control that relies on a combination of common sense practices for preventing and controlling pests and minimizing unnecessary exposure of children to pesticides. In an IPM approach, considerable effort is put toward preventing pest problems by controlling conditions and practices of facility users that may attract and support pests. Depending on the type of pest(s), condition of school facilities, resources, and commitment of the administration and staff, IPM plans take many forms – each unique to the setting, community and school’s needs and desires.

Discovery and Inventory

Integrated Pest Management resourcesIn addition to completing the IPM section of the Green & Healthy Schools Assessment, schools registering into the Green & Healthy Schools program must also have all pesticide applications conducted by a person certified in the appropriate pesticide categories and the treated area must be posted at the time of the application and for at least 72 hours following the application. Use the following Web sites for more information on the above pesticide regulations and how to implement them.

Action and Implementation

Schools qualifying to be a Green & Healthy School must meet the Green & Healthy School requirements: The school or school district has a designated IPM Coordinator and school IPM Coordinator has participated in the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) school IPM program in at least one of the following ways:

  1. Reviewed and uses the School IPM manual as facility pest management tool or
  2. Current school staff attended one or more of the DATCP/UW Extension School IPM seminars (Introductory and/or Advanced).

The resources below can provide you with ideas on how to meet these requirements.

Reaching Higher

If you choose to go further after your school becomes a Green & Healthy School, the following resources can also be used to help you meet the Reaching Higher requirements.

IPM Coordinator

Schools or school districts should have an IPM coordinator on staff to help schools implement IPM principals and methods. Use the following Web site to learn about the role and responsibilities of an IPM coordinator.

Wisconsin School IPM Manual

Use the Wisconsin School IPM Manual to help your school incorporate IPM principals and methods. The Wisconsin School IPM Manual is available electronically at the following Web site.

School IPM Workshops/Seminars

To learn about IPM and how it can be used in your school, attend or host a School IPM workshop or seminar. Contact the DATCP School IPM coordinator at (608) 224-4547 for a schedule of upcoming IPM workshops and seminars.

IPM Pilot Projects

In addition to attending an IPM workshop/seminar, schools are encouraged to participate in an IPM pilot project. As part of the IPM pilot project, schools will have access to free consultation by IPM experts to manage their long-term pest issues economically. They will learn skills to gain control over their pest and pesticide management issues in the K-12 setting. The ability to be able to make sound risk assessments and decisions will help earn the confidence of their communities. Contact the DATCP School IPM coordinator at (608) 224-4547 for more information on IPM pilot projects.

Teaching

Teaching students about pests and IPM will not only help them to understand what IPM is, but will encourage them to use IPM practices at their own homes. The following Web sites contain IPM lessons and curriculum connections.

Last Revised: Friday January 29 2010