The Need for School Integrated Pest Management:

It is not uncommon for schools to be plagued with some type of pest. After all, a pest is merely any plant or animal situated in an undesirable location. Indoors, pests might be head lice, rodents, cockroaches or ants. Outdoors, pests would include animals affecting the turf of playing fields or weeds sprouting through cracks in the parking lot pavement. 

Traditionally, pesticides are the first line of defense against pests. Pesticides are used regularly, both when actual pest problems exist and to prevent future pest problems from occurring. The problem with this method is that pesticides are potentially harmful chemicals that can harm humans upon exposure {45}.

There are ways to manage these pest problems that do not require the use of pesticides. At times, the use of traps is an effective pest management strategy. Also, attention to pest habits and needs together with sanitation and maintenance can often keep pest problems from occurring. Sometimes pests are seasonal problems and will leave within a few days without any control at all. Wise and judicious pesticide use can greatly reduce the risk of pesticide exposure and the amount of pesticides used. For these reasons and others, it is wise to incorporate other methods of pest management into your school {45}.

In an effort to reduce the exposure of children to pests, pesticides and pesticide residues, Massachusetts passed an act that limits all schools, nurseries and daycare centers in the commonwealth to a single pest management practice known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). As a result, these schools, nurseries and daycare centers will be required to develop their own IPM plan by November 1st, 2001. 

Setting-up and implementing a School IPM plan