Pests are managed in schools and childcare centers to ensure safe environments for children to learn and grow. The presence of pests can represent both a threat to occupant health, through envenomization, allergic response, or disease transmission, and a distraction from the learning environment. Experts determined that the use of pesticides in this system can be significantly reduced, while maintaining a pest-free facility.

By involving the administration, staff, faculty, students, and parents, among other concerned individuals, an effective, economical, and transferable IPM program presents a viable, cost-effective solution. The IPM approach is successful in the school and childcare center environment because its cultural and mechanical strategies can be incorporated into ongoing custodial and maintenance activities, such as sanitation, energy conservation, building security, and infrastructure maintenance. Further, pest monitoring efficiency is enhanced via the virtual full-time presence and perception of the host community. This strategy is dependent upon an educational approach which would create an awareness of all occupants. It is proactive, in contrast to the reactive nature of a chemical treatment strategy.

By incorporating IPM into existing school operations and employee responsibilities, rather than adding to the pest control already performed by contractors, school districts will be able to overcome their natural resistance to "adding pest management to an already full plate." The program has already been demonstrated to:

 cost less than traditional pest management

 be just as, if not more, effective than the traditional approach

 be less chemically intensive, and in turn, less harmful to children

 involve those most affected by the program, allowing them to take ownership in its successes

Additionally, an IPM approach mitigates the problems often encountered when pests become increasingly resistant to the chemicals used on them. Rather than try new chemicals or additional amounts of toxic substances, the IPM program does not expose those in the affected facilities to any more of a substance than is necessary.

Providing environmental, health and safety, and economic benefits, an IPM program has been demonstrated to be a viable pest management option for schools and childcare centers. We were able to learn much from the Monroe County Community School Corporation pilot program. Read about this ongoing success story here.

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