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Oregon schools gear up for integrated pest management
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1/25/2012
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Article Content
ODA & OSU provide training & information about a new law
Oregon private and public schools K-12 as well as community colleges are gearing up for a new law in July that requires a different approach to addressing pest problems that may or may not include the use of pesticides. Among other requirements, these school campuses will need to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans that give preference to the use of non-chemical pest control measures. If pesticides are to be used, the new law also sets up a notification and posting system prior to the application.
Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University are conducting outreach and education to those who need to be ready prior to the coming school year this fall.
"The new law is a holistic way at managing pests in schools," says Janet Fults, a supervisor with the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Division. "Hopefully, the end result will be a reduction in pest pressure in schools and a better environment for kids."
Fults emphasizes that IPM does not remove pesticides from the toolbox of options to deal with pest problems in schools.
"Schools will need to look at all other options of managing pests," says Fults. "But we need to ensure that pesticides, when they are necessary, are applied correctly in the right place at the right time for the right reason. That way, they are used in a safe and responsible manner."
Senate Bill 637 was signed into law in 2009 but provided a period of time for schools to prepare for IPM and all new requirements. Plans adopted by school districts will need to include regular monitoring and inspections to detect pests. School personnel will need to identify the pests before they actually take action. Each school or school district must designate an IPM coordinator who needs to complete six hours of training each year. Districts must have a list of low-impact pesticides that would be available for use should they decide that a pesticide application is absolutely necessary.
Backers of the original legislation cited incidents in other parts of the country where pesticides were misapplied in schools and children got sick. They pointed out that pelletized bait placed under sinks or other vulnerable areas look like candy to young school-aged children.
"In several cases, teachers have brought pesticides from home to take care of ant or wasp problems themselves," says Fults. "That won't be acceptable in the future."
A survey completed two years ago by Oregon State University's Tim Stock, IPM education specialist, made it clear that many schools actually have issues prior to using pesticides.
"Most people, when asked what the cause of the pest problem was, said they didn't know," says Stock. "If you don't know what is causing the problem, how can you effectively take care of it?"
Finding the cause and source of a problem may lead to some common sense solutions. For instance, yellowjackets may be coming into a classroom because of a torn window screen. Mice may be entering because of a gap at the bottom of an external door. A new screen and a heavy-duty door sweep may be enough to prevent future problems. Good sanitation and cleaning up food sources help too.
A newly published ODA brochure explains it quite simply: "The IPM strategy integrates multiple tactics including sanitation, pest exclusion, cultural, mechanical, and other non-chemical methods. IPM weighs the risk and benefits of a variety of pest control methods to determine the most environmentally and economically sound manner to control a pest."
If done correctly, IPM not only reduces the use of pesticides but is actually more effective at ridding the pest problem.
"National studies have shown that where IPM was implemented in schools, there has been, on average, a 71 percent reduction in pesticide use and a 78 percent reduction in pest complaints," says Stock.
OSU has developed a model IPM plan for all Oregon school districts and community colleges to use as a template to create their own plan. Meanwhile, OSU is offering training through the state's education service districts (ESDs) and is also working through the Oregon School Facilities Management Association to give presentations on the new Oregon IPM law. Informational brochures from OSU and ODA have been mailed out to all school principals, community college presidents, chairs of school boards, and ESD superintendents.
For its part, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is also conducting limited training. ODA's focus is largely on the need for those who apply pesticides to be licensed.
"ODA is responsible for licensing pesticide applicators for every public or private school facility," says Fults. "Any pesticide application on a school campus must be conducted by a licensed pesticide applicator. We are doing outreach on license requirements and reinforcing the need to follow the pesticide labels very closely."
Another key component of the new law requires written notification to parents, teachers, and others of any proposed pesticide application at least 24 hours in advance, including a warning sign posted around the site.
Provisions of the IPM law may lead to up-front costs for schools, even as districts battle major budget issues. Even some of the methods used to treat pest problems may be more expensive than conducting a quick pesticide application. But in the long run, the goal is that IPM will reduce costs and provide a more effective way of keeping pests out of the school and classroom.
At the heart of the effort is the fact that pests themselves are just as much a threat to kids in schools as pesticides- maybe more so. Pests such as mice and cockroaches trigger asthma and other health concerns in schools. Asthma is the number one cause of absenteeism in schools. Many children are allergic to wasp and bee stings. As the OSU brochure says, "...a healthier environment leads to healthier children. Healthier children have a higher academic achievement." The new IPM law aims to move Oregon schools in that direction.
For more information, contact Janet Fults (ODA) at 503-986-4652 or Tim Stock (OSU) at 541-737-6279.
Story of the Week pdf version
http://oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/120125IPM_schools.pdf
Audio Story of the Week
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/120125IPM_schools_audio.shtml
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