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Integrated Pest Management in Schools
Public schools and licensed day-care facilities in Washington are required to notify parents about pesticide use policies and to post most pesticide application sites.
If pesticides are used on school grounds, care must be taken not to expose students and staff to the pesticides.
- Pesticide use regulations for schools. The “Compliance Guide for the Use of Pesticides at Public Schools (K-12) and Licensed Day-Care Centers” details Washington State regulations for policies, notification, recordkeeping and disclosure requirements for pesticide use in schools.
- Inspections in schools The Schools & Licensed Day Cares Pesticide Notification & Records Inspection form provides a checklist of safe practices that schools and pesticides applicators should follow.
Why should schools use integrated pest management?
Schools must provide a safe learning environment and protect the health and safety of students and staff while maintaining buildings and landscapes. The following problems may be caused by insects and other pests:
- Cockroaches may be associated with increased asthma.
- Rodents spoil food and can carry disease.
- Wasp stings can pose life-threatening risk to allergic individuals.
- Insects can destroy wood and weaken buildings.
- Weeds can degrade running tracks and sports fields.
The pesticides used to control these and other pests can also cause human health problems, especially when used incorrectly. Symptoms of pesticide exposure can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and skin or respiratory irritations.
People with a history of asthma may be more vulnerable to attacks when exposed to pesticides. Certain pesticides have been linked to cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, endocrine disruption, and other long-term health effects in humans.
Because children are more susceptible to pesticides and long-term health effects, they need special protection from exposure. Given this necessity, what options are available to schools for managing or eliminating pests?
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a proven and practical approach to managing pests on school grounds and minimizing the exposure of people to pesticides. An IPM approach reduces the need for pesticides while gaining long-term pest control.
IPM programs can work successfully for any school. In Washington, both large and small school districts using IPM programs report that IPM achieves pest control goals without increased costs.
Learn how schools can succeed at UPEST – Promoting IPM in Washington Schools
What parents can do about pesticides at schools
Parents and others concerned about pesticide use at local schools can:
- Contact the school to find out about its notification policy.
- Get more information about products used at the school from the Garden Hotline at help@gardenhotline.org or 206-633-0224.
- Learn more about Integrated Pest Management (PDF, 20KB) and safer gardening and pest control.
- Volunteer to help with weeding. Many schools have Adopt-a-Flowerbed programs for student and parent volunteers.
- Watch a video on "Road to Healthy Public Places" to learn techniques for managing a school landscape without using pesticides.
- Ask the school to post application times and locations on the district Web site.
Resources
For information on Integrated Pest Management, particularly the management of landscape-related problems, contact the Garden Hotline at 206-633-0224, or help@gardenhotline.org
City of Seattle's Pesticide Reduction Program
www.seattle.gov/environment/Pesticides.htm
Green Gardening Program: Integrated Pest Management
www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Yard/For_Landscape_Professionals/Integrated_Pest_Management/index.asp
NCAP - Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides homepage
www.pesticide.org
US EPA Region 9: IPM for Schools: A How-to Manual
www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/schoolipm/index.html
US EPA: IPM in Schools
www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/
Washington State PTA
www.wastatepta.org/
Washington Toxics Coalition homepage
www.watoxics.org
Urban Pesticide Education Strategy Team
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/upest/
