USU and CSU School IPM Program

The primary goals of the Rocky Mountain Consortium are to: Increase the probability of a school switching to an IPM-based program through better understanding school culture, opportunities, human health and environmental concerns, and readiness for change. Demonstrate best IPM practices in schools by conducting school inspections using an established school IPM checklist. Provide customized education and training for all schools participating in the program and beyond. Evaluate the use of Salt Lake City School District's iPestManager in IPM pilot schools. Use information gained from this program to help spread additional IPM programs to new schools within the state and beyond.

In Utah, a team of IPM experts from across disciplines and agencies has been assembled to spread IPM in our public schools. NEED HELP

• Education
• Information
• Planning Ahead
• Scouting/Monitoring
• Prevention
• Cultural Pest Control Practices
• Mechanical Pest Control Practices
• "Soft" Chemicals
• Broad-Spectrum Chemicals

It is difficult to evaluate the long-term, chronic health effects of pesticide exposure on human health. However, in schools the use of IPM can have a direct affect on your child's health for many reasons.

• Children are smaller than adults and exposure to the same quantity of chemical can have greater affects on the child.
• Children, especially small children, have different habits that increase exposure to pesticides used in schools, including: crawling/playing/sleeping on the floor or outside on managed turf, feeding while sitting on the floor or turf, and putting objects and body parts into their mouth that may have contacted chemically treated areas.
• Majority of child exposure to pesticide chemicals occurs in the first 5 years of their life.
• Allergens from cockroaches and other pests can trigger allergies or asthma; IPM is much more efficient at preventing pest presence up front, reducing both allergens present and the need for a reactionary, chemical approach.
• Absenteeism due to asthma and allergy-related ailments negatively affects your child's education.
• Acute poisoning risk. Any time chemicals are used, especially if used improperly by non-licensed individuals, the risk of acute poisoning exists. In Utah, there is no requirement that individuals applying pesticides (non-restricted) in schools or on school grounds have a pesticide license, unless the applications are made by a commercial pest control company.

Pest control practices can vary by the school district and sometimes by individual schools within a district. In Utah, one school district, the Salt Lake City School District has a long-running verifiable IPM program. As part of our EPA grant 3 new school districts are piloting IPM programs in Utah: Canyons School District, Nebo School District, and Davis School District. Call you school district today to inquire. New IPM-practicing schools will be added as we continue to work with schools across Utah.

There are many barriers to starting an IPM program, but once in place a well-run IPM program can save money, dramatically decrease pesticide use (over 90% in some cases), and keep pest levels and sightings at or below those seen when using traditional pest control methods. To the left is a list of commonly cited barriers to starting an IPM program taken from a survey of Utah and Colorado schools in 2012.