What Is School IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on school property is a long term approach to maintaining healthy landscapes and facilities that minimizes risks to people and the environment. IPM uses site assessment, monitoring, and pest prevention. IPM stresses sanitation, physical, and biological control measures, and the careful use of pesticides when needed.

Schools are required by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to develop and implement a school IPM policy. Even if your school does not use a professional pest management company, you still need to have an IPM policy. The school IPM policy must be consistent with the model plan developed by the NJDEP. Brown’s Integrated Pest Management can help you stay in compliance.

Why Practice IPM in Schools?

• Liability
• Parent Concern
• Notification Laws
• More Effective Pest Management

Types of Pests Commonly Found in Schools

• Rodents
• Cockroaches
• Ants
• Wasps
• Bedbugs
• Spiders
• Pantry Pests
• Fleas
• Snakes
• Termites
• Carpet Beetles
• Silverfish
• Paper Mites

Areas of School Most Susceptible

• Indoors
  • Classroom & Offices — provide the perfect atmosphere for silverfish, paper mites, and spiders.
  • Kitchen & Food Preparation Areas — the cafeteria area can be a harborage & feeding area for roaches.
  • Maintenance Areas
  • Rest Rooms
  • Entrances
• Outdoors
  • Playgrounds — Wasps, spiders, and other stinging or biting insects nest in playground equipment. One in 10 children is allergic to stings from bees or wasps.
  • Dumpsters — dumpster areas are a prime habitat for rats or other rodents, as well as roaches.
  • Grassy Areas — gardens & outdoor landscaping can provide plenty of areas for possible pest infestations.
  • Ornamentals
  • Wooded Property & Perimeters

NJ School IPM Act

• Key Requirements
  • Requires the superintendent, principal, or chief administrator of each school district to adopt and implement a school IPM policy consistent with the model policy developed by the NJDEP.
  • Requires the appointment of a school IPM coordinator
  • Requires keeping records of pesticide applications used on school property for 3 years for general pest control, and 5 years for termite treatments.
  • Requires annual notification of the school’s IPM policy to all staff and parents or guardians of each student.
  • Requires 72 hours prior notification of all non-low impact pesticide use on the school property to all staff, parents, or guardians.
  • Requires posting of specific information pertaining to the planned pesticide treatment to be posted at least 72 hours prior in a centralized school location.
• Notification Should Include
  • The policy
  • A list of pesticides
  • Information on school IPM policy meetings
  • Contact for the IPM coordinator
• Central Posting Should Include
  • Common pesticide name
  • EPA registration number
  • Treatment location information
  • Pesticide label precautions
  • Contact information for the school IPM coordinator
  • Reasons for the pesticide application.
  • School IPM Act
• Sign Posting Location
  • Place where students, staff, and parents can see sign when entering or exiting school.
  • Post notification 72 hours prior and after treatment.
  • Size of posting to be no less that 8.5″ by 11″.
• Timing of Pesticide Treatment
  • No treatments of non-low impact pesticides shall be made without proper notification unless deemed an emergency without proper notification, or while students are on the property.
  • There is a minimum 7 hour student re-entry time for all non-low impact pesticide treatments.
• Emergency Applications
  • May be made only when the health or safety of a student or staff member is in danger.
  • These applications should be made allowing time for drying or settling before students return to school.

Low Impact Pesticide Examples:

• Gel baits
• Paste
• Rodent bait
• Antimicrobial
• Boric Acid
• Botanical Insecticide
• Silica Gels
• Microbe-based Insecticides