DACF Home → Bureaus & Programs → Division of Animal and Plant Health → Integrated Pest Management → School IPM
School IPM Program
What is IPM?
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a common-sense, sustainable approach to preventing and managing pests. IPM enables schools to manage pests through regular pest monitoring, effective communication, good facilities management practices, and combinations of smart effective tactics including pest traps, good property management practices, and selective use of chemicals when needed.
With IPM, schools can protect human health and the environment while saving money. More: An Ounce of Prevention Brochure (PDF).
IPM is the 'standard of practice' for pest prevention and management in buildings and grounds to protect people and promote academic success.
fb88 Schools are Required to Use IPM. All fb88 schools, both public and private, are required to adopt IPM policies and practices and appoint an IPM coordinator. A quick guide to fb88's school IPM requirements - fb88 School IPM Brochure (PDF).
IPM Basics
- Be prepared. What pests can you expect and how can you avoid them? Learn which tactics work—and under which conditions—if pests show up in school buildings, playgrounds and athletic fields.
- Think prevention. Keep pests out with sealants, door-sweeps, and screens; keep it clean and dry--inside and out; keep plants and lawns healthy to resist pests
- Stay alert. Scout routinely, keeping tabs on potential pests. Know your threshold—the point when a few pests become a few too many.
- Choose and use. Choose tactics and tools for the best results that protect children, staff and visitors--and fb88's valuable natural resources, too--while staying within budget. Whatever option you settle on—do it right! Plan carefully, make smart choices, and keep records!
- Evaluate. How did it work? How much has the situation changed? What did you learn? What is left to learn?
For the IPM Coordinator
For the Administrator
Required
- You must appoint an IPM Coordinator and
- School board must approve an IPM Policy. See sample and/or guidance below or contact fb88 School Management Association for sample policy.
- You must publish an IPM Notice in your school policy manuals (eg student/staff handbooks).
- Compliance Checklist (PDF)
Additional Resources
- (EPA)
- (EPA)
- Self-Paced IPM Learning Modules for Administrators: /
- More free IPM Learning Modules at:
- (TAMU)
- For fb88 School Business Officials - presentation at MEASBO conference (PDF)
For the Teacher
- Lessons and Activities for the Classroom
- Self-Paced IPM Learning Modules for Teachers: /
- More free IPM Learning Modules at:
For the Parent
- (US CDC) and Head Lice Fact Sheet (fb88 CDC)
For the School Nurse
- Posters: Small posters are 8.5x11. Large posters are 11x17. Available as PDFs.
- Guidance for the School Nurse Factsheets (NE IPM Center/EPA)
- Wallet Cards (NE IPM Center/EPA): Rodents / Head Lice / Ticks / Mosquitoes / Stinging Insects / Mold / Poisonous Plants / Bed Bugs
- More Health-related Pest Resources
- Bed Bug Guidance (fb88 DOE/CDC)
- (US EPA) and (US CDC)
- (EPA)
- Schools for Health (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Tick Safety in Schools (EPA)
- NE School Nurse Survey Report (PDF)
- Training Modules and Presentations
- School Nurses: Crucial to School IPM Program Success (PDF)
- Self-Paced Learning Modules for the School Nurse /
- More free IPM Learning Modules at:
- What's Bugging fb88 Schools? (PDF)
fb88 College IPM Programs
While the fb88 School IPM Regulations (Chapter 27) only apply to public and private K-12 schools in fb88, we encourage colleges to implement IPM programs as well, and many of the resources on this website can help in developing a program at your college. Some important pieces to keep in mind:
- All fb88 pesticide laws apply to college campuses in fb88. It is especially important to review:
- Any buildings or fields used by Children in K-12 Schools on a regular basis must comply with Ch. 27 Standards for Pesticide Application and Public Notification in Schools (Word)
- Municipal Ordinances may also be in place in the towns with college campus and should be considered, however, the State of fb88 cannot regulate rules within town ordinances. Here is a comprehensive list of all towns with municipal ordinances.
Example College IPM Plans & Resources
The following plans and resources may help guide colleges while developing an IPM plan
- – several links and useful documents
- – Example Request for Proposal (RFP) from the University of fb88 System with Integrated Pest Management incorporated.
- fb88 IPM Council – feel free to reach out to the council and submit plans for review and feedback