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Funded Project

Funding Program: IPM Partnership Grants

Project Title: Northeast School IPM Working Group: Collaborative Support for Verifiable School IPM Adoption

Project Director (PD): Carol Westinghouse [1]

Lead State: VT Lead Organization: Informed Green Solutions

Cooperating State(s): Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia

Undesignated Funding: $10,000

Start Date: Apr-01-2013 End Date: Feb-28-2014

Pests Involved: mice, ants, cockroaches

Site/Commodity: schools

Area of Emphasis: structural and turf pest managment

Summary: Project Summary. Schools need support and assistance to adopt IPM practices. The Northeast School IPM Working Group (NESIWG), established in 2008, includes broad representation of organizations and agencies serving schools throughout the northeastern states. We propose to collaborate regionally to 1) establish school IPM demonstrations and coalitions to support and promote adoption of IPM practices and policies, 2) identify and capitalize upon opportunities for collaboration with other organizations to support and promote implementation of healthy, effective and sustainable pest management practices for schools, 3) improve access to IPM resources for school and childcare stakeholders, and 4) strengthen the capacity of the NESIWG to accomplish its mission and goals. We have leveraged additional funds to support establishment of school IPM coalitions in four states. With this proposal we are seeking funding to cover costs of communication and travel to support regional collaboration and resource sharing, complete projects underway, collaborate on national level to tackle new initiatives, and capitalize on our accomplishments to date. We anticipate this project will minimize pesticide exposure risk in schools, increase compliance with state regulations, and safeguard the health of students and teachers in and around schools throughout the northeast. Objectives: Objectives and Anticipated Impacts Objectives 1) Strengthen the capacity of the NESIWG to accomplish its mission and goals. 2) Utilize the NE IPM Center website as a hub for sharing information and gathering stakeholder input. 3) Pilot tools to help schools institutionalize IPM. 4) Update identified priorities for school IPM.

Final Report:

Impacts Safeguarding human health and the environment: NESIWG introduced a new practice with the Environmental Management System (EMS), a new way of organizing an IPM plan to fit into a larger school EMS or to stand alone. This has been adopted by the Springfield, MA school district and is being introduced to other school districts. Through our awareness outreach we anticipate the use of pesticides has been reduced. We did not conduct any technical assistance, so do not have information on fewer sprays etc. Other impacts on human health or the environment include: IPM awareness among school constituencies and stakeholders Awareness of IPM implementation tools Awareness of components & procedures in establishing successful school IPM pilots Awareness of school IPM needs in the Northeast Awareness among teachers of availability & content of IPM curriculum Awareness among school staff, administrators, health professionals and families of linkage between asthma, IAQ and IPM. Economic benefits: Schools across the US have found a cost savings after implementing an IPM program. According to The Business Case For Integrated Pest Management in Schools: Cutting Costs and Increasing Benefits the following schools experienced economic benefits: In New York, Susquehanna Valley Central School District saved $1000 per year using IPM while continuing to maintain attractive facilities (Safer Pest Control Project 1998). In Maryland, Anne Arundel County School District reduced its annual pest control costs from $46,000 to $14,000 (Washington State Department of Ecology 1999). In Indiana, Pike Township schools saved more than $5000 per year using in-house IPM practices (Moore 2010). We anticipate our influence will save schools across New England money.

Outcomes The NE School IPM Working Group: Actively recruited 2 new members representing NH Partners for Healthy Schools and Atlantic Pest Control Services and have contacted Department of Education representatives and Green Ribbon Schools Coordinators from Delaware and Washington DC. The Delaware Department of Education sent out an email with our request for an interested representative to their list of facilities managers. Built on the relationships already established throughout the region including working with CT DPH representatives to enhance their IPM program, and bringing together the UCONN Turf IPM project coordinators and DPH Tools for Schools program manager for better coordination of programs. Linked to IPM contacts on web pages and added links to resources. WG members assisted NE IPM Center staff in writing an article describing our Environmental Management System that was published in Pest Control Technology. Displayed materials at conferences and public events. WG members presented at 10 workshops/conferences. Collaborated on school IPM demonstrations, assessments or other projects with the CT School Buildings and Grounds Association (CSBGA) to develop an IPM survey for their members, the NH Partners for Healthy Schools on questions to add to the Department of Education yearly survey, and workshops/presentations for NY State BOCES. Met monthly by conference call to share information, update one another on progress, and conduct the business of NESIWG. Increased engagement with school facilities managers and other school IPM implementers through the development of a survey for CSBGA, and workshops/presentations for NY State BOCES, Maryland State Association of Catholic Schools, ME Facilities Managers, and VT Facilities Managers. Received a separate 2013 NE IPM Partnership Grant to develop and pilot a school IPM best management practices on-line document. Held an annual meeting attended by 18 members where resources and information were exchanged. Trained classroom teachers and environmental educators and provided easy access to IPM curricula and activities for youth IPM education. Surveys showed an increase in IPM teaching in states as a result of the NESIWG literacy project.

Report Appendices Final Report [PDF]

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