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Project Leader: Lynn Braband
Cooperators: Livonia School District,
Genesee Valley BOCES, CCE of Livingston County, Rentokil Pest Control,
Debra Marvin
Type of grant: Cultural methods;
sanitation; physical controls
Project location: Livonia Central
School District, Livonia, Livingston Co.
Abstract: Genesee
Valley BOCES recommended the Livonia School District as a partner for
developing a comprehensive IPM program. During 2000, the partnership
was initiated. Specific projects included adoption of a district pest
management policy, in-service training, and assistance in IPM implementation
with an emphasis on stinging insects, mice, lice, and ants.
Background and justification: In
late 1999, the Livonia Central School District was identified as a partner
for the development of a comprehensive school IPM program. Genesee Valley
BOCES personnel recommended Livonia because of the probable good cooperation
of the school administration and the district’s desire to reduce
pesticide use. The project has focused on the Primary School. During
2000, our partnership has resulted in the adoption of a district pest
management policy, proactive stinging insect management, building exterior
exclusion, and the initial steps of a rodent monitoring program and
lice education project. Additionally, a successful and well-attended
workshop was held at Livonia that highlighted the demonstration project
to other school districts. During 2001, the goal was to build upon and
finish the objectives of the partnership.
Objectives:
- IPM training of district and pest
control personnel. (Date to be decided by Livonia School District)
- Assist general implementation of
IPM. (Throughout project)
- Continue a focus project on mice.
(Throughout project, especially in Autumn and Winter)
- Continue a focus project on lice.
(Throughout project, especially September 2001)
- Conduct a focus project on ants.
(Throughout project, especially non-Winter)
- Hold educational meeting on district
property. (October 2001)
Procedures:
- Conduct an in-service for buildlings
and grounds personnel, cafeteria staff, and pest control contractors.
- Conduct monthly inspections (especially
of the Primary School) and monthly evaluations of the record keeping
system. Make recommendations based upon the results of the inspections/
evaluations.
- First level of mouse control: exclusion
and sanitation. Second level of control: when needed, trap and removal.
Third level of control: rodenticides. An approval process will be
developed for when, what, and where rodenticides will be used. The
outside of the buildings (especially the Primary School) will be
monitored to compare "mouse pressure" on the outside to
the intensity of mouse problems inside the buildings.
- Work with the school nurse to update
lice policies and educational outreach.
- Work with pest control contractor
on inspection/monitoring procedures. Educate school personnel on
consistent "microsanitation" in sensitive/problem areas.
Facilitate exclusion as needed. When pesticides are needed (via
an approved process), the emphasis will be on baits.
- Working with Genesee Valley BOCES
and CCE of Livingston County, an educational meeting will be held
on Livonia School District property to highlight the demonstration
project to others outside the school district.
Results and discussion:
IPM Training: On
March 30, 2001, an in-service was held for custodial and cafeteria staff
of the Livonia School District. Twenty-five people attended. The district’s
structural pest control contractor was invited but did not attend. The
Texas A&M University videotapes on "IPM for Schools; Module
1: An Introduction" and "IPM for Schools: Module 3: Food Handling
Areas" were used. A discussion of IPM practices and products (especially
in food handling areas) followed.
General IPM Implementation:
The focus was on the Primary School. Monthly, we inspected the exterior
of the school looking for signs of pest problems. Any problems (or potential
problems) were reported in writing to the school facilities administration.
We have also been checking the monthly
report forms of the school district’s structural pest control contractor.
In general, they have reported little pest activity within the district’s
buildings. One exception was an ant problem in the High School during
spring. We interacted with the custodian where the problem occurred.
It had been successfully controlled.
Mice: In late September, 17
mouse monitoring stations were set around the foundation of the Primary
School. In a effort to compare two techniques, we alternated pairs of
mouse traps (8 stations) with bait boxes with non-toxic monitoring blocks
(9 stations). The stations were checked weekly through October and monthly
since then.
In late October, three pairs of snaptraps
and three non-toxic bait stations were similarly placed around the district
maintenance/BOCES building. This building appeared to have more mouse
"pressure" than the Primary School.
Areas of consistent mouse activity
were reported to the school district with recommendations for exclusion.
Evalution of the comparison of the two monitoring techniques (snaptraps
versus non-toxic bait blocks) is on-going.
Lice: We have met with the
Primary School nurse to suggest updates to their lice policies. Information
of lice IPM and lower risk scalp treatments were given her.
Ants: Little interior activity
occurred during the demonstration period. One episode in the High School
was effectively solved by the district’s structural pest control
contractor. During monthly inspections of the Primary School, suggestions
for preventative exclusion (when needed) were made. However, major construction
work in the school limited the practicality of preventative exclusion.
Educational Meeting: On October
12, a half day workshop was held in the school district. Twenty-six
school (from 16 districts) and BOCES personnel attended. The demonstration
(see attached agenda) was described along with the stinging insect project
(Livonia was a cooperator with that also). The workshop included a tour.
Written evaluations (see attached) were positive with appreciation being
expressed for the information on stinging insects, mice, and lice.
Overall Impact: The greatest
impact probably came from the educational meetings in October 2000 and
October 2001. School pest managers from 24 school districts in 8 counties
and several BOCES personnel interacted on the IPM principles and practices
demonstrated at Livonia.
Future Plans: Withdrawal of
grant funds may impact the final months of the demonstration including
the development of mice, lice, and ant control proticols. In addition,
plans for a second in-service for district maintenance personnel may
be affected.
Hopefully, we will have a final meeting
in March with all cooperators to discuss the implications of the project.
The Livonia Central School District
may partner with our program in 2002 in an athletic field and grounds
demonstration project.
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