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September is the perfect time to review and update your schools' Integrated Pest Management program. Do you have new staff in need of training? Have the buildings and grounds been inspected for pest activity such as yellowjacket nests in the playground structures and shrubs? Have pest prevention maintenance tasks been prioritized and scheduled, such as replacement of worn door sweeps and floor drain inspection and cleaning? |
Are these items on your Back to School IPM Checklist?
❑ Review your schools' IPM policy (all schools in Maine are required to adopt an IPM policy).
❑ Review Pest Activity Logbook: are records complete and up-to-date?
❑ All IPM responsibilities have been assigned and a clear communication plan is in place to ensure timely and effective response to pests and elimination of pest-friendly conditions.
❑ Students, teachers and administrative staff have been instructed in the procedures for preventing and reporting pests and pest-friendly conditions.
❑ All staff know that pesticides may only be applied by licensed pest control professional, with exception for emergency control of bees and wasps.
❑ Service contracts have been reviewed and revised to ensure services are
provided within the framework of the IPM plan and policy.
❑ Buildings and grounds have been inspected for pest activity and pest-conducive conditions such as poorly maintained turf, cracks and gaps in building envelope, or moisture problems.
❑ A prioritized list of structural and landscape
improvements needed for pest prevention and management and ensure that
necessary work is completed in a timely manner.
❑ Response protocols are prepared for common pests such as ants, bees and wasps, mice, and bed bugs.
Find more complete IPM checklists and resources at www.maine.gov/schoolipm
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Got Pesticides You No Longer Need? Dispose of them safely at no charge! Pre-register by September 29, 2017. Drop-ins are not permitted. The program, jointly sponsored by the BPC and the Department of Environmental Protection, is funded through pesticide product registration fees and has kept more than 99 tons of pesticides out of the waste stream.
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IPM Coordinators: Have you completed and documented these training requirements? Keep your training certificates and/or your own training records in the training section of your Pest Activity Logbook.
- Complete the on-line Initial IPM Training Module (within 1 month of appointment as IPM Coordinator and review periodically to refresh yourself on the requirements for notices, signage and record-keeping.
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Attend a Comprehensive IPM Workshop (within 1 year of appointment). Want to host a Comprehensive IPM Workshop at your school? Contact Kathy Murray, or call 287-7616 to schedule it.
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Complete 1 hr/year of IPM Continuing Education. NEW: Now you can earn 1-hr of Continuing Education with free on-line Professional Development Training available at StopSchoolPests.org! Or watch a webinar or participate in any other training related to IPM or school facilities management.
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New on-line training available for Teachers! The National Education Association has partnered with the IPM Institute to offer free professional development training modules for teachers and other school staff. Find out what YOU can do to keep your classroom pest-free and allergen-free. Visit StopSchoolPests.org, register, and get started with your training today!
Get Pest Help for School Gardens and Greenhouses. Join the Maine School Garden Network! Then, register here to participate in Maine School Gardens Network at-your-school learning program.
Be Tick Smart at school. Download curricula and videos at Maine Center for Disease Control. And while you are at it, be sure to order the award-winning Tick Smart Poster created by Jayvin St. Louis of Spruce Mountain Elementary School.
Find us on Facebook: No More Pests for Teachers and Kids
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Questions/Comments? Contact us!
Email: kathy.murray@maine.gov
Phone: 207-287-7616
Get this from a friend? Subscribe Now! Or visit maine.gov/schoolipm to subscribe.
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