WORKSHOP - ECO HEALTHY FUTURES FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS. Program to assist childcare centers in becoming healthier & more environmentally sound. Who should attend? Childcare center directors or representatives.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
9 AM – 3:30 PM
COMMUNITY CENTER
301 N. JACKSON, STREET
MEDIA PA
Topics to include:
• Non-toxic cleaning
• Less toxic and preventive pest management
• Healthy, Sustainable foods
PQAS credit hours will be awarded to participants for Keystone STARS or DPW purposes
Registration at www.pakeys.org Search for “Eco Healthy Futures”
For more information contact Dianne Moore: Dianne@WHEN.org
Thursday, July 28, 2011
New Facility Managers Listserv Available
The Facility Masters Webcast Series (www.k12masters.com/webcasts) have served over 6,000 facility managers and school representatives over the past two years. Based on participant feedback, founder Roger Young recently created a nationwide facility maintenance listserv to share best practices and processing in maintaining school facilities.
You are invited to become a member of this valuable listserv. Use this opportunity to join the listserv, post questions, respond to others, and most importantly network with your colleagues throughout the country. Please share this opportunity with your colleagues.
To subscribe go to: http://talk.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=facilitymasters
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
School IPM 2015 eNewsletter - July 2011
The July School IPM 2015 eNewsletter features articles on Fort Drum’s IPM STAR Certification, the University of Florida's School IPM Newsletter, and New Resources for School IPM Coalitions. For full articles, click here. If you have not already done so, please sign up for the School IPM 2015 mailing list.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
FREE Bed Bug Webinar - THIS Thursday, July 28 at 3PM EST
FREE Bed Bug Webinar - THIS Thursday, July 28 at 3PM EST
Lyn Garling of the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program at Penn State University will be presenting a webinar version of a bed bug presentation originally given in May for the National Association of Realtors annual meeting ("Bed Bugs for Realtors: What You Need to Know").
The content might also be of interest to landlords in general. The webinar is free and can be accessed via the link below.
https://realtors.webex.com/realtors/onstage/g.php?d=920550268&t=a
Lyn Garling of the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program at Penn State University will be presenting a webinar version of a bed bug presentation originally given in May for the National Association of Realtors annual meeting ("Bed Bugs for Realtors: What You Need to Know").
The content might also be of interest to landlords in general. The webinar is free and can be accessed via the link below.
https://realtors.webex.com/realtors/onstage/g.php?d=920550268&t=a
Monday, July 25, 2011
Non-EPA:The Everyone Breathe Asthma Education Grants program
Everyone Breathe™ recognizes the challenges parents or guardians of children with asthma face in preparing for their child's future and managing their child's asthma while he or she is at school. That's why the organization has partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to create The Everyone Breathe Asthma Education Grants program, where parents of children with asthma are invited to apply to win a $2,500 savings bond for their child's continued education and a $5,000 grant for their child's school to help improve the quality of asthma care and educate students about asthma.
http://www.everyonebreathe.com/asthmaGrants/asthma-education-grants.html
Friday, July 22, 2011
2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology
2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology
May 20 –23, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
We would like to invite you to the 2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology (NCUE). The NCUE emphasizes innovation and research on household, structural and public health arthropod pests. The conference goal is to facilitate open communication of information among pest management professionals and scientists in industry, academia and government.
DEADLINES
Student Scholarship Applications January 15, 2012
Title and Abstract of Paper or Symposia Presentation February 5, 2012
Nominations for the Distinguished Achievement Award in Urban Entomology February 26, 2012
Conference Pre-Registration April 12, 2012
Hotel Reservations April 15, 2012
PowerPoint Presentations To be uploaded at the registration desk no later than the day before the presentation
For more information visit: http://ncue.tamu.edu
May 20 –23, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
We would like to invite you to the 2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology (NCUE). The NCUE emphasizes innovation and research on household, structural and public health arthropod pests. The conference goal is to facilitate open communication of information among pest management professionals and scientists in industry, academia and government.
DEADLINES
Student Scholarship Applications January 15, 2012
Title and Abstract of Paper or Symposia Presentation February 5, 2012
Nominations for the Distinguished Achievement Award in Urban Entomology February 26, 2012
Conference Pre-Registration April 12, 2012
Hotel Reservations April 15, 2012
PowerPoint Presentations To be uploaded at the registration desk no later than the day before the presentation
For more information visit: http://ncue.tamu.edu
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
New Resources for School IPM Coalitions
With support from the US EPA, the national school IPM steering committee and the IPM Institute of North American recently developed a list of key documents for helping schools create self-expanding coalition projects. School IPM coalitions use professionals already trained and working in schools to recruit and mentor professionals from other school systems in their state. The following coalition resources are now available to assist professionals in developing and maintaining coalitions throughout the country:
- Coalition Operating Manual: this six-page PDF explains the benefits and purpose of school IPM, provides suggestions starting a coalition—including recruiting peers, gives tips on how to organize meetings and provides tools for continuing education and sustainability.
- Model Funding Resources for a School IPM Coalition: this 12-page PDF contains a sample list of model coalition budgets as well as potential sources for leveraging financial support.
- School IPM Coalition Memorandum of Understanding: this two-page PDF provides a sample written understanding of tenants that coalition leaders and members agree to, including the definition of IPM, involved parties and their roles, a description of quarterly or biannual meetings, and agreement to collect baseline metrics to help fulfill grant deliverables.
Smart Summer Shutdown: Tips to Save Energy and Protect Indoor Air Quality
US EPA - Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
Summer break is a great opportunity to save energy and costs by shutting down certain buildings due to reduced use. However, when shutting down a building during a vacation period, energy waste reduction and protection of the indoor environment must be considered simultaneously. On one hand, significant savings can be achieved by turning everything off. On the other hand, you could wind up creating added costs by not monitoring and adjusting for indoor temperature and humidity. Fluctuations in the indoor environment can have a negative effect on both the building itself in the form of mold and dust mites, as well as on the building contents (such as books, files, sensitive musical instruments, or pieces of artwork). Taking a proactive approach this summer can prevent an IAQ problem in the fall.
In addition, summer may also be an opportunity to conduct large cleaning, renovation and repair projects in schools, and therefore may be a great time to establish and re-evaluate cleaning and maintenance practices throughout the facility to ensure that the fall session begins with quality indoor air.
Summer Tips:
School is out, but heat and humidity are in – follow these tips to reduce energy waste and maintain quality indoor air during periods of non-occupancy:
Summer break is a great opportunity to save energy and costs by shutting down certain buildings due to reduced use. However, when shutting down a building during a vacation period, energy waste reduction and protection of the indoor environment must be considered simultaneously. On one hand, significant savings can be achieved by turning everything off. On the other hand, you could wind up creating added costs by not monitoring and adjusting for indoor temperature and humidity. Fluctuations in the indoor environment can have a negative effect on both the building itself in the form of mold and dust mites, as well as on the building contents (such as books, files, sensitive musical instruments, or pieces of artwork). Taking a proactive approach this summer can prevent an IAQ problem in the fall.
In addition, summer may also be an opportunity to conduct large cleaning, renovation and repair projects in schools, and therefore may be a great time to establish and re-evaluate cleaning and maintenance practices throughout the facility to ensure that the fall session begins with quality indoor air.
Summer Tips:
School is out, but heat and humidity are in – follow these tips to reduce energy waste and maintain quality indoor air during periods of non-occupancy:
- Review summer repairs and equipment purchases to be sure they align with your IAQ management plan. Identify and prioritize any IAQ issues by using the IAQ Tools for Schools Walkthrough Inspection Checklist.
- Maintain a relative humidity level under 60 percent and allow room spaces to stay within 80-85°F to reduce energy waste and prevent mold and moisture issues.
- Relocate activities that occur in the summer to facilities without a centralized HVAC system so that smaller cooling systems can provide the needed air conditioning.
- Eliminate unnecessary plug loads by unplugging appliances such as small refrigerators and using power strips to turn off electricity to small appliances and computers.
- Adjust HVAC systems for partial loading conditions to allow for maximum dehumidification and reduced energy needs during unoccupied periods in the hot and humid season. Use data loggers or humidistats to monitor space conditions.
- Ensure cleaned carpets are thoroughly dried to prevent mold growth in the hot and humid months. If there are mold issues, follow EPA’s guidelines for mold remediation in schools.
- Consider using non-toxic cleaners, adhesives, paints, pesticides, solvents, carpeting, equipment and furnishings to reduce chemical fumes. For chemicals used in your school, implement a hazardous materials plan detailing use, labeling, storage and disposal using the Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign as a resource.
- Obtain the support of top level management to promote the vacation shutdown program.
Back-to-School? School IPM is good for Children and Easy on the Budget
From Northeast IPM Insights
http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/school-ipm-good-for-children-easy-on-the-budget1/
School IPM: Good for Children, Easy on the Budget
A TALE OF TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Last year Gregg Smith’s pesticide bill was $5 for a can of wasp freeze. And that’s for the entire Salt Lake City, Utah, school district—36 schools serving nearly 24,000 students.
“Three years ago I was spending $28,000 a year on an outside contractor for pest control,” Smith says. “My costs now are running about $4,000 per year.” But it’s not just the money Smith cares about. Cutting back on pesticides has well-documented health benefits for children.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mike DiCroce tells a similar story. “I use a pressure hose to knock down small wasp nests in handrails and such,” says DiCroce, the district’s pest control operator.
Smith and DiCroce use IPM, or integrated pest management, to deter insect invaders on school grounds. Their tools are simple. Vaseline, hoses, mops, flashlights, caulk, and sticky traps all prevent infestations. Vaseline, says DiCroce, keeps cockroaches from crawling up drainpipes, while caulk seals hairline cracks against ants.
Pesticides are a last resort. The reason? “Children are more sensitive than adults to pesticides,” says Kathy Murray of the Northeastern School IPM Working Group. Crawling, exploring, and hand-to-mouth activities can expose children to pesticides. Murray is one of two dozen people working on projects funded by the Northeastern IPM Center to teach children about IPM and implement least-toxic methods in schools.
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
For more than a decade, IPM proponents have persuaded school districts to choose pest prevention over sprays. “Schools that switch to IPM show a decline in pesticide use and are still able to keep pests at bay,” says University of Massachusetts entomologist Bill Coli, who evaluates the impact of IPM projects. A case history of ten districts across seven states underscores his point: as schools adopted IPM, the average number of pesticide applications went down, and so did pest complaints. (Contact Coli for summary data on IPM regulations, adoption, and impacts in U.S schools.)
A good chunk of funding for school IPM outreach has come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an agency that knows pest management like the back of its hand. Through itsRegional IPM Centers, USDA unites private and public IPM supporters—including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which also devotes funds to reducing pesticide risks. In 2008, some of these partners created a national plan to make IPM a reality in all public schools by 2015.
“With nearly 50 million children enrolled in public schools, school IPM is the right thing to do,” says Sherry Glick, EPA’s school IPM team leader. Recently, her agency announced a $1.5 million plan to bootstrap school IPM programs all over the nation.
Some of the progress at the school-district level has been driven by state decisions. Thiry-six states now promote IPM or legislate some restrictions on pesticide use. “EPA is increasing its focus to work directly with states through voluntary relationships,” explains Glick.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In Keller, Texas, both pests and pesticide bills are down about 90 percent in a school district with 40 buildings, 33,000 students, and termites. The district once spent over $90,000 a year to cope with pests; now it’s below $10,000, says John Gann, director of maintenance.
Now schools nationwide can use a free online calculator, courtesy of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, that walks staff through their kitchens, offices, storage and utility areas—even building construction materials—to better assess pest risks and build solid IPM budgets.
In 1991, Texas passed one of the first school IPM laws in the nation. In contrast, Utah has no rules on the books about IPM. Yet the Salt Lake City district has embraced IPM wholeheartedly. Why? “Pesticides are expensive,” says Smith. “You can buy a lot of sticky traps for what you’d pay for some kinds of pesticides, or for a professional contactor.” In fact, notes Smith, he can buy enough traps to last three years or more on the cost to contract out the same services he now does in-house.
Even in states that promote IPM, many school districts lack IPM plans. They have plenty of other pressing issues on their minds.
“People will tell you IPM is more expensive,” Gann says. “I’m sorry. It’s not. IPM is less costly, and it’s the right thing to do for our students, now and for the future. IPM is not about hugging trees. It’s about a better environment in which to hug our kids.”
— by MARY WOODSEN and ELIZABETH MYERS
http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/school-ipm-good-for-children-easy-on-the-budget1/
School IPM: Good for Children, Easy on the Budget
A TALE OF TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Last year Gregg Smith’s pesticide bill was $5 for a can of wasp freeze. And that’s for the entire Salt Lake City, Utah, school district—36 schools serving nearly 24,000 students.
“Three years ago I was spending $28,000 a year on an outside contractor for pest control,” Smith says. “My costs now are running about $4,000 per year.” But it’s not just the money Smith cares about. Cutting back on pesticides has well-documented health benefits for children.
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mike DiCroce tells a similar story. “I use a pressure hose to knock down small wasp nests in handrails and such,” says DiCroce, the district’s pest control operator.
Smith and DiCroce use IPM, or integrated pest management, to deter insect invaders on school grounds. Their tools are simple. Vaseline, hoses, mops, flashlights, caulk, and sticky traps all prevent infestations. Vaseline, says DiCroce, keeps cockroaches from crawling up drainpipes, while caulk seals hairline cracks against ants.
Pesticides are a last resort. The reason? “Children are more sensitive than adults to pesticides,” says Kathy Murray of the Northeastern School IPM Working Group. Crawling, exploring, and hand-to-mouth activities can expose children to pesticides. Murray is one of two dozen people working on projects funded by the Northeastern IPM Center to teach children about IPM and implement least-toxic methods in schools.
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
For more than a decade, IPM proponents have persuaded school districts to choose pest prevention over sprays. “Schools that switch to IPM show a decline in pesticide use and are still able to keep pests at bay,” says University of Massachusetts entomologist Bill Coli, who evaluates the impact of IPM projects. A case history of ten districts across seven states underscores his point: as schools adopted IPM, the average number of pesticide applications went down, and so did pest complaints. (Contact Coli for summary data on IPM regulations, adoption, and impacts in U.S schools.)
A good chunk of funding for school IPM outreach has come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an agency that knows pest management like the back of its hand. Through itsRegional IPM Centers, USDA unites private and public IPM supporters—including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which also devotes funds to reducing pesticide risks. In 2008, some of these partners created a national plan to make IPM a reality in all public schools by 2015.
“With nearly 50 million children enrolled in public schools, school IPM is the right thing to do,” says Sherry Glick, EPA’s school IPM team leader. Recently, her agency announced a $1.5 million plan to bootstrap school IPM programs all over the nation.
Some of the progress at the school-district level has been driven by state decisions. Thiry-six states now promote IPM or legislate some restrictions on pesticide use. “EPA is increasing its focus to work directly with states through voluntary relationships,” explains Glick.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In Keller, Texas, both pests and pesticide bills are down about 90 percent in a school district with 40 buildings, 33,000 students, and termites. The district once spent over $90,000 a year to cope with pests; now it’s below $10,000, says John Gann, director of maintenance.
Now schools nationwide can use a free online calculator, courtesy of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, that walks staff through their kitchens, offices, storage and utility areas—even building construction materials—to better assess pest risks and build solid IPM budgets.
In 1991, Texas passed one of the first school IPM laws in the nation. In contrast, Utah has no rules on the books about IPM. Yet the Salt Lake City district has embraced IPM wholeheartedly. Why? “Pesticides are expensive,” says Smith. “You can buy a lot of sticky traps for what you’d pay for some kinds of pesticides, or for a professional contactor.” In fact, notes Smith, he can buy enough traps to last three years or more on the cost to contract out the same services he now does in-house.
Even in states that promote IPM, many school districts lack IPM plans. They have plenty of other pressing issues on their minds.
“People will tell you IPM is more expensive,” Gann says. “I’m sorry. It’s not. IPM is less costly, and it’s the right thing to do for our students, now and for the future. IPM is not about hugging trees. It’s about a better environment in which to hug our kids.”
— by MARY WOODSEN and ELIZABETH MYERS
Monday, July 11, 2011
Northeast IPM news, and a job opening
Our website is refreshed and beautiful. We're sporting a new look, feel, and content -- all based on user feedback. Features include enhanced navigation so you can find information easily, a “Need Funding?” guide to help you plan for grants, improved accessibility for mobile devices, and more.
School IPM is good for children, easy on the budget. For more than a decade, IPMers have urged school districts to choose prevention over sprays. “Schools that switch to IPM show a decline in pesticide use and are still able to keep pests at bay,” says UMass entomologist Bill Coli, who evaluates the impact of IPM projects.
On TV! Early pest detection and rapid response are key to healthy homes, explains Allie Taisey at the National Healthy Homes Conference in Denver.
What’s the buzz? Summer 2011 field meetings on pasture fly management. Fly pests can affect animal health, decrease milk production and weight gain, transmit disease causing agents, reduce grazing time, and irritate animals. Learn firsthand to identify and manage the most important fly pests affecting cattle on pasture in the Northeast.
We're hiring: Our national public housing program needs an IPM educator as soon as September. Apply by July 21 via Cornell University's job site (Extension Supp Spec II, job ID #15356).
Are you liking Northeast IPM? Then let's keep in touch on Facebook -- and we'll have a new way to stay connected about regional IPM news and happenings.
Virtual Risk Management Conference
The first-ever virtual nationwide risk management conference for school districts and their risk groups starts Tuesday, July 12 at 1:30 PM EST with a 20 min Welcome and Overview. Five other 45 min online events are scheduled next week. There is no charge to participate.
Even if you are unable to attend some events, please register and you will receive additional information and options to hear recording of each event.
Use this link to view the Event Schedule and go to registration page to select events. Click here.
Even if you are unable to attend some events, please register and you will receive additional information and options to hear recording of each event.
Use this link to view the Event Schedule and go to registration page to select events. Click here.
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