Tuesday, December 16, 2014

School IPM 2015 Newsletter: December 2014

School IPM 2020 Newsletter: December 2014
In This Issue
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What's New This Month
Start your application now for the 2015 U.S. EPA National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management! Deadline is January 30, 2015, 11:59 pm EST.
Apply today!
Highlights
 Do you know someone whose sense of responsibility, inspirational leadership, and exemplary persistence and courage protects children from chemical hazards and unhealthy school conditions?    

Nominate them today as your 2015 Healthy Schools Hero! 
Upcoming Events

February 18-19, 2015
School IPM Coordinator Training
DFW Area

March 24-26, 2015
8th International IPM Symposium
Salt Lake City, UT
More Information

April 2, 2015
Turfgrass IPM Workshop
Santa Maria, CA
More Information

April 6-8, 2015
2015 Imported Fire Ant and Invasive Pest Ant Conference
New Orleans, LA
More Information

April 22-23, 2015
School IPM Coordinator Training
Woodville, TX
 More Information

September 23-24, 2015
School IPM Coordinator Training
Houstan, TX
 More Information

October 21-22, 2015
School IPM Coordinator Training
Kingsville, TX
More Information
*View this newsletter as a PDF
Greetings from School IPM 2020!  

Every day, 49 million children attend school in the United States, served by nearly seven million teachers and staff.   But they're not alone.  Schools are also frequented by a number of pests including cockroaches, mice, dust mites and more.  Asthma is epidemic among children, impacting nearly 6% of school children nationally with rates as high as 25% in urban centers. House mice and cockroaches are potent asthma triggers.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a prevention-based, highly effective approach proven to reduce pest complaints and pesticide use by up to 90% in schools and other public buildings.  IPM practices such as sanitation and exclusion also improve food safety, fire safety and energy conservation.  Our newsletter highlights real-life examples of IPM in practice and can help you start an IPM program in your school district.  For more information, visit www.schoolipm2015.com
Adult Male Winter Moth: Robert Childs, University of Massachusetts, Bugwood.org
Winter Moth 
Winter chill is no deterrent to the winter moth. From late November through mid-January, winter moths are active seeking mates. Male moths can often be spotted crowding around outdoor lights after dark. Females are flightless, and must walk up trees and bushes to deposit eggs. Larvae hatching in the spring can cause serious damage to trees and ornamental plants by feeding on buds. This insect is common in some areas of New England, and has also been sighted in the Pacific Northwest.

Identification and behavior
Winter moth adults emerge from cocoons in mid-to-late fall. Males are light brown to tan with hairy wings. Female moths are gray and can often be found harboring at the base of trees. Females lay eggs in crevices in tree bark, under bark scales or under lichen. Hatched larvae, identifiable by their pale green bodies with white longitudinal stripes, work their way into tree, bush or flower buds and eat their way out, and can continue to feed on newly emerged plant tissue through early June.

Winter Moth Eggs - Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org
IPM
Winter moth caterpillar feeding can pose a serious threat to apples, cherries, blueberries and other fruit crops, as well as hardwoods including oak, basswood and ash. If winter moth adults are sighted or suspected, inspect vulnerable plants in late winter for eggs. If a problem is anticipated, sticky bands placed around the trunks of trees in early fall can intercept female moths climbing up trees to deposit eggs, and may provide some measure of control. Check bands frequently from late November through December; in high populations, the sticky surface can become completely covered with moths, allowing females to evade capture. Horticultural oil and other pesticide options are available if populations are high. Proper timing and good coverage are essential. Maintaining tree health through mulching, fertilizing according to soil analysis, and irrigating during dry or drought periods, is important to help trees recover from feeding damage.

Resources on identification and management of this pest are available on the University of Massachusetts Extension's webpage and the Connecticut IPM Program webpage. 
Urban EPA Online Education Events for School IPM
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced several webinars on school IPM. "Controlling Bed Bugs in Schools via IPM" will take place today, December 16 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM CST, and will address proactive strategies to engage and educate the entire school community on how to recognize and prevent the spread of bed bugs. Sign up here. Two EPA webinars after the New Year will address rodent and nuisance bird management in schools. Registration information for these can be found on the EPA's  School IPM Webinar Series page.

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Master Class series began on December 11, 2014, offered by US EPA and the School Health and Indoor Environments Leadership Development (SHIELD) Network. In a series of ten webinars, presenters explore topics such as HVAC Systems, moisture and mold, IPM and and asthma management for schools. Each webinar includes a thirty-minute question and answer session. EPA will post recordings of webinars in the series to the IAQ Tools for Schools Web Conferences/Webinars page. Those who complete all ten one-hour sessions will receive a certificate of completion for the 2015 SHIELD Network IAQ Master Class (CEUs pending). Don't miss these great free educational opportunities to further IPM and IAQ in your schools! The next webinar is scheduled for January 22, 2015. To learn more click here. 
How Could IPM Have Helped?
San Ysidro School District, San Diego, California is battling an unresolved lawsuit over alleged pesticide use, incurring $35,000 in legal costs as of last month. According to media reports, in 2011, teacher Josie Hamada took her students to a cherry tree grove on school property to draw and write about trees. After clearing some weeds, Hamada found herself contaminated with a blue substance which she suspected was a pesticide. Students were quickly moved inside to wash up. Health complaints followed, including at least one student's trip to a hospital the next day.

School officials report that no pesticide had been applied by district staff or contractors, and claimed that notices are posted for every scheduled application. The district had also sent out 5,000 notices to parents asking if they wanted to receive individual notification when the school applied pesticides; only three parents responded.

Media reports indicate the cherry trees were planted as a memorial to September 11, 2001 victims. It's unclear from the news stories if the blue substance was confirmed to be a pesticide, however an informed IPM coordinator might have suggested a lower maintenance alternative before the trees were planted. Cherry trees, much like apple, crabapple, dogwood and birches, are "key plants", prone to insect and disease problems. In most environments, cherry trees and other key plants require interventions, including pesticide applications, to keep them healthy and attractive. Fruit trees also typically shed some of the crop throughout the growing season, which can provide a food and moisture source for rodents, flies, yellow jackets and other potential pests. Weeds can also be a challenge to manage. Barrier fabric and mulch can be a solution, but can also provide harborage for rodents, and requires ongoing maintenance to be effective. To real the full story,  click here. 
Red Fire Ant Mound
Jake Farnum, bugwood.org

In Texas, a student died at Has Middle School in Corpus Christi following an allergic reaction to fire ant stings he received on a football field. While the district
has some IPM tactics in place, their IPM practices for fire ant management were not complete. The coaching staff was not trained to recognize the signs of anaphylactic shock. Knowing when and how to inspect a field for fire ants and how to apply baits effectively are key to fire ant management.

According to Janet Hurley, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Your objective should be to find the method or methods that are most cost-effective, environmentally sound and fit your tolerance level for fire ants." AgriLife Extension worked with the school IPM staff to develop a district-wide fire ant baiting program. One year later the district has reported fewer fire ant complaints and reduced cost with a broadcast bait program rather than treating individual mounds, which is time intensive, can require more pesticide use and does nothing to manage fire ants foraging from mounds on adjoining property. Properly timed bait applications can be entirely consumed by foraging ants within hours, limiting potential for exposure to the bait. The district also adopted a policy to train all staff on how to recognize anaphylaxis and how to properly respond to an allergic reaction to both pests and food-borne allergies. Read the full story  here. To learn more about fire ants and IPM visit Fire Ants and the Texas IPM in Schools Program. 
IPM Institute | 608-232-1410 | msnyder@ipminstitute.org | http://www.ipminstitute.org
1020 Regent Street
Madison, WI 53715
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

December School IPM Newsletter from Colorado



December School IPM Newsletter – Holiday Note To Teachers, Welcome Jeffco Schools, Thank You Genevieve Berry & More

IPM Holiday Notice For Teachers
Holidays in the classrooms are both hectic and exciting.  Help teachers remember to pest proof their classrooms before leaving for break by sending a note. Click here for an example.
Welcome Jeffco Schools
Jeffco school district has officially begun their School IPM program. Three pest audits were conducted at Jeffco schools last month. To learn more about audits and welcome Thomas Riggle and Jeffco, click here.  

Thank You Genevieve Berry
A big thank you goes out to Genevieve Berry as she leaves the School IPM program on January 14, 2014. Click here to learn more.

Creating A School IPM Culture
Creating a ‘School IPM’ culture is one of the biggest hurdles maintenance and facility staff face.  To learn how to foster your ‘School IPM’ culture, click here.

Building An IPM Team
Kitchen staff are critical members of any School IPM team.  For IPM steps they can easily implement, click here.

Breakfast In The Classroom (BIC) Benefits
Breakfast in the classroom (BIC) programs are having demonstrable benefits.  Click here to learn what a study reported in the November, 2014, JAMA Pediatrics has to say. 

#1 Pest In Schools & Homes
The house mouse is the number one pest in schools and homes.  For information about IPM strategies for dealing with mice, click here.

Urban Legends & Wasp Spray
Heard the urban legend about using wasp spray to fight off attackers?  This urban legend just re-emerged in Fort Collins, click here to learn why this legend is wrong.

CSU Environmental Health Interns
CSU Environmental Health program has interns available to assist with your programs.  Click here to learn more about the program.


UPCOMING EVENTS: 
December 16 – Free EPA Webinar:  “Controlling Bed Bugs in Schools”
For more information and to register for this webinar, visit:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/282274545


Thank you for your dedication and support of School IPM.  Happy Holidays To You & Your Family!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Last Chance to Register: Learn How to Make the Case for School IAQ




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image: Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program

Act now! Register for the first webinar in the new IAQ Master Class Webinar Series!
Making the Case for Environmental Health,
Academic Performance and High-Performing Facilities


Thursday, December 11, 2014
Webinar: 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET
Live mentoring and Q&A session:
2:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Discussion topics include:
  • An exploration of the most compelling and motivating evidence for indoor air quality (IAQ) management in schools.
  • Demonstrations of the return on investment school districts are achieving, such as increased cost savings and improved student performance.
  • How to take action to implement IAQ management plans that address health, academic performance and facility efficiency.
Featured IAQ Experts from the SHIELD Network:
  • Tracy Enger, EPA Indoor Environments Division, Office of Air and Radiation
  • Nate Allen, USGBC Center for Green Schools
  • Claire Barnett, Healthy Schools Network
  • Diane Rhodes, North East Independent School District, Texas
  • Richard Shaughnessy, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Dave Hill, Blue Valley School District, Kansas
  • Dave Blake, Northwest Clean Air Agency, Washington
  • Victor Melton, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, Texas
Register today to learn more about how effectively managing IAQ in schools can contribute to a healthier learning environment, improved academic performance and more efficiently performing facilities.
Submit your question(s) for the Live Mentoring and Q&A Session NOW by sending your question to IAQschools@epa.gov.
Mark your Calendars!
Announcing the IAQ Master Class Webinar Series
Building Capacity for IAQ Mastery:
Creating Green Clean and Healthy Schools requires mastering the indoor environment using a comprehensive approach. The School Health and Indoor Environments Leadership Development (SHIELD) Network is a group of diverse stakeholders who, in collaboration with the US EPA, are working toward the Bold Goal of ensuring that all schools have healthy indoor environments.

The SHIELD Network is launching the IAQ Master Class webinar series, which comprises ten 1-hour technical, core-competency Web-based trainings designed to build the capacity of school district staff across the country to start, improve or sustain an IAQ management program.
Learn from technical experts, industry leaders and model school districts during these live webinars, which will be followed by a 30-minute mentoring Q&A session.
Gain Recognition for your knowledge acquisition and commitment to action through certificates of completion for each training. Additionally, when you complete all 10 hours you will be acknowledged with a certificate that recognizes your efforts toward IAQ Mastery as a member of the 2015 SHIELD Network IAQ Master Class (CEUs pending).
Mark your calendar to join the upcoming webinars in the IAQ Master Class series!
Webinar Topic
Webinar Date
Creating Healthy Indoor Environments in Schools: The Knowledge Network and Actions You Need
On-Demand Link Coming Soon (Recorded April 30, 2014)
Making the Case
12/11/14
HVAC Systems
1/22/15
Moisture and Mold
2/12/15
Energy Efficiency and IAQ
3/12/15
Integrated Pest Management
4/16/15
Asthma Management
5/07/15
Cleaning and Maintenance
6/04/15
Materials Selection
7/16/15
Source Control
8/06/15
Miss a live webinar? No worries, all webinars will be recorded and available for future on-demand viewing on EPA's Web site.

Questions?
If you have any questions about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance, please contact the IAQ Tools for Schools Connector Coordinator at IAQschools@epa.gov.

EPA offers free IAQ Tools for Schools comprehensive resources to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting and preventing IAQ problems. Learn more about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools.