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First School District in PA Officially Becomes a "Star" - June 2004

June 16, 2004

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA -- At a recent meeting of the Pittsburgh Board of Education, the Pittsburgh School District was awarded a certificate and plaque to become the fifth school district in the nation and the first in Pennsylvania to become IPM STAR certified by the IPM Institute of North America in recognition of its school integrated pest management program.

IPM STAR certification is a rigorous process that includes an on-site inspection by an independent professional trained in integrated pest management, or IPM. IPM is a kid-safe, economical and scientific, step-wise approach to pest management. IPM integrates knowledge of pest identity and biology with pest monitoring so that actions, if any, can be taken at just the right time. In addition, IPM uses a combination of management tactics such as biological, cultural, physical and chemical that is more likely to be safe and effective. Emphasis is placed on prevention of problems by eliminating conditions conducive to pest entry and survival, with pesticide use as a last resort.

To become IPM STAR certified, the inspector examines the history of pest problems, the condition of buildings and grounds as well as any pesticides used in the past year. The school must have an IPM program in place to guide administrators and staff as they respond to pest issues, including preventing and avoiding problems before they occur.

The certification process for the Pittsburgh School District was conducted by Dr. Thomas Green, president of the IPM Institute of North America, an IPM research and education non-profit based in Madison, Wisconsin. "We're very pleased that Pittsburgh Public Schools has undertaken this process, both to improve their IPM program and increase the visibility of IPM as a great alternative for anyone who has to deal with pest problems," states Green.

Legislation passed last year requires all Pennsylvania public schools to provide notification to parents, students and teachers in advance of pesticide applications and requires schools to adopt an IPM plan to manage their pest problems both in and out of the classroom. In addition, the least toxic, shortest duration effective material is used. Pesticides are not applied when students, teachers or staff are present in the affected area to assure the safety of the school-learning environment. The Pittsburgh School District developed such a plan with the aid of the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program (PAIPM) five years ago, and can attest that it works.

Maria Moio, pest control operator and IPM coordinator for the Pittsburgh School District, credits the cooperation she receives from the custodians, landscapers, tradesmen and food service people in the school district. "They do such a fine job, without their support we wouldn't be receiving this award," says Moio. She also gives credit to her supervisor Jay Boyd, director of plant operations for the school district. Boyd supports Moio's efforts because he sees the benefits a well-implemented IPM program. "We've had about a ninety-nine percent decrease in pest problems due to Moio's efforts," he says. "Education is really key, for the administrators, teachers and students," Boyd insists.

For the upcoming school year, Moio plans on adding more IPM trainings to the almost 30 she has conducted so far and establishing an IPM education committee. "I'm also creating a pilot program in one of our high schools where the students will be trained in IPM and will take over monitoring for pests in their building," says Moio.

The first-of-its-kind IPM Star certification program is being funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Foundation for IPM Education and is available to professionals, organizations, products and services. Green says they plan to expand the program to allow cooperative extension and other local experts to complete the required on-site inspection and reports, and, eventually, to offer certification to pest control operators, landscape service professionals, hospitals, and other public agencies.

For more information on the IPM Star program, go to Web site http://www.ipminstitute.org/ipmstar.htm. School administrators and others who have questions about the Pittsburgh School District's program can email Moio at mmoio1@phgboe.net, or phone (412) 488-4275.

The Pennsylvania IPM (PA IPM) program is a collaboration between Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting IPM in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. The PA IPM program's Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/ contains a wealth of information and resources for schools adopting IPM programs. By clicking on the "Schools" link, visitors also can download "IPM for Pennsylvania Schools, A How-To Manual." The link also leads to information about the school IPM effort in Pennsylvania and to educational materials from across the country. In addition, the site offers an interactive database to assist teachers with IPM background information, lesson plans and support materials from throughout the United States.