Training Your Staff about IPM

Janet Hurley, MPAExtension Program Specialist

Texas AgriLife ExtensionSouthwest Technical Resource

Center

Why Train

• Aids in understanding• Less complaints• Raises awareness about IPM needs• Makes your IPM program

AWESOME

Cooperation: the oil that keeps IPM working

• IPM is people-oriented

• Communication skills essential

• Education is the most often over-looked IPM tactic

Education

• Staff– Custodial– Maintenance– Food Service

• Teachers• Administrators• Parents• Students

How Adult’s Learn

Levels of Understanding

• Awareness– Communication

• Understanding– Education

• Trials– Coaching

• Adoption– Reinforcement

• Integrated into the Educational Process– Nirvana

How to approach

• Classroom setting– Standard power point

• Video– ABC’s of IPM series

• Interaction– Combination of both– Question and answer session

Let’s watch a video

• Module 1– Good for what is IPM – Teachers, parents, general staff

• Module 2– Building maintenance crews

• Module 3– Food service

• Module 5– Upper administration

• Module 6– Grounds crews

After the video – what to cover

• Who are you – IPM Coordinator contact information

• Reminder about no pesticides• Who can make applications – licensed

persons only• How to report findings – even the

structural ones– Door sweeps, cracks in tile/walls, openings

around pipes

Explain how they can help

• Don’t bring in cans of bug spray

• Never supply home remedies as well

• Store supplies in tight fitting containers

Tell What they can do

• Don’t bring Food or Drink in the Classroom

• Keep personal items like coffee pots and refrigerators to a minimum – explain about custodial.

• Keep candies or treats in sealed containers

• Store food type supplies in sealed containers

• Even the tiniest of crumbs is a full meal for roaches or ants.

Helping the custodial staff• Keep the Classroom as

Clean as Possible• Sanitation, not pesticides,

makes the biggest impact on pest populations.

• Cleaning up after any pets in the classroom and after parties is an absolute must.

• Empty soda cans, used paper plates, food wrappings, etc. should be placed in the trash can and then hauled to an outside dumpster before the end of the day.

How to reinforce

• Utilize the DVD & workbooks • Get them to discuss their problems• Outline your response to common

pest problems• Remember the 4 steps of IPM

1 Prevent pest populations.2 Apply pesticides only as

needed.3 Select the least

hazardous pesticides.4 Target pesticides to areas

not contacted by or accessible to the students, faculty or staff.

Remember Four Key Points of IPM

Where to obtain more infohttp://schoolipm.tamu.edu

Watch for Web Based Training

Questions

• Always here to help• Willing to conduct site based audits• Help with implementing IPM

program and/or improving your IPM program

• Toll Free # 877-747-6872• Email schoolipm@tamu.edu