Introduction

The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy (AR 3514.2) with regards to pest management on RCOE property. RCOE embraced this program to protect the health and safety of our staff and students, as well as to conserve and protect the environment.

What is IPM?

IPM focuses on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems through a combination of techniques such as monitoring for pest presence, establishing treatment threshold levels, using non-chemical practices to make the habitat less conducive to pest development, improving sanitation, and employing mechanical and physical controls. Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment are used only after careful monitoring indicates they are needed according to pre-established guidelines and treatment thresholds.  (Food and Agricultural Code 13181)

RCOE IPM Program

RCOE is committed to the sustainable management of pests through the use of sound IPM that focuses on eliminating pest access to food, water and shelter in and around our schools. This is accomplished through the use of reduced risk pest control methods with a preference for non-chemical control measures. Sanitation, pest exclusion and habitat modification are essential to successful long-term pest mitigation. Buildings will be regularly cleaned and repaired in order to prevent pest infestations. All facilities and grounds will be maintained to be free of trash, debris and clutter. Ornamental plants, turf, and desirable grasses will be managed in a manner that limits animal, plant and microbial pest attraction.

IPM Approach

When necessary, reduced or low-risk pesticides may be used at school and offices, but only by an approved trained Pest Management Technician. However, the goal is to use effective non-chemical management techniques, including:

• Visual Inspections
• Monitoring (e.g., tracking paths of movement, shelter, and trapping)
• Exclusion (e.g., installation of door sweeps, caulking cracks and crevices, repairing holes, installation of spikes and netting to deter birds)
• Sanitation
• Habitat Modification (e.g., storage of food in classrooms in sealed containers, disposal of food and trash in trash cans, removal of paper and other clutter)

All members of the school community, including principals, students, teachers, parents, and custodians have an important role in the success of the IPM program. One or more of the above IPM methodologies can be employed by each of these groups of individuals in an effort to manage pests with minimal need for pesticide use.

Any observation of a pest presence on a campus should be reported to Operational Support Services, Maintenance and Operations who will either handle the situation or request a Pest Management Technician to respond.