Jake Wightman teaching about pesticide safety in Round Rock

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is pleased to announce the 2026 School IPM Coordinator Spring Training Dates.  These training locations are selected to aid the TX Charter Schools so that they can attend in-person training closer to home.  You will notice there are three AgriLife sponsored one-day events, plus one hosted by region 8 ESC in March.  In late April and early May, Jake Wightman and I will host our two-day school IPM workshop.  Our second day will be designed to do some hands-on training not just power points, which will be helpful to those who hold a SPCS Pest license.

To register for the trainings listed below follow this link https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ search IPM.

Registration Costs $260 for both days, $160 for one day, this will include lunch, a spiral bound book with training materials, and CEU credits for those who have a TDA AG or SPCS license.  Are you a vendor, we have an option for you, sponsor a lunch for information, contact Janet Hurley.

Class time is 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with an hour for lunch.

$160 for one day which includes notebook with necessary forms and paperwork regarding school IPM program implementation, plus additional resources to be utilized in your IPM program.

For two-day programs cost is $260 to cover additional training supplies

Day 1 – 6-Hour School IPM Coordinator Training

Since 1995 all independent school districts have had to have a responsible IPM coordinator, starting in 2026 publicly funded charter schools will also need to have a responsible IPM coordinator. Per Texas Occupations Code 1951.212 and TAC Title 4 Agriculture Part 1 TDA, Chapter 7 Pesticides, Subchapter H Structural Pest Control Service, Division 7 Integrated Pest Management Program for School Districts all public schools within the state of Texas must have a trained IPM coordinator. This one-day class fulfills this requirement for all newly appointed IPM Coordinators and can count towards a 6-hour refresher class for current school IPM coordinators. Check out our Agenda for exact content. This class is beneficial for those who pest management professionals who service school districts. CEU credits for those who are licensed under the Texas Department of Agriculture 3A/Structural Pest Control Service or need hours towards their school IPM recertification.

Instructors Day 2: Janet Hurley, ACE, Jacob Wightman

2026 Day 1 Agenda

Day Two – Hands On Activities for IPM Coordinator Training 

Advanced training is for experienced, new school IPM coordinators and pest management professionals. The agenda will offer classroom training along with inspections in the kitchen and surrounding school grounds areas.  Participants will learn about the most cockroaches found in and around schools.  Monitoring and how glue boards and certain species of insects can tell you a story to solve your pest problem and possibly a plumbing leak as well. We will also cover green, yellow and red category products, along with the paperwork needed by those applications.  How do you document your non-chemical control measures let’s make sure you are to help support your program.  Finally, what do your bid specs look like when was the last time your district updated them and who does the repairs for non-chemical treatments. This training will offer limited CEU credits for those who are licensed under the Texas Department of Agriculture 3A/Structural Pest Control Service or need hours towards their school IPM recertification.

Instructors Day 2: Janet Hurley, ACE, Jacob Wightman

To register for the trainings, follow this link https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/  search IPM. Fall school IPM dates will be announced later in the year.

Hope to see you this spring!

The post 2026 School IPM Coordinator Spring Training Dates appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

The sign on the left is the standard 48 posting notification that TDA publishes on their website. The sign on the right is something AgriLife Extension developed with TDA for schools to use.

September brings the beginning of a new state fiscal year, where new rules and regulations come into effect throughout our state. TDA/SPCS recently sent out an email to all the leaders of TX Charter Schools informing them that starting this September, they do fall under the school integrated pest management (IPM) laws and regulations. As such, they will need to follow what we have been doing for the past 30 years in Independent School Districts, which includes training, recordkeeping, appointment of an IPM Coordinator, and much more as many of you know. Division 7 of the Texas Administrative Code “INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS” is the section of the rules that gives guidance to how we train for school IPM, how districts should implement their school IPM programs and what it takes to be in compliance with the rules.

Texas law requires all public-school districts to adopt an IPM program and to designate an IPM Coordinator to manage the implementation of the IPM program. Up until now, only Texas public school districts were required to adhere to IPM in school requirements in statute (1951.212) and regulations. When the law was first adopted in May 1991, Texas Agricultural Extension Service (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service since 2019) has been part of the educational process for the development of school IPM coordinator training. Since 2002, the School IPM Website hosts a variety of documents, IPM action plans, and sample policy statements that help all school systems and other sensitive environments with IPM program implementation. 

IPM emphasizes the need for proactive and environmentally responsible pest management strategies within our school environments ensuring the safety and health of students and staff in Texas.

The Texas Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Service issued a statement when they made their announcement to the Charter schools.

“We understand that this is a significant change and will require time to implement so the department will provide a year to allow open-enrollment charter schools to setup their IPM program. Beginning September 1, 2026, open-enrollment charter school districts must follow IPM rules. TDA will begin inspections of open-enrollment charter school districts after September 1, 2026. All TDA routine school IPM inspections are scheduled and a TDA inspector will contact each charter school district between September 2026 and August 2027 to schedule an inspection.”  

Below are additional resources, and training opportunities will be made available to assist you in complying with these new requirements.

The school IPM requirements include:

1. All open-enrollment public school charters must adopt an IPM Policy. The IPM Policy requirements are found in 7.201: Responsibilities of School Districts. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service School IPM Specialist Janet Hurley can assist with sample IPM policies and TDA has a sample policy on our website found here.
2. All open-enrollment public school charters must appoint at least one IPM Coordinator. Additional IPM Coordinators may be appointed; if you choose to have more than one IPM Coordinator, one of the appointed IPM Coordinators must be designated as the Responsible IPM Coordinator. The IPM Coordinator responsibilities can be found in 7.202: Education Requirements a Responsibilities of IPM Coordinator. The SPCS-431: School IPM Coordinator Information form is used to designate an IPM Coordinator and must be submitted within 90 days of designation. Schools may not be without a designated IPM Coordinator for more than 30 days. All IPM Coordinators must attend a School IPM Coordinator Training within six months of being designated IPM Coordinator.
3. All pesticide applicators must be licensed to make applications on open-enrollment public school charter grounds.
   

   This is a sample of what your outdoor posting sign could look like.

   Records of all pesticide applications and pest control work orders must be maintained for two years. More on requirements of licensed applicators can be found in 7.203: Responsibilities of Certified Applicators and Licensed Technicians. Please note, pesticides used to sanitize (like bleach) or used on living-man (like hand sanitizer and lice products) are not included in licensing requirements.
4. Posting pesticide applications and restricting students’ access to areas treated with pesticides is required. Additionally, how pesticides are used and how often they can be used is explained in 7.204: Pesticide Use in Schools.

To help guide the first steps, begin by developing your IPM policy and designating an IPM Coordinator. If you have a contracted company providing pest control in and around your buildings, make them aware of this change. If you have licensed pesticide applicators, review 7.203 & 7.204.

 Below you will find links to more helpful IPM resources.

• TDA School IPM page
• TDA School IPM Forms
• Texas A&M AgriLife School IPM Page (IPM Coordinator Training Provider)
• Texas A&M AgriLife School IPM Forms
• Texas A&M AgriLife School IPM Sample Pest Management Plans
• National Pesticide Information Center School IPM

The post Texas Charter Schools fall under TX School IPM regulations appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

AgriLife Extension state pesticide safety coordinator Don Renchie, Ph.D., leads school IPM training in an industrial school kitchen.

As August rolls into September remember to remind your teachers and staff about their role in the IPM program.  You can send out emails reminding them about food in the classroom, how to submit a pest complaint or use one of our posters to educate them about their role in the IPM program.

School IPM Coordinators must receive their 6-hour school IPM coordinator training within 6 months of being appointed by the Superintendent.  Those that have been IPM coordinators for more than three years, must receive 6 hours of structural pest control CEU credit, with 1 of those credits as a school IPM refresher topic.  If you are the IPM Coordinator and noncommercial certified applicator for the school district, you can earn your annual 5 CEU credits and then take our online school IPM refresher course ENTO-CO-012.  Remember online (on demand) courses like these are good every other year per TDA/SPCS rules for CEU credit.

If you are looking for a school IPM coordinator training course our AgriLife Extension team will be hosting these two-day events at:

Katy ISD: Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center, 5801 Katy Hockley Cut Off Rd, Katy, TX 77493 September 10 & 11, 2025

Corpus Christi ISD: CCISD Instructional Resource Center, 4321 Prescott Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78416 October 15 & 16, 2025

Cost is $260 for both days, $160 for one day and class time is 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with an hour for lunch.  To register for one of these courses visit our conference services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/website/54443/ use search term IPM

If your district or business needs to train employees for their pesticide applicator licenses. Our AG & Environmental Safety group are offering the following courses:

General Standards Technician Training (The 8-hour class EVERY applicator should take)

• August 20th (Humble)
• September 3rd (Virtual)
• September 17th (Austin)

20-hour General Standards Apprentice Training (Great course for employees who work for cities, parks, schools, or other small businesses that want employees to have a good foundation in structural pest control.)

• September 23rd-25th (Bryan)

8-hour Structural Pest Category Training (Course helps you learn what is needed for the Pest Category exam)

• August 19th (Humble)
• September 26th (Bryan)

Landscape Maintenance Category Training (Course helps you learn what is needed for the AG or Structural lawn and ornamental work.)

• August 27th (Fort Worth)
• September 17th (Humble)

To register for one of these courses visit our conference services website https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/website/54443/ use pesticide for search term. Each course comes with study materials as such costs may vary depending on which course is selected.  For more information you can also call 979-845-1099 for more information.

Finally, August 20, 2025, is World Mosquito Day.  As such here are some reminders about mosquitoes and school campuses.

Mosquitoes are of concern in the school environment because many species are painful biters and/or are capable of transmitting diseases. In the United States, the threat of developing encephalitis from mosquitoes is far greater than the threat from other mosquito vectored diseases. Encephalitis, meningitis, and other diseases can develop from the bites of mosquitoes infected with certain viruses such as West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, LaCrosse (California) encephalitis, and Eastern equine and Western equine encephalitis. An effective control program will not eliminate all mosquitoes but will keep the population at a reasonable level and will reduce both nuisances and the risk for mosquito-borne diseases. With human cases on the rise this summer, our best defense is knowledge of the virus and mosquito management.

The best way to prevent West Nile Virus is to minimize the number of mosquitoes since that is the only way the virus moves from bird host to human in nature. Generally, the easiest way to deal with mosquito pests is to prevent them from breeding around us in the first place, and this is quite easy.

Mosquitoes need wet conditions to lay their eggs and grow from an aquatic larva into a flying adult a poor irrigation system can contribute to encourage breeding sites. HUMANS create most of the wet conditions used by mosquitoes in our state, and it is likely that many of us have mosquitoes developing in our neighborhoods and own backyards. We cannot eradicate every individual mosquito, but there are some very simple steps each of us can take to keep numbers low.

The most important single thing a school district can do is make sure school grounds are not contributing to your local mosquito populations. Check water catchment basins, storm drains, low areas, and equipment storage yards, athletic and playground equipment, especially, for places where water might be caught and held. Drain or treat with Bti dunks, or Altosid granules–both Green category insecticides.

Mosquitoes typically rest in vegetation or other shaded sites during the day. If you have areas of vegetation or doorways where mosquitoes are a noticeable problem, consider treating such sites with a residual pyrethroid spray. This would be a Yellow category treatment and should be limited to known problem areas. Insecticides like deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin can provide up to six weeks control on vegetation or building surfaces. They can be applied via hand-held pump sprayer, backpack mist blower, or power sprayer to doorways and trees, shrubs and ornamental grass around buildings and entryways. Do not allow students or staff into treated areas until sprays have thoroughly dried. Remember students cannot enter an area that has been treated with a Yellow Category product for 4 hours.

If the city or your district wants to apply ULV insecticides for pretreating sporting venues, posting and notification requirements must be followed and Yellow category justifications filed, as with any use of Yellow category product. ULV treatments usually use synergized pyrethrins (Green for products with less than 5% piperonyl butoxide), resmethrin or permethrin (Yellow). Mosquito control with such sprays is short-lived (few hours to a day) and should be conducted only when wind is less than 5-10 mph.

When it comes to IPM for mosquitoes, don’t forget to educate students, parents, and staff. The district should consider notifying parents and students advising them to wear repellent to school or evening sporting events. Use of repellents on school grounds is something each school district must decide on. Personal use of repellents is not prohibited or really addressed by state school IPM regulations; however, they are addressed through the Department of State Health Services who considers repellents as part of an over-the-counter medication. If you haven’t done so, visit your district’s head nurse to make sure she/he is aware of your IPM program and the efforts you, your staff and your pest control contractor are doing everything they can do to help prevent mosquitoes. The Texas Department of State Health Services and many local mosquito control authorities have useful educational fliers and websites (see below) that parents should be aware of. School districts have a useful role to play in getting mosquito awareness information out to our communities. Consider linking this information to your school district’s website.

The post School IPM Training and World Mosquito Day appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

You never know what you will find when you go for a walk around your campus, hope you are having a great summer.

I can’t believe 2025 is halfway complete, time seems to speed away every year. As many of you prepare for another school year, here are a few things as IPM coordinators, parents, pest management professionals and others should know as we head in to fall.

The school IPM Coordinator two-day workshops will be held in Harris and Nueces Counties, and all are welcome to attend. The first day of the workshop covers the information a new IPM coordinator needs to know. On the second day of the workshop, we offer 5 different CEU topics to offer returning IPM coordinators a chance to earn their continuing education requirements. To learn more about these classes visit the AgriLife Register website for more information. The cost is $260 for both days, $160 for one day. The class is from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with an hour for lunch. Click on the hyperlinks for the date you are interested in attending.

September 10 & 11, 2025 Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center, 5801 Katy Hockley Cut Off Rd, Katy, TX 77493
October 15 & 16, 2025 Corpus Christi ISD Instructional Resource Center, 4321 Prescott Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78416

Upcoming Pesticide Safety Programs: Not sure where to start when it comes to obtaining a pesticide license in Texas, no worries we have a group for that. Do you work for a school district, childcare center, hospital, hotel, motel, nursing home, food processing plant, or city/county government? If you answered yes, You Need a non-commercial applicator license for grounds or structural pest applications. Contact our Ag & Environmental Safety Unit to learn more about the classes you can take to help you pass your licensing exams.

Below is a list of upcoming classes, don’t see one you in your area? Talk with the AES staff about what it takes to hold a course in your area. Classes run from 8AM to 5PM with an hour for lunch. Depending on the course manuals will cover the cost. Visit the AES website https://agrilife.org/aes/ or call (979) 845-3849. Follow the links below to register for the current offerings.

General Standards/ Technician Training

• August 13th and October 2, 2025 (Plano)
• August 20th and November 6, 2025 (Humble)

Pest Category Training

• August 19th (Humble)
• October 1, 2025 (Plano)

Landscape Maintenance Training

• August 27th and November 12, 2025 (Fort Worth)
• October 15, 2025 (Austin)
• September 17, 2025(Humble)

Pesticide licensing exams can be set up after gaining the approval of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Once approved for testing, visit Metro Institute’s website here to create an account and schedule your exam at one of the testing locations featured in the graphic to the right.

Pest Profile: Cockroaches Miss Avery Brooks, AES Student Worker

This image captures German cockroaches on a monitoring device. By using the placement of this device and what is found will help to determine types of treatment options.

Cockroaches can be found in many structural environments such as hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, private residences, apartments, cruise ships, railroad cars, warehouses, and even electronic devices like telephones, computers, and cash registers. The presence of cockroaches can be identified by their unpleasant odor, fecal pellets, and stained runways. Their bodies are designed for indoor life, and their flattened body shape allows them to enter homes and other structures through tight cracks and crevices. Although it seems that cockroaches outlive humans, they do not have any special biological features that allow them to reproduce faster or be resilient to starvation, drowning, and radiation. They are simply tenacious and tend to reappear in places where they have previously been eradicated. As a result of their tenacity, the likelihood of any major species of cockroaches appearing on the endangered species list is very low. There are 30 species of cockroaches in Texas, but only a few of these species are found in urban landscapes and within structures. These include the German cockroach, the Asian or Oriental cockroach, the American cockroach, and the smoky brown cockroach.

The German cockroach is the most common structural roach in Texas and can be found indoors in kitchens, bath- rooms, or any other locations that can provide food, shelter, and warmth. This species of cockroach is known for hitchhiking on boxes, furniture, backpacks, gym bags and any other personal items that live with humans. You can control and eliminate this roach, but it does take effort on the IPM Coordinator, pest management professional and the occupants of the area being affected by these roaches. Not sure where to start visit our IPM in Action Plan for German cockroaches to determine what are your multiple control tactics you to need to eradicate this species.

Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) Multiple Life Stages, watch for egg cases (ootheca) stop them before they develop.

Asian cockroaches are the flying cousins of the German cockroach species and is typically found in lawns and leaf litter. American cockroaches inhabit sewers and enter homes for food and shelter. The smokey-brown cockroach is mainly active at night and can be found in car ports, garages, and on the exterior of homes. The Surinam cockroach and the Cuban cockroach are normally outdoor roach species and are not normally found in structures. The Surinam cockroach is a non-native species and is considered a burrowing species that enjoy spending its time in mulched flower beds and compost piles. The Cuban cockroach has a unique green color when mature and is active at night, generally attracted to porch lights. Even after many years of technological improvements and developments in pesticides, cockroaches continue to maintain their presence, especially in urban structures and metropolitan areas. Controlling the presence of cockroaches plays a key role in improving public health. You can find the IPM Action Plan for Outdoor Cockroaches or to learn more about Texas cockroaches, join us at one of our Structural Pest Category 8-hour training courses or check out the Controlling Cockroaches in Texas Landscapes factsheet here.

Finally, want a view of the past of Texas School IPM training, check out these YouTube videos. Thanks to Thomas Stein, Shepherd ISD who found the original VHS copies of the live-streaming training from February and April 1995. There is a message from Representative John Hirschi who sponsored the law to start IPM in public schools in TX. While watching these videos I realized that the content has not changed in the 30 years since we adopted this law. Integrated pest management and pest management are linked, and it does require everyone to understand their role in the entire program. It does require understanding insects (pest ID) so that the proper prevention and control measures are used.

Part 1: Texas IPM In School Program How to Comply

Part 2: Texas IPM in School Program How to Comply 

The post Summer Highlights appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

Whether you love watching barn swallows up close or dread the mess they leave behind, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert encourages you to take preventative action before the birds begin nesting.

With the migratory spring season for swallows underway, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert provides property owners with information to limit nest building on structures while adhering to federal law protecting the species. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

The migratory spring season for swallows is underway, and barn swallows will typically enter the southern U.S. until mid-April.

Of the eight species of swallows in North America, barn and cliff swallows are considered the most problematic for property owners because they build mud nests attached to houses, barns and other structures. Barn swallows tend to nest as single pairs, while cliff swallows can nest in colonies of up to several hundred pairs.

These birds prefer nesting on overhangs, covered ledges or other suitable surfaces, using mud to build their nests. If your property meets these conditions, you may find swallows returning every year unless you take preventative action.

Intervene before nests are built and occupied

If you don’t want barn swallows on your property, you must immediately take action before any nests are built and occupied, said AgriLife Extension’s Liz Tidwell, a small acreage wildlife program specialist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Uvalde.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it a federal crime to hunt, kill, capture, sell or otherwise hurt migratory birds, which includes destroying nests in use. In other words, once a bird begins spending time in a nest, even if the nest is not yet complete, it is illegal to remove it.

“The main reason people want to remove barn swallow nests is aesthetic,” Tidwell said. “Mud nests on the side of your house or structure, along with the bird droppings underneath, can be unsightly and even pose health concerns due to the droppings.”

Additionally, nests by entryways may also be a nuisance if swallows act territorial and “divebomb” homeowners to protect their nest and young.

“Luckily, swallows are not as aggressive as blue jays or mockingbirds,” she said. “Often, once swallows get used to your presence and know you aren’t going to harm the nest, they will stop swooping down on you.”

How to prevent barn swallow nests

Tidwell shared advice for preventing unwanted swallows.

• Cover nesting areas: Use netting or wire mesh to cover areas where swallows could build nests — typically areas like an eave or where a roof and wall meet.
• Hang vinyl strips: Vinyl plastic hung in overlapping vertical strips may be used for places with an open entryway.
• Add bird spikes and barriers: Bird spike sticks and barriers can be purchased and installed to prevent birds from building nests.
• Remove old nests: Knock down old, empty nests. Birds will reuse nests from previous years if available.
• Interrupt construction: When you see signs of new nest construction, knock down the mud daily until the birds give up on their build. Once a bird starts spending time in the nest — even if it is not yet complete — it is illegal to remove the nest until it is empty again.

Tidwell said trapping or shooting the birds is illegal, and attempting to scare the birds away is usually ineffective.

How to remove a barn swallow nest

Old, empty nests and the mud placed at the beginning of construction can be removed several ways.

• Use a pressure washer or hose.
• Use a pole or scraper but use protective gear like gloves and a respirator mask.
• Use caution if handling an empty nest. Parasites and mites can persist in nests as long as three years after a bird leaves.

Reasons to welcome swallows

Before taking preventative measures, Tidwell also encourages you to learn about the benefits of having barn swallows around:

• Pest control: Swallows eat insects many people consider pests — essentially providing a free ecological service.
• Birdwatching opportunity: The proximity of nests to doorways and windows makes for easy bird watching.
• Educational value: Nests allow viewers to experience a bird’s life cycle.

Ultimately, Tidwell said it’s important to remember that these birds are part of the seasonal changes of our dynamic natural world.

“They’re just temporary guests passing through and will leave when the weather cools,” she said.

March 18, 2025 – by Susan Himes 

The post Tips to prevent barn swallow nests this spring appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

You never know what you will find when you go for a walk around your campus

This post is to remind you that our two AgriLife Extension School IPM Coordinator workshops are rapidly approaching.  The Dallas Area class will be next week, March 26 & 27 (Wednesday and Thursday) located at the Dallas ISD Food Support Facility.  For those of you in central TX we will be in Round Rock on April 9 & 10, at Reeves Athletic complex.

School IPM Coordinators are required by law to receive 6 continuing education credits for school IPM every three years.  For a new IPM Coordinator you are required by law to receive the 6-hour school IPM coordinator training within 6 months of being appointed by the Superintendent.  If you took the 6-hour school IPM on demand course through AgriLife Learn, then you need to attend an in-person class for your three-year refresher.  That course only counts once and cannot be repeated, since our in-person classes do change, those can be repeated every three years.  If you have a structural license and receive 5 SPCS CEUs each year, you can take the School IPM Refresher course online.  There will be a chance in the fall to take the 1-hour refresher virtually via Zoom, stay tuned for that announcement.

The School IPM Coordinator training, which we call Day 1, is the required 6-hour training that every new IPM Coordinator needs to take to stay in compliance with the school IPM rules.  In addition to the coordinator, pest management professionals who service schools should also consider sending their technicians or service managers so they can have a better understanding of the school IPM rules.

If you hold a SPCS license you can receive 6 hours credit or AG license holders can receive 5 hours credit.

Our Day 2 of school IPM training is for IPM Coordinators, pesticide applicators, health inspectors and anyone else wanting to learn more about specific pests and how to manage them.

Attendees will earn 5 hours of classroom instruction, 5 hours of SPCS credits and/or 5 hours of TDA AG CEU credit for the day.  The topics covered are those areas in which we receive a lot of questions, comments or concerns from schools, pest management professionals and TDA Inspectors.  We will also be introducing Mr. Jake Wightman, an Extension Program Specialist in Ag & Environmental Safety.  Jake was hired by Dr. Don Renchie last year to assist with the pesticide safety program focusing on structural pests, termites and IPM.

Check out our agendas for more information about actual content.  All class participants receive a training manual, power point handouts and additional information as needed.  Lunch will be provided to all paying participants with one of our lunch sponsors.

2025 Day 1 Agenda 2025 Day 2 Agenda

To register for the Dallas Area location on March 26 & 27, 2025 use this link https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=830094&language=eng

To register for the Round Rock location on April 9 & 10, 2025 use this link https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=830015&language=eng

The post Last Call for School IPM Coordinator Spring Classes appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

This is a one time only event, it will not be recorded for viewing after the event.  Participants must be logged into Zoom for the entire event to receive full credit.

The cost is $50 per person. You can register here, AgriLife Register accepts Purchase Orders, select the “invoice” option for payment.  If you are registering more than one person, please be sure to give us their email address as we will need this information for the Zoom link and other class information.

This class is open to school IPM Coordinators and pest management professionals who work in and around schools.  For more information visit AgriLife Register for a copy of the agenda.  https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=819233&language=eng

The post Last Chance Virtual School IPM Coordinator training appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has announced the schedule of integrated pest management, IPM, trainings for school district coordinators for 2024.

In order to help school districts adhere to new rules passed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, TDA, that went into effect in January, AgriLife Extension will offer in-depth two-day regional trainings and at least one  six-hour training.

Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas and school IPM training instructor, will lead each training.

2024 trainings schedule

In-person trainings will be held across the state beginning with the one-day training March 7 for East Texas at the Region 8 Educational Service Center, Pittsburg. This event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the cost is $100. Registration is required by Feb. 23. Register at http://tx.ag/EastTexasISDIPM.

Registration cost is $240 for two-day trainings. The cost includes lunch, a spiral-bound book with training materials and continuing education units for those with a TDA, applicator license.

Class time is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with a one-hour break for lunch.

The dates of the two-day trainings, region and meeting addresses are as follows:

• March 27-28 | North Texas Area — Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium | 9900 Hemphill St., Fort Worth.
• April 10-11 | Central Texas Area — Marble Falls ISD Administration | 1800 Colt Circle, Marble Falls.
• 18-19 | Houston Area — Conroe ISD Operations Facility | 1900 Farm-to-Market Road 2854, Conroe.
• 1-2 | Concho Valley Area — San Angelo ISD Administration Building | 1621 University Ave., San Angelo.

Visit the AgriLife Register website to sign up for one of these classes.

“In addition to our in-person classes, we also offer a six-hour school IPM course or the one-hour school IPM refresher course online,” Hurley said.

Participants may register for online trainings at https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/ and use the key word school IPM. The cost is $25 for the refresher course and $45 for the six-hour course. There is also a free course available for those wanting to learn about integrated pest management in school gardens.

Changes in rules, regulations

On Jan. 16, the one-year grace period expired after TDA adopted rule changes related to the Structural Pest Control Service, SPCS, last January, and these rules will now be enforced when inspectors are out making their annual inspections.

“This year it is more important than ever that IPM coordinators for schools are aware of new rules and law changes they must adhere to,” Hurley said.

All public schools in Texas are required under the Texas Administrative Code to adopt, implement and maintain a school IPM program, but she said many school districts are still not implementing their IPM programs to the letter of the law.

The Texas law requires each school board adopt an IPM policy that follows all legal requirements for pesticide use. The schools must make their policy available for the public to review. Importantly, each district must designate an IPM coordinator who ensures compliance with the IPM policy.

The state rules require that each district IPM coordinator attend a six-hour training class within six months of appointment. After the initial training, the school IPM rules require coordinators to receive an additional six hours of training in school IPM every three years.

Hurley said one of the new rules has to do with the position of IPM coordinator and school districts are now required to notify the SPCS when an IPM coordinator leaves within 10 days of their leaving. This must be done in writing, and a new IPM coordinator must be appointed within 30 days of losing the current coordinator.

IPM coordinator responsibilities
These trainings are designed to give the IPM coordinator, who often wears more than one “hat” at the school district, a foundation to oversee their role in the IPM program.

“It’s important to understand that the school IPM coordinator for a school district has a lot to oversee,” Hurley said.

School IPM rules require the district IPM coordinator oversee and be responsible for:

• Work with pest management personnel.
• Ensure all who perform pest control are licensed and trained.
• Maintain all IPM records.
• Ensure district administrators adhere to IPM guidelines with pest contracts.
• All pesticides used in the school district follow school district’s IPM program and current pesticide labels and safety data sheets are maintained.
• Educate school administrators and relevant school district personnel about their roles in the IPM program, reporting and notification procedures.
• Maintain a current copy of the school district’s IPM policy.

Written By: Kay Ledbetter, communications coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife

The post Statewide pest management trainings for school coordinators start in March appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

Schools have more to manage than just their educational strategies

Parents send their children to school to learn, and they don’t want to worry about whether the air is clean, whether there are insect problems or whether the school’s cleaning supplies could cause an asthma attack.

But a research collaborative, of which I’m a member, has found that schools might not be ready to protect students from environmental contaminants.

I’m an extension specialist focused on pest management. I’m working with a cross-disciplinary team to improve compliance with environmental health standards, and we’ve found that schools across the nation need updates in order to meet minimum code requirements.

Everything from a school’s air and water quality to the safety of the pesticides and cleaning chemicals used there determine the safety of the learning environment. Environmental health standards can help a school community ensure each potential hazard is accounted for.

Air, water and food quality

So, what aspects of the school environment and student health need attention? For one, the air students and teachers breathe every day.

Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can improve the indoor air quality and reduce the risk of health concerns. Even small things like dust and dander, dead insects and artificial scents used to cover up smells like mold and mildew can trigger asthma and allergies.

Improving ventilation, as well as a school’s air flow and filtration, can help protect building occupants from respiratory infections and maintain a healthy indoor environment. Ventilation systems bring fresh, outdoor air into rooms, filter or disinfect the air in the room and improve how often air flows in and out of a room.

Proper ventilation in schools can reduce pathogen spread and common allergy triggers

Upgrading ventilation in school buildings can improve air quality and reduce potential contaminants, including viral particles, in indoor spaces.

It may seem like maintaining proper food safety and drinking-water quality would be common practices. But many schools do have some level of lead contamination in their food and water.

In 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a regulation, known as the lead and copper rule, to minimize lead and copper in drinking water. The EPA’s 2021 revised lead and copper rule aims to reduce the risks of childhood lead exposure by focusing on schools and child care facilities and conducting outreach.

But in December 2022, a team of scientists published a report on lead and copper levels in drinking water, and they found evidence that lead is still showing up in drinking water in Massachusetts schools. No amount of lead is safe to have in the water.

To combat contamination and ensure safe food and water, the Food and Drug Administration overhauled the Food Safety Modernization Act in 2016. This act has transformed the nation’s food safety system by shifting the focus from responding to foodborne illnesses to preventing them. It gives local health officials more authority to oversee and enforce supply chain safety.

Per these new regulations, every school cafeteria must be inspected by the local registered sanitarian at least twice a year to meet the minimum standards for their state and federal guidelines.

These inspections now include looking for entry points that might allow mice or rats to come in, finding areas with moisture buildup where flies, roaches or other insects can breed, and determining whether storage rooms are properly sanitized.

Integrated pest management

Even if a school has clean air, water and food, it still may not meet all the required health standards. Many schools have insect infestations, and many combat these pest problems with harsh chemicals when there’s a simpler solution.

Integrated pest management is an environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. Known as IPM, it combines commonsense practices like keeping doors and windows closed and making sure no food is left in classrooms overnight with other ways to help prevent pests from coming in.

Cockroaches can lurk in custodial closets and near drains at schools.

IPM programs consider the pests’ life cycles and their larger environment, as well as all the available pest control methods, to manage pest infestations economically and scientifically.

Common pests in schools include ants, cockroaches and bedbugs. Ants enter looking for food, and cockroaches can travel in with backpacks or enter through small openings under doors or cracks in the seals around a window. Mice, cockroaches and ants can come into a kitchen or bathroom from plumbing pipes that aren’t properly sealed.

In the fall, cockroaches reside in custodial closets, kitchens and other areas where floor drains might be. These bugs use the sewer drains to move about, so an IPM approach might include making sure the drains have plenty of water flooding through them and clearing out organic matter that the cockroaches might feed on.

Green cleaning

School administrators also determine what products to use for pest control and cleaning. With the intent to prioritize the safety of both the people inside the building and the environment, some schools have adopted a “green cleaning” approach.

Green cleaning uses safer – or less harsh – chemical and pesticide products, since studies have found that the repeated use of harsh chemicals indoors can lead to chronic health effects later in life for anyone directly exposed.

Products that contain ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, citric acid and isopropyl alcohol are generally safer than products that contain chlorine or ammonia.

But the school’s job isn’t done, even after the infestation has been dealt with. Schools need a plan to manage their pollutants long term – these pollutants might be cleaning chemicals and pesticides or chemicals used in science classes. Preserving the school’s air quality requires a plan for storage and disposal of these materials. But finding the funds to correctly dispose of legacy chemicals can challenge already thin budgets.

Over the past decade, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has worked with a variety of groups to develop the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child initiative. This approach pulls together professionals, community leaders, parents and others to support evidence-based policies and practices.

The initiative has also led some states to develop school health advisory councils that work with state departments of education and health to assist their local school districts with managing the indoor environment and student health.

When the school building is safe, students and educators are more able to get down to the business of learning, undistracted.

Originally published on September 28, 2023  https://theconversation.com/from-pests-to-pollutants-keeping-schools-healthy-and-clean-is-no-simple-task-211018

The post From pests to pollutants, keeping schools healthy and clean is no simple task appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.

Watering

As the days get shorter and temperatures become cooler, the growth rate of grass slows down, therefore less water is necessary to maintain plant health. This drop in water need can be ½ or ¾ of what is required in summer. Overwatering during this time of year can have a devastating effect on turfgrass. Common warm-season turfgrass diseases are large patch (caused by Rhizoctonia solani) and take-all root rot (caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis). Both are fungal diseases brought on by cool, moist conditions. When temperatures drop below 70°F, automatic irrigation should be stopped and done only as necessary under dry weather conditions. Follow local watering recommendations to prevent overwatering. Websites like Water My Yard,  Texas ET Network; and Water Is Awesome provide weekly watering advice based on local weather information so you know whether to water or not. Some of these services are app-based as well. Check for availability in your local area.

The slowdown in turfgrass growth naturally comes with a slowdown in mowing frequency. However, the mowing done during this period can have an impact on the turfgrass leading up to winter dormancy. Consider raising the mower height a bit, but don’t exceed the recommended height of cut for your turfgrass. Raising the cut height will encourage deeper root growth below ground, aiding in overwintering. The taller grass also shades to soil, helping with moisture retention and preventing the germination of winter weeds. Finally, a sharp cut is best for your lawn any time of year, so take advantage of the season and sharpen your mower blades.

Fertilizing

Fall lawn fertilization can be tricky due to the varied weather we see in Texas. It is highly recommended that a soil test be done in late summer or early fall to confirm the existing nutrient status before adding fertilizer. Low plant nitrogen levels can have adverse effects on turfgrass emergence from winter dormancy. However, applying additional nitrogen when current levels are elevated can result in increased disease pressure (especially in St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass), winter weed growth, and potential localized water pollution. Our recommendation is to apply your final nitrogen fertilization no later than 6 weeks prior to the historical first frost date for your region. If a soil test is not possible, simple observations of the growth of your lawn in the weeks prior to the recommended fertilizer application date can be used as an indicator. If growth levels are still high, additional nitrogen may not be needed at all.

Summary

Remember, observing your local weather conditions and adjusting the lawn care management practices above to match can provide a beautiful lawn that’s ready for a nice winter rest without all the guesswork. For additional information on turfgrass care and maintenance visit https://aggieturf.tamu.edu or contact your County Extension Agent for local advice.

Check out the fact sheet you can print and share. Water, fall 2023

Written By: Dean Minchillo: Extension Program Specialist – Urban Water;  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Dallas, TX 

The post SPN: Warm-Season Turfgrass Fall/Winter Preparation appeared first on School Integrated Pest Management.