Category Archives: Newsletter
SPN: Announcing the 2020 School IPM Coordinator Training Schedule
The long awaited 2020 School IPM Coordinator training schedule for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is finally here! If you can’t make one of our in-person trainings check out the online courses at AgriLife Online Pest and Weed Control Courses there you can find the 6 hour School IPM Coordinator class and new for 2020 a 1 hour School IPM refresher class that will allow you to receive this credit to complement a 5 hour structural CEU course to fulfill the 6 hours you need every three years to… Read More →
SPN: Gardens, Mosquitoes and Fungi
In this month’s edition of School Pest News, I have several items to share with you. In an effort to help School IPM Coordinators in TX with their school garden programs, I recently worked with the Junior Master Gardener team to develop a simple document that help explains the volunteers and teacher roles in the school garden process. This document can be shared with those in your district overseeing gardens to help educate them as well. At the same time, there is an online module on School Gardens… Read More →
SPN: Head Lice: A Lingering Pest
As October comes to end and the weather changes over from warm to cold, kids will start carrying more garments. Cooler weather is prime time for head lice outbreaks. Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not a sign of poor hygiene; in fact, lice are perfectly comfortable on a clean head. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there is no reliable data on how many people get head lice each year in the United States; however, an estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur… Read More →
SPN: Resources We’ve Got Them
Online Training Now Open If you need training, you know AgriLife Extension is here for you. However, sometimes our schedules don’t often mesh. Introducing the Texas Department of Agriculture approved online 6-hour school IPM coordinator training course. This course has been designed to aid anyone wanting to learn more about their school IPM program or need to fulfill the required training for all new school IPM coordinators. There are six modules that are designed to educate about integrated pest management tactics in school settings as well as the… Read More →
SPN: Back to School Reminders
As the new school year starts this is a good time to remind your staff about your IPM program. Many of your new teachers may not be aware of the TX school IPM law and rules, it is your job as the District IPM coordinator to inform them of this rule and ensure they know what to do if they have pest problems. One of the best things you can do is send out is an email reminder letting them know if they see a pest or pest… Read More →
SPN: Hot Weather Pests and Remember to Monitor
Hot Weather and Pests By Dr. Mike Merchant It’s summer in Texas and either you saw too much rain this spring, or not enough but no matter where you live the summer pests are out. Some pests are more troublesome during extreme conditions, while others flourish during more typical conditions. Here are a few observations concerning current weather conditions and pests. Millipede mass migrations commonly occur in the fall, but can also happen in the spring and summer. Above average rainfall is likely to blame for this year’s… Read More →
Daycare & School Poison Safety
While the end of summer is an exciting time for kids, parents, and educators, it is also a time for an increased risk of illness or injury as students head back to school. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than half of students (ages 5-17) miss 1-5 school days each year due to illness or injury. Studies show that students with more absences have lower scores on national standardized tests. In short, attendance is a key indicator of student academic achievement. To reduce illness, schools… Read More →
Fall School IPM Coordinator Training’s
For Texas Public Schools, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been around for over twenty years. And for 20 years Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has been the leader in offering educational programs to assist school IPM coordinators and their school districts have award winning school IPM and IAQ programs. While Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter H, Division 7 School IPM Rules require that every ISD appoint and train a school IPM coordinator, we realize that more than 6 hours of training is what… Read More →
SPN: The Science of Drainology
“Drainology,” to quote the indefatigable rodent and entomology consultant Bobby Corrigan, “is the study of drains.” And who except a plumber would care to study drains? An IPM specialist of course! Drains provide one of the most important breeding and harborage sites for pests in schools. In order to do a complete IPM inspection and treatment, therefore, you should know something about drains. Cockroaches and flies are the two most common pests associated with drains. Cockroaches often live in sewers and can easily enter a kitchen or school… Read More →
SPN: End of school activities what you should be thinking about this month
As the school year comes to end, most of our readers are preparing for the mad rush of numerous maintenance projects that come when students and teachers leave. However, before they go here are some tips to get you through the next month and help you prepare for summer as well. Moisture Monitoring This spring has been extremely wet. With the increased moisture in the air and the soil, there are a lot of pests that will be showing up. This is a good time to remind staff… Read More →
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