Learning Modules and In-service Training for Integrated Pest Management in K-12 Schools in Nebraska - Final Report

This report was prepared by an EPA assistance agreement recipient
and represents only the views of the author rather than EPA

Clyde Ogg, Extension Educator, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Scott Hygnstrom, Professor, School of Natural Resource Sciences
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

March 31, 2005

In August 2003, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln received $40,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), to create learning modules for use at in-service training programs and placement on the school IPM website. Objectives for this project are listed here:

Develop learning modules for in-service training programs and the school IPM website.
Conduct five in-service training programs on IPM for school staff, pest management professionals, and extension personnel.
Survey school officials regarding their use of IPM practices in schools after implementation of this educational project.
Create a web-based template for schools to indicate adoption of IPM plans.
Enhance learning modules to facilitate the establishment of IPM in schools.
Add links from the school IPM website to other IPM in schools projects on the web.

Sixteen learning modules were created on a variety of subjects including: head lice; stinging insects; mice and rats; turf and landscape; ground squirrels, moles, voles and gophers; snakes; cockroaches; ants; silverfish and firebrats; spiders; flies; stored product pests; and mold. Addition module topics include the following: IPM concepts; indoor air quality; and assessment, monitoring and detection of pests.

In-service training was provided, and survey results and copies of “Integrated Pest Management in Schools: A How-to Guide” were distributed to the following audiences:

Cooperative Extension faculty on December 3, 2003, and December 1, 2004, at Grand Island, NE and December 20, 2003, in Columbus, NE. 75 participants each year.
Pest Management Professionals at the Urban Pest Management Conference, January 22-23, 2004 and January 27-28, 2005 at Lincoln, NE. 125 and 140 participants.
School nurses at “Mental Health and Asthma Workshop,” March 31, 2004 in Lincoln, NE. 90 participants.
School custodians, maintenance workers and supervisors, food service workers, grounds keepers and other school officials at six introductory workshops during 2004. Ten IPM in Schools team members taught at the workshops. These five-hour workshops were done at North Platte, NE, July 22; Lincoln, NE, August 5; Scottsbluff, NE, August 10; Omaha, NE, August 24; Columbus, NE, October 5; and Grand Island, NE, October 6. Schools were encouraged to invite their contracted pest management professionals. As a result, several pest management professionals attended. 125 participants.

The IPM in Schools website (http://schoolipm.unl.edu) features a full-text version of the guidebook mentioned above. In addition, the site was completely revamped during 2004-05 to include specific information for school administrators, a “Getting Started” section that guides visitors through helpful IPM information, and online versions of the learning modules. The getting started section informs visitors about the IPM decision making process, IPM component details, and pesticide use and selection. The new getting started section also offers a “sign up” page that allows school officials to electronically indicate that their school is using IPM. All website updates/additions are done in such a way to allow easy adjustment to changes in regulations and information.

Workshop participants responded to our survey on pests, pesticide use, and pest management. The largest percentage responding were custodial supervisors (46%), followed by groundskeepers (14%) and custodial workers (12%). Sixty-five percent indicated that these workshops were the first Cooperative Extension program they had ever attended. Results indicated that 94% to 100% of participants ranked the workshop segments (Turf & Landscape; Health-related Pests; Pests of Moisture Prone Areas; Mold and Indoor Air Quality; and Introduction and Assessment) as either Superior, Excellent, or Good.

Workshop segments provided new information to 66% to 85% of participants learned new information during the segments [Examples: IPM (85%), preventing/excluding pests (84%), and timing/placement of pesticides to achieve best control (80%)].

Survey results also indicated strong positive behavioral changes as a direct result of the workshops. Seventy-eight percent of all attendees said they would always identify and eliminate conducive conditions, use less hazardous control tactics, and use more nonionic control tactics. Sixty-four percent would always use less disruptive control tactics, and 56% would always adopt multiple tactics to control pests.

Collaborators involved in this interdisciplinary program include:

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension:

Erin Bauer, Jack Campbell, Kelly Feehan, Dennis Ferraro, Jay Fitzgerald, Roch Gaussoin, George Haws, Del Hemsath, Jim Hruskoci, Scott Hygnstrom, Shripat Kamble, David Keith, Judy Johnson, Shirley Niemeyer, Barbara Ogg, Clyde Ogg, Jim Schild, Bob Shearman, Darrel Siekman, Anne Streich, John Watkins, Robert Wright, and Gary Zoubeck

Federal, State, Local, and Association Partners:

Kate Allen, Senator Priester’s Office
John Bonaiuto, Nebraska Association of School Boards
Tim Creger, Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Brad Horchem, US Environmental Protection Association
Wayne Kramer, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Rick Leonard, Senator Kremer’s Office
Mark Lesher, US Environmental Protection Association
William McCoy, Lincoln Public Schools
Ann Nickerson, Nebraska Parent-Teacher Association
Rich Reiman, Nebraska Department of Agriculture
John Salisbury, Lincoln Public Schools
Jay Sears, Nebraska State Education Association
Jerry Sellentine, Nebraska Council of School Administrators
Buzz Vance, Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Scott Wieskamp, Lincoln Public Schools
Dan Wiltshire, Lincoln Public Schools

Learning Modules and In-service Training for Integrated Pest Management in K-12 Schools in Nebraska - Final Report

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