Promoting IPM Partnerships to Reduce 

Pest and Pesticide Risks at Schools 

Thomas Green, Ph.D.

www.ipminstitute.org, www.greenshieldcertified.org

IPM Institute of North America

2009 IPM Excellence Award

2009, 2008, 2005, 2004 US EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship National Champion

2005 US EPA Children’s Health Recognition Award Winner

2003 US EPA Region V Recognition Award Winner
Agriculture

Check Strip

BMP Strips

Communities

Seventh International IPM 

Symposium, March 2012

Memphis, TN

Harnessing marketplace 

power to improve health, 

environment and economics 

through IPM and best 

practices
 Strategic plan development, 2006. 

www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/pdf/usschoolspmsp.pdf 

 Four regional working groups: NE, S, 

NC, W. 

 IPM in schools is not rocket science, 

we know how to reduce pest 

complaints and pesticide use by 70-

90%.

 Let’s make high-level IPM the way we 

manage pests in all of our schools.

 Communicate, infiltrate.
Pilot schools use proven approaches, such

as assessments, workshops, targeted

newsletters and pest monitoring to

successfully demonstrate IPM in their

region and state. Each year, our goal is to

initiate demonstrations in at least five

new states that have not previously

completed a demonstration project.

Established 12 school IPM pilot 

projects throughout four regions:

• Ascension Parish, Louisiana

• Brookings, South Dakota 

• Flandreau, South Dakota

• Westville, Illinois

• Lincoln, Nebraska

• Omaha, Nebraska

• Chariho, Rhode Island

• Exeter, New Hampshire

• White River Junction, Vermont

• Salem Keizer, Oregon

• Sterling, Colorado

• Russellville, Arkansas
New demonstrations have been starting across the

country, adding to our success in prior years. Over

300,000 students and 20,000 teachers have been

impacted by school IPM demonstrations in recent

years.

• Catlin, Illinois

• Champaign, Illinois

• Vermillion County, Illinois

• Bozeman, Montana

• Dothan Brook, Vermont

New Demonstration Projects:

• Hartford School District, Vermont

• Indianapolis, Indiana

• Caliche Schools, Colorado

• Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Self-expanding coalitions use professionals already trained and

working in demonstration schools to recruit and mentor

professionals from other school systems in their states.

*Established school IPM coalitions 

in 15 different states, including:

• Alabama

• Arizona 

• Colorado

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• New Hampshire

• New Mexico

• Ohio

• Pennsylvania

• Utah

• Vermont

• Washington

* These coalitions are in various stages of development. 

Coalition operating protocols vary from state to state 

largely due to stakeholder involvement and existing state 

laws. 
 Decision makers wear many hats 

(superintendent, facility manager, grounds 

manager), challenging to get attention! 

 Potential champions also include parents, 

school board members school health, 

legislators.

 Powerful! Cockroach, rodent connection to 

asthma; fly, other pest connection to food 

safety, other human health threats.

 Many potential partners: green schools, 

healthy schools, asthma coalitions, schoolrelated associations.
THANKS TO FUNDERS

(2006 – 2010)

Region Total Funds 

North Central $465,964 

(CDC, USDA NIFA NC IPM Center, US EPA) 

Northeastern $661,239 

(USDA NIFA NE IPM Center, Cornell University, University of Maine, The 

Preschool Project, NY Department of Environmental Conservation) 

Southern $190,816 

(USDA NIFA Southern IPM Center, Texas A&M, University of Florida) 

Western $460,373

(USDA NIFA Western IPM Center, USDA NIFA Smith-Lever Grants, 

US EPA, University of Arizona, Enhancement IPM Funds, EPA PESP) 

National: 

US EPA (PRIA 2) 2008 $250,000 

US EPA (PRIA 2) 2010 $250,000 

Overall Total $2,278,392 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

North Central Working Group, 58 members

www.ipminstitute.org/NC_IPMIS_Working_

Group/main.htm

Working group leaders:

• Thomas Green, IPM Institute of North 

America 

• Bob Stoddard, Envirosafe

Northeastern Working Group, 36 members

www.nepmc.org/work_school.cfm

Working group leaders:

• Lynn Braband, Cornell University

• Kathleen Murray, Maine Dept. of Agriculture

Southern Working Group, 48 members

www.sripmc.org/schoolIPM/

Working group leaders:

• L.C. Fudd Graham, Auburn University 

• Janet Hurley, Texas AgriLife Extension

Western Working Group, 69 members

http://cals.arizona.edu/apmc/

westernschoolIPM.html

Working group leaders:

• Carrie Foss, Washington State University

• Dawn Gouge, University of Arizona

• Tim Stock, Oregon State University

The National School IPM Working Group 

includes 211 professionals from across 

the country including:

• Government agencies

• University scientists and 

Extension educators.

• Industry experts.

• Representatives from nongovernmental organizations.

www.schoolipm2015.com