We expect the dissemination of IPM as a pest management alternative to be a continual and gradual process. Our efforts to inform and instruct are at the heart of the IPM program, both within Monroe County Schools and outside its boundaries. Our efforts are focused on maintaining the program in our school corporation and continuing to discuss the ways and means of establishing IPM in all school corporations in Indiana. During the past year this school corporation moved from contracting pest control services with RMC Pest Management to hiring our own IPM Coordinator, Mr. Jerry Jochim. That step for us has proven to be very successful.
Teaching occurs with every contact the coordinator has with the staff.
The tools he has at his disposal continue to improve. The laptop computer provides a ready source of information whether he is examining an insect problem, providing a hard copy Pest Press newsletter to a teacher or updating the trap monitoring log. Mr. Jochim has downloaded information onto the laptop from various pest management web sites for use in his visits to all our schools. The laptop will function in this capacity after the grant is finished. The coordinator was also involved in training and providing information to the Vigo County Schools staff when they initiated their IPM program.