With increasing public concern about pesticide use, it has never been more important for us to reevaluate pesticide use in and around our schools. Keeping our children safe should always be our first priority. Pests in schools also cause concern. Some pests cause allergies and have been found to be asthma triggers. Others carry bacteria and transmit diseases. These are certainly good reasons to manage pests in your schools. This is where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can help you. 

IPM is an approach that has been around for several decades, but has received more attention recently. In the last 10 years, effective, low-toxic controls have been developed that are much safer to humans than many older pesticides. Many of these low-toxic controls are now available for pests in and around schools. The person who does pest control in your schools should be using IPM and these low-toxic controls whenever possible.