Have all your students left your classroom for the day and yet, you're not alone?

Building Services aggressively attacks pests following the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and UW Extension recommended Integrated Pest Management Program, or IPM.

The IPM details a step by step program to get rid of pests, and prevent them from entering our schools. The objectives of this program are:

• monitor potential pest populations
• modify habitats to eliminate food sources
• use the least toxic control methods
• maintain records of treatment
• follow state and federal guidelines

When a pest problem is reported to the building custodian, our state certified pest control expert is contacted. The area of infestation is surveyed to remove food sources and points of entry.

After this evaluation is done, non-toxic methods are used. Examples of non-toxic methods are sticky traps for mice, and pheromone containing baits for insects.

Only in extreme cases are pesticides applied. These are applied on weekends, and the area is posted with warning signs. The pesticides we use are dispersed in 24 hours, and no residual containments are left.

MMSD's goal is to reduce the potential risk of pesticide exposure to children. The IPM takes the following steps to accomplish this:

• Eliminate all routine pesticide spraying and fogging
• Eliminate the use of all organophosphate and carbonate pesticides
• Use the least toxic pest control products and techniques available
• Post notices in advance of any pesticide application

Two points to remember:

If you want to avoid a mouse, ant or roach problem, do not keep food in the classroom. If you must, keep it in sealed Tupperware type containers.

No MMSD staff member or tenant may apply a pesticide, even off-the-shelf pesticides like Raid. It must be done by a licensed pesticide applicator.

For more information, click here and then go to Pest Management Policy.