WCPSS Leads the Way in Pest Management

The WCPSS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is now officially a state and national leader in creating safe learning environments by protecting students and staff from pests and pesticides.

On October 10, the IPM Program, housed in WCPSS' Environmental Health and Safety Department, received this year's "Leadership Award" at the 3rd Annual School IPM Recognition Awards at NC State University. During the ceremony, Randy Senzig, a Fuquay-Varina High school science teacher, delivered a speech on the importance of integrated pest management programs in schools and Dr. Dennis Osborne, WCPSS Environmental Health and Safety supervisor, accepted the leadership award on behalf of the school system.

"We're particularly pleased with our award this year because it demonstrates what you can do to truly eliminate pests without using harmful poisons," said Dr. Osborne.

The award recognizes WCPSS' outstanding effort in managing all kinds of pest while reducing pesticide use in and around schools. The award is the highest level of recognition obtainable from the NC State University School IPM Program. To receive this distinction, WCPSS' IPM Program was evaluated against all IPM programs in the state. The evaluation was in essence a performance audit by the organization designed to teach schools how to implement safe pest control practices while reducing exposure to pesticides.

"Our goal has been to eliminate pesticides all together," said Dr. Osborne. "There are some cases where we have to use pesticides, but we have been able to manage the use of pesticides that are really harmless to people."

WCPSS was one of the first school districts in the state to implement the IPM program. The common sense approach to pest control utilizes walkthrough inspections, monitoring devices, sanitation, and exclusion. Unlike most other school systems, WCPSS does not contract its work in this area; rather the district employs a staff of trained and licensed technicians. They are all cross-trained to address IPM, water quality and environmental response as a team. The staff members are Rodney Ferrell, Mike Smith, Tony Hoffman, Mike Poole, Jr., and Mike Norris. Dr. Dennis Osborne is the supervisor and IPM program coordinator and Ms. Sneha Amin, P.E. is the director of the department.

"I am tremendously proud of our IPM team for being leaders in their field," said Ms. Amin. "This award is well-deserved for the high level of effort and expertise they bring to our schools everyday. Their ability to work together as a team has been the foundation of their success, and I look forward to many more successes in the future."

WCPSS continues to build on its existing environmental education programs. Not only was the system's educational and fire ant control efforts deemed especially noteworthy, WCPSS was also recently honored for promoting a voluntary indoor air quality program. In September, WCPSS received "The Great Start Award" for implementing Tools for Schools, a pilot program that trains school volunteers on how to look for signs of mold and mildew and how to identify and deal with potential indoor air quality issues and health risks. Implementation of the two programs has made WCPSS one of very few school systems within the state to be in compliance with the NC School Children's Health Act, a bill that is designed to reduce student and staff exposures to several toxicants at school. Both the Tools for Schools and the IPM program demonstrate WCPSS' commitment to providing safe learning environments for children.