As of September 2001 the Auburn City Schools have decided to expand the 2000 pilot program to ALL city schools including their "pre-school" program. This decision is based on the enthusiasm of the pilot school principals and district administrators upon realization that, as decision makers, they were able to incorporate IPM into their existing management without increasing their workload, significantly decrease pesticide use by 90% and "take back the schools from the water bugs (German cockroaches)". Most of all said one of the school principals: "We are doing this because it is the right thing for the children."

Two education and training programs have been conducted (May and September) for: 1) pilot school principals, maintenance, custodial, and food service staff (content: principles of IPM particular to sanitation and exclusion, pests of the pilot schools, venue: half day "sit down and walk through"); 2) three Auburn Extension IPM specialists, the Alabama State Lead and contracted Pest Control Operator (content: IPM particular to the school pests and the specific pilot school environment). Three school newsletters and a statewide "tri-fold" have been developed and distributed. It is notable that the contracted Pest Control Operator (PCO) has proven to be an enthusiastic convert and has donated significant time and materials (monitors and cockroach bait). The initial and midterm pest management evaluations were conducted by Drs. Corrigan and Lame (report provided to the state coordinators and school administration). Dr. Graham (Onsite IPM Coordinator) has conducted and submitted inspection/treatment reports each month. These evaluations demonstrate that the school system is complying with recommendations to improve sanitation and exclusion practices which were integrated with chemical bait for cockroaches. These evaluations showed a radical decrease in pest populations.

Communication is on a bi-weekly basis between PESP partners and the state program partners. However, most communication is limited to the technical aspects of IPM with the Onsite IPM Coordinator or program coordination with the Extension IPM Coordinator. Dr. Graham has developed and utilized considerable expertise implementing IPM in the pilot schools and has been the key component in our training program - especially with the technical transfer to the private sector PCO. The Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology has proven to be an incredible resource for this type of program. The remarkable success of the current program is in large part due to their dedicated personnel and community based philosophy.

PRINCIPLES

I. Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) Partnership

• Dr. Marc Lame-Indiana University, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
  
• John Carter-Monroe County Community School Corporation(MCCSC)Planning
  
• Director and Grant Administrator Jerry Jochim-MCCSC IPM Coordinator
  
• Dr. Bobby Corrigan-RMC Pest Management
  

• Richard Pont, USEPA Region 4
  
• Dr. Mike Williams-Chair, Auburn University Department of Entomology
  
• L.C. Graham, Coordinator - Alabama Fire Ant Management Program (Onsite Technical IPM Coordinator)
  
• Tony Cofer, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry
  
• Jimmy DeVenny, Auburn City Schools Representative Richard Lumpkin, PCO