Memo: NSEA Supports Assembly Bill 205

NSEA supports AB 205 to require school districts to employ integrated pest management strategies to promote prevention and reduce unnecessary pesticide use. AB 205 also will ensure that 10% of custodial and maintenance staff at school sites are trained in integrated pest management.

Integrated Pest Management is a best practice for managing pests using low-risk, preventative, and proactive methods. Practitioners work to identify and ameliorate conditions that are pest- friendly, eliminating pest access to food, water and shelter by pest exclusion and improving cleanliness. By correcting the conditions that lead to pest problems and using pesticides only when necessary, IPM provides more effective pest control while reducing pesticide use.

Applying IPM practices to schools make them healthier places with fewer pests and less toxic pesticides. A school environment with pest and pesticide hazards has significant negative effects on student and employee health. IPM in schools will reduce pesticide use, improving health and lowering the number of pest complaints.

The National Education Association has partnered with the Integrated Pest Management Institute of North American who offers free online IPM training tailored for school employees and is also able to offer professional training in-person. Education support professional engaged with pest control work will benefit greatly from this training.