Oct. 13, 2006: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences news release
		Media contact: Dr. Godfrey Nalyanya, North Carolina Cooperative Extension associate, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, 919.515.5650 or godfrey_nalyanya@ncsu.edu Outstanding School Pest Control Programs To Be Recognized Thirteen public school systems from across North Carolina will be recognized for their pest control efforts during an event Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Raleigh. A school integrated pest management recognition ceremony sponsored by North Carolina State University's Integrated Pest Management Program is scheduled for 1 – 3 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel – Raleigh-Durham Airport, 201 Harrison Oaks Boulevard. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a proactive and common-sense approach to pest control that dramatically reduces the risk of exposure to pesticides for students, teachers and staff in public schools. Instead of using chemicals that can endanger small children, IPM employs prevention techniques such as routine facility inspections, followed by sanitation, building repairs and maintenance to make schools unfavorable to pests. Last year, 21 North Carolina school districts were honored for their efforts to implement IPM. The Integrated Pest Management Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State has been working with school districts to assist with IPM adoption. State agencies, professional associations, local schools and community groups also support the effort. Last June, the state legislature passed the School Children's Health Act that requires school districts to implement IPM programs. Following are school systems be recognized at the Oct. 18 ceremony, as well as the award categories: Recognition for efforts to implement new IPM programs Cabarrus County Schools Davidson County Schools Gates County Schools Harnett County Schools Moore County Schools Person County Schools Sampson County Schools Swain County Schools Award for Implementing IPM programs Beaufort County Schools Cumberland C ounty Schools Durham Public Schools Northampton County Schools Award for Leading IPM programs Orange County Schools Dr. Thomas Green, co-founder of the IPM Institute of North America in Madison, Wisconsin, will give the keynote address for the ceremony, while representatives from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, N.C. State University, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Agricultural Resources Center, N.C. Public School Maintenance Association and the N.C. School Boards Association are expected to attend. - Rosemary Hallberg, rhallberg@sripmc.org or 919.513.8182 - OTHER NEWS RESOURCES Current news releases | Earlier news releases | Media guide to experts | Extension On-Line News | Economic Focus and Economic Perspective | Media guide to disaster recovery experts | Perspectives On Line | Teletip To receive our releases before they are posted here or sent out in hard copy, subscribe to our e-mail news service.