CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 05/23/01

Schools Have Good, Bad Pest Control Records

After two years of working with the University of Georgia's "IPM for Schools" program, Paul Guillebeau has seen some schools with excellent pest control programs. Unfortunately, he's seen a lot of schools with bad records, too.

Worth and Gwinnett Leading the Pack

When the program began two years ago, Worth and Gwinnett counties' school systems were the only ones actively working to reduce pesticides.

"They were doing such an outstanding job that we use them as examples of what other schools can do," said Guillebeau, Integrated Pest Management coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"Gwinnett is a really big school system, and Worth is at the other end of the spectrum," he said. "So they make perfect examples."

Schools Need Pest Policies

But Guillebeau found that most schools don't even have written pest control policies.

"If a school doesn't have a policy, a teacher can keep a can of Raid in her desk," he said. "You can see the liability if a child got the can and sprayed another child in the face with it."

Guillebeau said spraying aerosols can also interfere with bait roach controls. "If the pest control company has placed baits in the room to fight roaches, and the teacher sprays a trail of Raid, the roaches can't get to the baits," he said.

The IPM for Schools program recommends that only people with training be allowed to apply pesticides in the school, and then only when children aren't present.

Finding Ways to Reduce Pesticide Risks

Throughout the program, Guillebeau has uncovered numerous opportunities to reduce pesticide risks.

"One school had a big problem with roaches in their kindergarten area," he said. "They were treating for roaches on a regular basis, and this is an area where you'd want to treat the least."

An inspection of the classroom revealed snack foods stored uncovered, overnight, in several places. The pest control company suggested the school develop a policy that all snack foods must be eaten in an area where maintenance workers can easily clean up, and leftover food items must be stored in sealed containers.

"After that, they didn't have to spray anymore in the kindergarten room," he said. "They just didn't understand the link between the food and the roaches."

Sharon Omahen is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Paul Guillebeau
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.