Here’s something you wouldn’t normally think about — keeping bugs and critters out of schools.  But think about it — if you were a mouse, wouldn’t you skitter on over to a building that has several entrances and exits, cracks in the walls, comfy piles of yarn and scrap paper in the supply closets, and delicious crumbs all over the cafeteria floor?

It’s not necessarily a good idea to fight critters with pesticides with poisons — after all, you’ve got hundreds of kids to worry about as well.  That’s why some school districts like Parkway are practicing something called IPM, or Integrated Pest Management.  It’s a way of thinking and doing to prevent critters from visiting schools in the first place and to use as little pesticides as possible to zap them.  Read more about it in today’s Community section.