I recently received a comment from a reader who was in disagreement of some comments I had made regarding cleaning today’s schools. It was pointed out that school custodians no longer have time for interaction with children. Instead, their time is spent preparing schools for events, and tending to the needs/request of teachers, parents and boards of education.

Actually I agree with these statements and believe we are on the same page. I certainly respect the challenges that a school custodian has today and recognize that in today’s competitive environment, fears of contagion and budget cuts, the front line custodian at a school is probably not appreciated as much as he/she should be.

In a prior article we dealt with the impossibility of one person covering three different tasks at the same time. The simple answer is prioritizing and workloading. Does the janitor really need to be standing at attention in the cafeteria during meals? Why can’t a teacher or volunteer (usually a parent) be trained and equipped to wipe off the tables and clean up any spills or put out wet floor sings? Why can’t the teachers be required to post a request for work (unless it is a valid emergency) so that the janitor can cover these tasks during slower times (if such exists)? Why can’t the principle (or a complaining teacher or Board Member) spend just a week assisting the janitor before they complain?

I always laugh when I read these high and holy specifications that call for “ALL light bulbs to be disinfected” or “ALL trash cans empty at all times” and wonder if the author of these standards actually determined the costs in labor for such requirements.

We will continue these thoughts in a future article.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net


posted on 12/10/2015