Custodial

Recommendations and Plan

What, why and how: In order to be thorough, efficient, get feedback on how to work collaboratively to
make continual improvements…

Recommendations

(1) Develop a District cleaning manual:

a. Develop (and/or refine) written cleaning standards for every cleaning surface, fixture and
task performed.
b. Post a cleaning schedule in classrooms so everyone is aware of expectations, task frequencies,
and responsibilities.
c. It would benefit the custodians dramatically if teachers (with the aid of students) would
perform identified preparatory tasks before their room is serviced.
d. Create and complete checklist of daily/weekly/monthly tasks.
e. Custodians perform their regular routine four days per week. The remaining day is allocated
for “project” work (that is often deferred until holidays or summer recess Under this
scenario, trash is removed, and restrooms serviced, but then the custodians engage in
projects, such as glass cleaning (interior and exterior), carpet spot removal, disinfecting trash
cans, equipment maintenance, and other waste receptacles, etc.
f. Consider adjusting work schedules to provide additional time before or after school day for
custodial/maintenance team to clean classrooms and perform other duties.

(2) Safety gear, tools, resources:
a. All custodians should be required to wear personal safety protection gear, including gloves,
appropriate clothing and footwear, and eye/ear protection (when appropriate).
b. We remind custodians to always have a cleaning tool with them at all times. Whenever they
are walking from one location to another, they can engage in a cleaning task,
c. Wear shirts with district logo and employee name.
d. Assess, purchase, utilize best tools, ie: cordless vacuums.

(3) Inventory/storage:
a. All cleaning closets should be carefully inventoried, cleaned, and organized (and excess
quantities of supplies returned to the vendor or discarded). There should be cleaning
standards for the appearance of the custodial closet and carts.
b. Green pads, powdered cleaners, sponges, powdered gloves, red floor pads, and aerosol
cleaning supplies should be removed from the cleaning inventory and the closets. Custodians
may also need reminding on the proper way to store equipment.
c. Custodians should color-code their equipment, so that restroom cleaning tools are not
inadvertently used in eating areas, etc.

(4) Communication
a. We recommend that the maintenance employee use a computerized work order system, so he
can plan, schedule, perform, and report on both teacher/Principal requests, as well as
preventive maintenance work. Similarly, he should be tasked with inventorying all building
systems that should undergo preventive maintenance. And, we would suggest a minor
adjustment to his work schedule. Rather than commence work at 8:00 a.m., we would suggest
a 10:00 a.m. start time, which translates into more afternoon access time when buildings are
not occupied.