Clean schools reduce absenteeism, a top goal for Beeville ISD custodians

Posted Date: 10/16/2017

Clean schools reduce absenteeism, a top goal for Beeville ISD custodians

October 16, 2017 • Beeville, Texas

At Beeville ISD, the primary goal for the Maintenance and Custodial Department is a clean campus. Sounds like a pretty easy goal doesn’t it? How about if that task included over 560,000 square feet of indoor space to maintain? That’s exactly what 30 district custodial staff members are charged with every day.

According to Joseph Perales, Maintenance Director for Beeville ISD, an assessment study provided by the Texas Association of School Boards strengthened guidelines in place for the custodial program. “Utilizing the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) cleaning time standards, we were able to define areas, cleaning times, and manpower required to perform tasks which get our campuses to a desired level of cleanliness” explained Perales. The ISSA Clean Standard for K-12 Schools establishes a framework to help schools objectively assess the effectiveness of the cleaning process, thereby contributing to the quality of the indoor environment for the benefit of students and staff. 

Abel Guajardo is the custodial supervisor for Beeville ISD. He has been with the district for over 18 years and recently received the Custodial Management Association of Texas certification training. Guajardo leads and monitors the custodial department with an upbeat personality and attitude. “Our primary goal is a clean campus” Guajardo boasted. “If students get sick, so does the staff. Clean schools reduce absenteeism!”

Beeville ISD has implemented a team cleaning concept which is used in many school districts, and is an endorsed MAO103 Custodial Staffing & Organization training certification standard. During the day, custodians focus on restroom facilities, hallways, cafeteria, offices and libraries. Their tasks include trash removal, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and disinfecting restrooms. At night, custodians focus on classrooms, hallways, outdoor corridors, and restrooms once agin. Their tasks include trash removal, sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. In addition, night custodians disinfect student desks.

It’s not an easy job, but a job that is taken very seriously. Custodians need to know proper techniques for setting-up for the day, how to use the various cleaning agents purchased by the district, and how to store them in a safe and secure manner. Using the right equipment is also a key to success. Guajardo works with the custodial staff to make sure that buffers, scrubbers, vacuums, and washers are all used appropriately and safely.

As you can see, Beeville ISD custodians are responsible for more than just sweeping, mopping, and turning the lights off at the end of the day. They contribute to student learning by creating a clean and healthy environment for students. They are at the forefront when it comes to inspiring bold, innovative leaders.

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