Schools

He heads the team to keep schools clean

And green. Sean Arnold makes sure cleaning chemicals are environment and kid friendly.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Correspondent
Published October 25, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - They are the unsung heroes of the school system, the men and women who toil every day to keep the facilities functioning.

They are the custodians, the 200-plus legion of workers who make coming to school safe, healthy and comfortable for thousands of children, teachers and staffers.

Sean Arnold is the maintenance and custodial supervisor. He keeps a custodial cart in his office. And a vacuum sweeper. The cart contains a mop, a broom, rags, a duster and a bucket. These look perfectly appropriate in Arnold's office.

"Mainly, I deal with the custodians throughout the entire district, making sure they're giving us a clean and healthy environment for our students and teachers," he said.

The facility where Arnold's office is has one custodian caring for it. The numbers vary from that one to the 16 at Central High School. Elementary schools have from five to nine custodians.

When Arnold, 36, came to Hernando County 21/2 years ago, he had a goal.

He wanted to move the district to what he called "green cleaning." Now, Hernando strives to use as many environmentally friendly, safe chemicals and cleaning agents as possible.

Arnold previously worked as the maintenance and facilities supervisor at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo near Syracuse, N.Y., where he learned the value of using environmentally friendly chemicals.

Not only are these cleaning chemicals better for students, teachers and the land, they also come in more environmentally responsible containers. They come in bags that can fold flat and are recyclable, he said.

The district used to use chemicals such as bleach and butyl (a cleaning product additive) that Arnold said can cause cancer. "We got away from that," he said. The custodians used to have 40 to 60 chemicals, but that is down to five or six main chemicals for daily cleaning.

To make the change, Arnold had to do some research and find a company that was willing to listen to him and provide what the district needed.

"We were asking for green chemicals that work and a really durable wax and a more user-friendly (wax) stripper," he said.

Daily tasks include disinfecting bathrooms and contact surfaces, such as desks, and mopping floors.

Other periodic duties include deep cleaning of tile, grout and carpets. Custodians also do minor maintenance to keep things safe and assist teachers.

"They're really the go-to people in the schools," Arnold said. "I think we have the best custodians in the state. This group of custodians is top-notch."

In the past, the schools operated as separate units as far as custodial work went. Things are more standardized now. The schools use the same chemicals, equipment and procedures.

Although it is not required, Arnold strongly recommends training for the custodians and offers a 40-hour, 10-week course.

Head custodians and night leaders (custodians who work after school hours) are required to take 80 hours of training.

Training and standardization, Arnold said, seem to be making a difference. "Really, we see it," he said.

Fast facts

Sean Arnold

Title: maintenance and custodial supervisor

Duties: supervising district custodians and making sure they're providing a clean and healthy environment for students and teachers

Prior experience:

Served as the maintenance and facilities supervisor at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo near Syracuse, N.Y.

[Last modified October 24, 2007, 19:53:26]