East Greenwich Public Schools

Project Snapshot

PROJECT: Cleaning for Healthy Schools
LOCATION: East Greenwich, R.I.
COMPANY NAME: ProTeam, the Vacuum Company
WEBSITE: www.pro-team.com

Cleaning for Healthy Schools

Keeping the air clean is important, especially in a learning environment. At East Greenwich School District, clean carpets are a major part of this and they look to Pro-Team for effective solutions.

THE CHALLENGE

School District Reduces Particulate Matter with HEPA Vacuums. Eight years ago an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) technician inspected the four elementary schools, middle school, and high school that comprise East Greenwich Public Schools in Rhode Island. She observed a lot of particulate matter in carpeted areas and warned school officials about the possible health impact.

Particulate matter is microscopic solid or liquid particles that suspend in the air, including dust, pollen, dander, soot, smoke, etc. Particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter (a micron is a millionth of a meter or one thousandth of a millimeter) can be breathed into the lungs, presenting a health threat to sensitive populations like those with asthma and allergies.

The IAQ technician made a recommendation based on her findings: switch to ProTeam vacuum cleaners. This would reduce allergens and asthma triggers while creating a healthier and safer learning environment.

Cleaning for Healthy Schools

THE SOLUTION

The school district made the switch. They now use ProTeam upright vacuums, the ProForce 1500XP HEPA and the ProGen 15, to clean carpeted areas, and ProTeam backpack vacuums, the Super CoachVac HEPA and the Super Coach Pro 10, for hard flooring. The cleaning staff had never worked with backpack vacuums before and was uncertain about the switch.

“There was resistance to the change initially,” says Bob Wilmarth, director of Facilities and 10-year veteran of the school district. “Over the course of time, the staff has grown to like the backpacks. They are true timesavers.”

Cleaning for Healthy Schools

IMPACT ON LEARNING

For Wilmarth, these efforts added up to creating a healthy learning environment for students. He has been heavily influenced by Rex Morrison’s work with the nonprofit consortium Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PC4HS) and uses a hybrid of PC4HS, team cleaning, and traditional zone cleaning. This blend of styles works for Wilmarth’s staff of 20 and keeps the health of the indoor environment a top priority.

“If we are spreading germs while cleaning, that leads to less time with students in their seats,” says Wilmarth. “It is my firm belief that the more students are in their seats with a high level of Indoor Air Quality and good lighting, the more learning takes place.”

Editor’s Review

The U.S. EPA’s 2010 study, entitled “How does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance?” states, “Substandard environmental conditions in schools, such as insufficient cleaning or inadequate ventilation, can cause serious health problems for children.” It goes on to say that it also directly impacts student academic performance. This project is an example of providing a better learning environment where students feel safe and confident that their school is providing them with a healthy environment. Not only does this mean that students and teachers need to take less sick days, but the more relaxed, healthy attitude allows them to dedicate their full attention to teaching and learning.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Kraus-Anderson Completes Improvements at Minnesota Middle, High Schools

    Construction management, real estate, and risk management firm Kraus-Anderson recently announced that it has finished two K–12 renovation projects in Minnesota, according to a news release.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

Digital Edition