Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Schools In Focus: Expert Advice on COVID-19 Cleaning

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 04/15/20

Schools In Focus is a Spaces4Learning podcast dedicated to K-12 school design, planning, and management. Each episode will feature a conversation with industry experts, facility managers, architects, and thought leaders on topics related to school facilities. Catch up on previous episodes here.

Today's episode is about cleaning and disinfecting school facilities.

Schools In Focus, Episode 3: Expert Advice on COVID-19 Cleaning

Schools In Focus podcast logo and Dr. Greg Whiteley

The world looks very different now since the last episode. Schools across the country are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the time of publication, 24 states have decided to keep schools closed for the remainder of the school year. According to the New York Times database, at least 606,800 people in the United States have tested positive for the virus and at least 25,922 have died from it.

In this episode, we talk about the short-term and long-term goals of keeping school facilities clean amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I spoke to Dr. Greg Whiteley, a specialist in cleaning science, hygiene and disinfection. He’s the chairman of the Whiteley Corporation, a medical and industrial cleaning company based in Australia. He’s also an adjunct research fellow in the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University and a board member of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute.

Dr. Whiteley describes how the virus works, how it affects children, outlines cleaning goals for schools within the next year, and provides practical advice for custodial workers. 

Where to Listen

Schools In Focus is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher. Subscribe today, or listen below! Stay tuned for more episodes!

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • Full Sail University Announces First Student Housing Facility

    Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., recently announced that development has begun on its first student housing community, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Nvision Development for construction and long-term management of the facility, which will stand five stories and have the capacity for more than 570 beds.

  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Launches New Emergency Communications System

    The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) recently deployed a new emergency notification and incident management system for its campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with 911Cellular to launch Safe@UTC, a smartphone app allowing university officials to communicate and respond during emergency situations.