Health experts say cleanliness is a way to cut the spread of illness and keep students healthy, but the cleaning supplies used at some schools could be blamed for making some students sick, an environmental consultant said.
“We’ve worked at some schools where (officials) told us that sometimes students trigger an asthma attack by walking past a janitor’s closet,” said Teresa Farmer, a member of the Green Team of Kelsan, a Knoxville-based janitorial and sanitary supplies distributor.
“We advise schools on using environmentally friendly products that don’t have harmful ingredients,” Ms. Farmer said. “We also help develop training programs.”
Kelsan representatives will visit Catoosa County Schools on March 21 to talk about the benefits of a green cleaning program, school spokeswoman Marisa Chambers said.
The event will include sessions on maintenance, the storage, use and upkeep of floor equipment and how to develop and use a green clean plan for school administrators, operations directors and custodial supervisors, according to information provided by Ms. Chambers.
Damon Raines, director of operations for Catoosa County Schools, said the district is sponsoring the session to give other school systems an opportunity to learn about “green” schools.
“We already have two schools working under a green program,” he said. “And, we will open Heritage High School as a green school.”
The higher cost of being green is balanced by the results.
“For us, working with kids, anything we can do for the better health of the student, we will do,” Mr. Raines said. “And it’s also for the safety of our custodial staff.”
Information shows that a “green clean” school has better attendance and students perform better in class and on tests, Ms. Farmer said.
The healthy schools seminar will be held on March 21 at Battlefield Primary School at 2204 Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe starting with 8:15 a.m. registration.
Vendors will show green cleaning products, floor equipment and touch-free rest room components and water free urinals.
IF YOU GO
For more information or to RSVP by March 17, call Neenah Miller at (423) 424-0303.
