Officials are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Hamilton County Schools campuses by approving a $2.1 million surface disinfectant vendor contract.
By a unanimous vote of the Board of Education, HES Facilities Management was hired to manage COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting of school buildings districtwide. The 40-year-old Knoxville company partners with K-12 schools and higher education institutions nationwide to provide custodial, maintenance, groundskeeping and landscaping services, according to its website.
The one-year contract – good through May 2021 – will be paid for by a combination of federal coronavirus funding and savings from the general operating budget.
Tim Hensley, the school system’s communications director, told the Times Free Press that the board will discuss a possible contract extension next spring.
“At that time, we have a couple of options that could include the services wrapped into the upcoming request for proposal for custodial services for next year,” Hensley said by email.