On October 12, 2020, all staff/ students returned back to school in Woodbridge Township. Considering Covid regulations, many people question if schools are being cleaned flawlessly? Furthermore, how cleaning products are used to help stop the spread of COVID-19?
The Process Before School Started
Before school started, all the custodians measured the classrooms and took out extra furniture to make sure all desks were six feet apart. In addition to putting markings on the floors for staff and students to follow. Janitors were all trained in the summer and practiced the plan on how the building would be cleaned. Colonia High School has two different types of custodians: Day custodians and Night custodians. Both shifts have different tasks they have to cover.
Mr. Pace, the principal of Colonia High School, stated, “There are different cleaning solutions and procedures for different materials and areas of the building.”
Mr. Pace also meets with the day custodians at around 6:45 am to make a checklist that all the custodians need to accomplish during the day. Pace also meets with the night supervisor three times a week to review the checklist.
Duties of a Custodian
Cleaning takes place throughout the entire day. Janitors use diluted bleach and water in many places such as bathrooms. Bathrooms rotate like last year where only certain bathrooms are available during each period. For example, if the Business wing lavatory is open during Block 1 & 3 it is cleaned Block 2 and after school.
“The cleaning logs that I see on my classroom wall or classroom door are being filled out daily. Which is an indicator that cleaning is happening on a daily basis,” Mr. Sean Cuffe, English teacher at Colonia High School and Teacher’s Union Representative, stated.
Deep Cleaning Wednesdays
A backpack with a solution does the cleaning. When this solution comes into contact with any object, the negative charge in the solution attaches itself to the object and disinfects it. This process occurs during the night time. During the daytime, custodians continue their regular cleaning process with some school staff in the building like administrators, front office staff, and counselors.
“The surface of the solution is sprayed and can’t be touched for 10- 15 mins,” Pace explained.
Are schools being cleaned flawlessly?
On October 12, 2020, all staff/ students returned back to school in Woodbridge Township. Considering Covid regulations, many people question if schools are being cleaned flawlessly? Furthermore, how cleaning products are used to help stop the spread of COVID-19?
Mr. Pace stated, ” Be safe but Be The Change as we come out of this new catastrophe in history. If we are not a part of the solution then we are a part of the problem.” So let’s all “be the change” as it’s Colonia High School’s new motto.
If you or your parent are looking for more information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Woodbridge Township COVID-19 Information Site. Remember to wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands.
