We first met Mervin (Merv) Brewer when he helped the Salt Lake City School District earn the Green Cleaning Award Honorable Mention in 2011 when he was assistant custodial supervisor. He went on to become an integral part of the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Program as one of our founding steering committee members, bringing
Steering Committee Member Merv Brewer Remains Dedicated to Family, Healthy Schools in Retirement
What the American Rescue Plan Means for School Facilities Departments
We’ve read the American Rescue Plan and Found Lots of Opportunities for You to Invest in Your School’s Facilities Program The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act provides a whopping $123 billion in flexible funds for school districts across the United States to be spent over the next three school years. This is the largest federal
Congratulations to the Class of 2021 (and all the school custodians who helped ceremonies happen safely)!
As we wrap up the second graduation season of the pandemic, it’s safe to say that ceremonies still don’t quite look the way they used to. From socially distanced stadium staging to car parades, the new face of graduation ceremonies have facilities teams working overtime to ensure compliance and safety for students and their families.
A National Standard for Healthy School Facilities – Call for Public Comment
By Sara Porter The pandemic has made creating healthy school environments an urgent national priority and brought to light the serious under-investment in school facilities nationwide. But the fact is, even before the pandemic, nearly half of U.S. schools reported indoor air quality problems that put the health of students and staff at
Innovation Spotlight: UGA Makes Its Own Sustainable Disinfecting Wipes
Schools need quick, accessible ways to disinfect shared surfaces without harsh chemicals. The University of Georgia developed a solution.
How to Help Custodial Staff Get Vaccinated
Studies have shown that the most powerful way to encourage vaccination is through discussions with friends, colleagues and people we trust.
A New Standard and Early Adopters Group
HGSC is seeking K-12 districts and higher education institutions to join a group of early adopters to provide feedback and help shape program elements as they are being developed.
How to Spend Stimulus Money for Cleaning Supplies + Training at Your School or University
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed a COVID-19 relief bill that included $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening. This funding will remain available to schools through September 30, 2022. The bill that provides this funding specifically lists investments in cleaning programs that will help schools prevent infection outbreaks and
Congratulations to Green Cleaning Pioneer Shawna Cragun on a Well-Deserved Promotion
Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Steering Committee member Shawna Cragun recently accepted the position of Director of Transportation at Davis County School District in Utah. Shawna Cragun served on our Steering Committee for the past three years while she was Director of Custodial Services at the same district. An environmental pioneer who loves a challenge,
It’s Time to Lift Up Our Most Essential Workers: School Custodians
Our school custodians and facilities teams have always had the challenging job of cleaning up messes while protecting public health. During the pandemic, we have been asking school custodians to show up day in and day out to protect us all against COVID-19. We ask them to don PPE and enter classrooms where known cases
