Sustainability Spotlight: LPS Custodians
Lincoln Public Schools has excellently cleaned and maintained buildings all across the district thanks in large part to our hard working custodial teams. But did you know our custodians are also a huge help to our sustainability efforts? Despite the many challenges they have been facing the last few years, many custodial teams continue to demonstrate leadership when it comes to our waste diversion programs. This month’s Sustainability Spotlight features just a few of the many amazing examples we can find across the district:
North Star High School
North Star has had an exemplary cafeteria compost setup since the program started at this building in the fall of 2019. Richard Humann, Custodial Supervisor, and Dan Decker, Assistant Custodial Supervisor, helped launch the compost program and continue to improve the waste sorting station to make the program more efficient. In addition, North Star custodial staff have furthered waste diversion efforts within the building by conducting a waste container reset throughout the building. This process involved resetting all classrooms and office areas to have only one trash can and recycling bin with clear labeling to help students and staff in the building properly sort their waste. Decker mentioned that the key to their success with waste diversion efforts is communication and education. “Our team consistently helps students sort their waste and answer any questions they may have about materials,” Decker explained. “When new hires join our custodial team we make sure they go through a rigorous training to understand the compost and recycling program so the new staff can help answer questions to educate others and themselves.”
Mickle Middle School
Mickle is not only an outstanding example for waste diversion efforts in the cafeteria but they have pushed further to expand those efforts throughout the building. Patrice Rabilal, Custodial Supervisor, and Carlos Mason, Assistant Custodial Supervisor, have made it a goal to transition the entire building to collect compost material from classrooms, offices, and restrooms, in addition to the cafeteria. The Mickle custodial staff have worked with the school administrators to plan for this transition and create clear signage to put in classrooms about the new waste stations. Rabilal says she has been thorough on preparing her staff for this change as well. “We are very hands-on when training our own custodial team so they can be waste leaders in the building,” said Rabilal. Rabilal and Mason attribute their success with this new whole school waste diversion program to clear communication with staff and students in the building. “Staff and students seem excited for the whole-school composting transition, everyone asks questions [about the different waste categories] and wants to know how to sort correctly,” Rabilal mentioned. Both Mason and Rabilal say that their team is successful in sustainability and waste diversion efforts because they keep up transparency and clear communication when implementing waste changes in the building. “Keeping a positive and healthy attitude helps everyone in our school work together,” explained Mason. Mickle demonstrates a perfect example of custodians, administrators, and the school’s Sustainability Champion working together to create sustainable opportunities and solutions for students and staff.
Lincoln High School
Lincoln High custodial staff have been champions of cafeteria compost station efficiency. Recently the school transitioned to having one waste station in the cafeteria to more easily manage the waste and ensure it was being sorted correctly. Kevin Gormley, Assistant Custodial Supervisor, praises his team and the administration at Lincoln High for their efforts in the cafeteria during lunch time. “Teamwork is our key to success,” said Gormley, “if the custodial team is pulled in a different direction during lunch then the Admin team jumps in to help clean up messes in the cafeteria and get students through the compost sorting line.” Their great setup and cooperative efforts between departments made it a smooth transition in January when the cafeteria switched from single use plastic cutlery to reusable metal cutlery. Gormley mentioned that these successful waste diversion efforts are made possible with teamwork, “everyone is willing to jump in and help to get the job done.”
Communication and team effort between custodial teams and staff help LPS waste diversion programs be successful. Throughout the district, custodians are going above and beyond to keep our buildings clean and safe while supporting waste diversion and sustainability efforts. Thank you to all of these hard working custodial champions!
Updated February 2, 2022
