Safe Schools and Facilities

Hello, my name is Troy Golding and along with Darcy Nolte we have been with the facilities division since April 2024 in the role of Service Quality Supervisors.

The focus of the Service Quality Supervisor is to bring KPDSB facilities in line with custodial and maintenance industry standards of building care and be a direct liaison between School Administration and facilities staff. Development of new operational manuals, and redefining custodial workloads have allowed us to implement the daytime custodian role.

In 2025, along with Shaun Clifford the Facilities Data Officer, the Service Quality team will continue the journey toward system standardization. Our aim is to ensure that regulatory inspections and maintenance for facilities and grounds will be completed on time, and in the most cost-effective manner. By using a workorder management system, we are able to build standardized logs and inspections. We have committed to providing staff training and development by ensuring that we have in-house CSA certified playground safety inspectors, a qualified CSA WHIMS instructor and by training division staff in working at heights and chainsaw safety through industry accredited certification courses.

This year we brought together custodial and maintenance staff from our 19 unique schools for an annual facilities seminar providing staff with the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of seminars including: human resources, workplace safety, custodial products, and maintenance forums. Staff had a chance to share experiences and spend some time building a team that spans a vast geographical area.

Hi, my name is June Arnold and I want to let you know what we, custodial and maintenance workers, are all about.

We play a vital role in creating an environment where children can thrive academically and emotionally. Our custodians ensure that our schools are clean, safe, and welcoming spaces, free from distractions such as clutter or unsanitary conditions. Maintenance personnel keep our schools in good repair and functioning properly, allowing students to attend school regularly and focus on their education.

Beyond our physical contributions, support staff often provide support to students. A warm greeting or a simple act of kindness can brighten a child’s day and foster a sense of community: these moments matter.

Maintenance and Custodial workers are the unsung heroes who lay the foundations for positive learning outcomes. Every day, they work hard to support the well-being of students and staff and enable schools to fulfill their mission. Their work is not just maintenance and cleaning: it is an essential part of education at KPDSB.

King George has seen huge gains in the crucial role a daytime custodian plays in maintaining a safe, clean, and supportive school environment. It’s not just about keeping the hallways spotless—though that’s important too. A daytime custodian has had a much broader impact on our school community.

Having Kevin with us in the daytime helps keep bio-break areas, hallways, and common spaces clean and sanitary throughout the day. If their are accidents or mishaps he is able to swoop in and swoop back out allowing for the day to continue as planned. In a school, these common spaces are constantly in use, and maintaining their cleanliness during peak hours ensures a healthier environment for both students and staff.

School yard safety is paramount in an inner city school, Kevin spends time first thing removing hazards and keeping it clean so that students can enjoy their break time without worry. During the winter months, he is crucial for snow removal and sanding, making sure that paths remain clear and safe for everyone. It’s that proactive approach that keeps accidents at bay.

Another significant benefit is the custodian’s ability to connect with staff and students. Being present during the school day allows them to form deep, trusting relationships, fostering a sense of community. A custodian isn’t just someone who sweeps floors—they become an integral part of the school culture, offering a helping hand when needed and creating a welcoming, positive atmosphere.

Kevin is a team player who is always willing to jump in, whether it’s assisting with a last-minute classroom setup, supporting an after-school event, or helping with any unexpected needs. His reliability and friendly nature makes him an indispensable member of our team.

Shifting to having a daytime custodian has shifted the day-to-day operation of King George school, ensuring academics, learning and fun are at the forefront of our minds and our days run smoothly, safely, and cleanly. His work supports not just the physical environment but also helps build relationships. It has allowed for our Admin team to get to the instructional leadership and supporting staff and enhance the overall school experience for everyone.

Capital renewal priorities for KPDSB include:

Safe Schools Project – After many years of project development, implementation of an integrated safe-schools platform was initiated in 2023. This project will ensure KPDSB schools and other facilities have a standardized format for building access control, upgraded Public Address systems connected to classroom sound systems, including emergency and other notification protocols, new CCTV cameras and software systems, and safeschools procedures and the ability to access buildings safely.

The safe-schools systems installed at each school and facility are linked together to provide one-touch activation to enable a quick response. This project in its entirety supports safe-schools emergency response procedures.

Other major capital works currently underway are the Savant Lake – replacement school as well as the restart project at Keewatin PS. Both projects will see the majority of the progress take place in 2025 and with estimated completion in early 2026.

Including the projects mentioned previously, we have now undertaken over 250 construction projects expending more than $118 million dollars over the last 8 years. This work has improved learning space and school functionality, increased technology-specific programming, and corrected many backlog issues due to drainage problems, roof leaks, energy performances, etc.

KPDSB’s energy-efficient projects alone have contributed approximately $200,000 /year in utility savings.

Work has also been happening on various Outdoor Classroom Learning Environments, including the completion of activity trails and outdoor learning spaces in school yards in Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Narrows during 2024. This work is being expanded to schools in Sioux Lookout, Ear Falls, Red Lake and Vermilion Bay during the summer of 2025.

This work includes various initiatives from our Environmental Education Policy as well as modern concepts for enhanced outdoor school yards. Through active learning and experiential education, these programs create spaces using integrated learning elements, high-activity play, and environmental study. Music, drama, maths & sciences and of course phys-ed are all possible in these spaces.

New outdoor activity areas will also provide the ability for Community Use of School programs to allow for permitted spaces for after-hours usability
Some through partnerships with local municipalities to provide shared use opportunities as well.

2024 saw Facility Services evolve and reach a full complement of department staff. After more than a decade of restructuring, the department is now supported by various operations and central staff who are learning to work as a team to improve the conditions of all learning spaces throughout the KPDSB. This enables the Facilities department to better serve students and staff across the system. I am excited for the future.