Back to School with Campus Services Group
The start of a new school year brings fresh notebooks, new pencils, and of course, a clean, sparkling school building. What most people don’t see are the dedicated custodians, janitors, and facility managers over the summer—cleaning, organizing, and preparing a safe and welcoming atmosphere for teachers and students. That’s exactly what the dedicated environmental services team from Campus Services Group did at Springfield Township School District all summer long to ensure a positive start to the fall semester.
Twenty CSG team members work in Springfield’s two elementary schools, middle school, and high school. Day Porter Keith Gant, pictured right, works at Erdenheim Elementary School, which serves students in grades 3 through 5. He has been with CSG since 2024, and absolutely loves his role. Keith mentioned, “Every day is different. When I arrive, I conduct my walkthroughs, checking the classrooms and other areas of the school. I then start preparing floor projects, replenishing supplies, or assisting with washing lunch rags or other areas that could use an extra set of hands.”
As soon as the previous school year ended, the CSG team had a plan in place for how they would deep clean, wax floors, and ensure that all areas of the school were sparkling in preparation for the next semester. However, despite the diligent planning, the team needed to remain flexible to accommodate the various camps hosted at the schools. Account Manager Cynthia Armenta beamed with pride as she shared how her team accomplished all of their projects. She said, “Despite some scheduling conflicts, we exceeded our clients’ expectations.”
Since the camps ran through the majority of the summer, all hands were on deck. Erdenheim Elementary Principal Ben Speicher reflected, “Even though we knew the floor projects were going to be a tight timeline because of the camps, we could count on the fact that the CSG team would get the job done.”
Connecting with Educators and Students
Through time management and with the support of District Manager Gary Warfield, the team kept things running smoothly and efficiently. Checking in and connecting with team members are a vital part of team culture. Gary visited schools weekly to ensure things stayed on track and on time. Besides focusing on the projects at hand, Gary also made sure to support the teams personally. He emphasized, “Exceptional service starts with exceptional people. It’s so important to take care of our team members, especially with challenging projects. I take pride in making sure they are the best possible version of themselves both in and out of work.”
By building a strong relationship with school administrators and openly communicating, our team always stayed one step ahead. When preparing for the school year, attention to detail is key to allowing teachers to focus on education and students to focus on learning without unnecessary distractions. Our approach, as well as Springfield’s, is to foster a healthy environment for teachers and students. Ben added, “We want our schools to be a place where teachers and students feel like they belong. People like being in a space that makes them feel good, and a clean space shows that our team cares.”
With that mindset, our teams take into account the dynamic of teachers and students. They aren’t glued to their desks all day—they’re sitting on carpets, playing outside on the playground, running in the gym, and so on and so forth. It’s crucial for those areas to be sanitized so everyone can enjoy their day safely.
Welcoming Back Staff
When it was time to welcome back teachers and students, they were not only greeted with a sparkling, clean building, but also with a ‘welcome back to school’ note from CSG team members. Special Education Teacher Mary Nadolski was touched by the note. She beamed, “We don’t get the chance to see how hard the CSG team works over the summer, and for them to take time out of their day to welcome us back made me feel like they were really taking pride in their work.”
With so much happening to ensure a great start for students, staff, and educators, it could be easy to miss what happens behind the scenes and who maintains a clean and safe environment for all. Mary expressed, “I realize in the hustle and bustle of each day, we don’t get the chance to thank our CSG team members. We are so grateful for them. Day in and day out, we are thankful for all of their hard work and dedication to maintaining a clean and safe environment.”
Ready to partner with a passionate, dedicated team who will ensure your campus is maintained with the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and operational excellence? Inquire at https://www.campusservices.com/contact/
Campus Services Group (CSG) partners with educational (K-12) and higher-education campuses to deliver dependable custodial and facility management services that elevate learning environments. With trained teams, proven processes, and a commitment to excellence, CSG helps schools stay clean, safe, and ready for every season of the year.