When a school complains about black marks on the floors, the first thing Stone looks at is its maintenance schedule and what s being done, when it is done. He states that the largest obstacle to getting a handle on the floor problems in schools is the lack of a proper maintenance schedule, which he says is essential. Floors need general, everyday maintenance, he explains. But you don t have to spend thousands of dollars on floor maintenance. He adds that many districts tend to cut their floor care budgets when trying to save money.
Floors take substantial abuse from normal, everyday traffic.
Classrooms are the most difficult because of furniture constantly being moved around, Stone notes. He says that the natural build-up of dirt and wax on furniture casters and glides is particularly damaging because it scratches the floor s finish. In dealing with the problem for 20 years, Stone has devised a floor care program for his district that has alleviated many of the black mark problems. And, he adds, the district is spending less now for floor care than it did 15 years ago. One of the biggest money savers was standardization of equipment and supplies for the entire school district.