MENUMENU
  • Board
    • Find a School
    • Contact Us
    • Site Map
  • Students
    • Edsby
    • Office 365
    • Virtual Library
    • LMS
    • Clever
    • Career Cruising
  • Parents
    • Parent Portal
    • Bus Delays/Cancellations
    • School Cash Online

Near North District School Board

MENUMENU
  • Go to homepage
  • Schools
        • Find Your School
        • District Map
        • How do I Register?
        • Contact Us
  • Programs
        • Programs

        • Adult and Alternative Education
        • Adult English as a Second Language
        • e-Learning
        • English as a Second Language
        • Equity and Well-Being / Safe and Accepting Schools
        • Equity and Well-Being
        • Extended French
        • French Immersion
        • Indigenous Education
        • Kindergarten
        • Mathematics for Families
        • Programs (cont.)

        • Mental Health Resources
        • Mental Health Support Services
        • Safe and Accepting Schools
        • Special Education
        • Summer School
        • Specialized Programs

        • Arts Nipissing
        • Dual Credits
        • International Baccalaureate
        • Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
        • Near North Sports
        • Personal Support Worker (PSW)
        • Custodial Services Program
        • Specialist High Skills Major
        • STEAM Program
  • Parents
        • General Information

        • Diploma Requirements
        • Indigenous Student Self-Identification
        • School Calendar
        • Stay informed
        • Xello Parent
        • Starting at NNDSB

        • Childcare & School-Aged Programs
        • Parent Involvement
        • School Registration
        • Transportation
        • Login

        • Manage My Account
        • Parent Portal
        • School Cash Online
        • Edsby
        • Who should I talk to?
        • P.A. Activities
  • Board
        • Administration

        • Senior Administration
        • Board and Committee Meetings
        • Board Governance
        • Board of Trustees
        • Director’s Annual Report
        • Multi-Year Plan
        • Operations

        • Capital Planning
        • Financial Information
        • Tenders & RFPs
        • Ventilation Report
        • School Renewal Investment Report
        • Staff Portal
        • General Information

        • ​Accessibility
        • Administrative Guidelines
        • Community Use of Schools
        • Concussion Resources
        • Energy Management
        • Safe and Accepting Schools
        • FOI and Transcripts
  • Learning Resources
        • Clever
        • Copyright Decision Tool
        • Edsby
        • eLearning (LMS)
        • Passport to Learning
        • Learn 360
        • Manage my Account
        • Microsoft Teams
        • Ontario Education Resource Bank
        • Office 365 Apps
        • Office 365 Mail
        • TVO Mathify
        • Virtual Library
        • Xello
  • Communications
        • About Communications
        • Social Media at NNDSB
        • Media Contact
        • Media Releases
        • Blog
  • Join Our Team

Enhanced cleaning protocols, increased infection prevention measures at NNDSB buildings

March 5, 2021 By Josh

Since the onset of COVID-19, cleaning measures have been strengthened at all Near North District School Board (NNDSB) buildings – measures that have kept COVID-19 numbers low in board schools.

Deb Lamb, an NNDSB facilities supervisor says custodians are frequently cleaning high-touch and high traffic areas in their buildings, in addition to increasing the concentration of cleaning disinfectant solution.

“We’ve really upped the disinfectant. We have peroxide disinfectant that we use on door handles, walls, push plates, push bars, light switches, desks, sinks, taps, toilets, stalls.”

Lamb added that custodians are actively cleaning commonly touched items and constantly monitoring the cleanliness of the building throughout the school day because preventative measures are key in keeping everyday viruses along with COVID-19 from spreading.

“Custodians are really the first line in keeping our children from being sick.”

Director of Education Craig Myles said, “Our custodians play a vital role in maintaining a safe environment for students, staff, and the community. Each day custodians come into work, ensuring that health and safety remain top of mind. Without their dedication, our facilities would not be in a condition to support a safe teaching and learning environment. Thank you for keeping our schools a safe place to learn.”

In comparison to other school boards and regions in Ontario, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in NNDSB schools has been very low. Jason Mirtl, NNDSB’s acting Manager of Plant and Facilities says this is in part to the outstanding job the custodians are doing each day.

“It really does speak volumes of the great work that our custodians are doing every day to meet enhanced sanitizing requirements for the safety of staff and students. The custodial staff have played a vital role in preventing further spread.”

As additional prevention measures, each NNDSB school has hand sanitizer located at every entrance and exit. When students enter the building in the morning and after recess, staff ensure students are wearing their masks and sanitizing their hands.

Upon entry to schools, students and staff are greeted by information posters and signage on safe practices to be followed to ensure the safety of all. Also, in the schools are appropriately placed directional arrows on the floor to ensure a safe and physically distanced traffic flow.

Though students and staff should not attend school when they are not feeling well, schools have an isolation area if people become unwell during the day. When that area has been occupied, it is immediately rendered unusable until a thorough cleaning has taken place, including the walls.

In the event of a positive COVID-19 case(s) associated with someone within the school community, additional custodians are brought to that school to help with a thorough sanitization of the building. The process includes washing down every chair and every desk in the affected room(s), all washrooms are washed from top to bottom and all touch points are sanitized – push bars, light switches, doorknobs, pencil sharpeners, doors, etc.

While the COVID-19 virus is new and easily transmitted, these enhanced cleaning measures have been implemented for years. Any time a school had an outbreak of pink eye or another communicable disease, an enhanced cleaning protocol was enacted by custodians.

“Our custodians really take health and safety seriously to provide a safe environment for students and staff,” said Lamb.

Filed Under: In The Works: inside the NNDSB, In The Works: inside the NNDSB FEATURED, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured

NNDSB Indigenous Education Logo

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

Connect With Us

Near North District School Board
963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, ON P1B 8H1
[P] 705-472-8170   [TF] 1-800-278-4922   [F] 705-472-9927
MENUMENU
  • Contact Us
  • Find Your School
  • Parent Portal
  • ​Accessibility Standards

Login with IDP
Copyright © 2025 · Near North District School Board