I, along with educators and community members, ask that Tacoma Public Schools commit to keeping its schools clean. The lack of cleanliness is a direct result of district leadership refusing to appropriately staff custodial positions throughout the district. Our students, staff, and families deserve clean and tidy schools. Period. Students and staff have noted:

• Urine on bathroom floors
• Feces in and on toilets
• Garbage cans NOT being emptied for days at a time
• Sinks that have not been sanitized
• Unfilled paper towel and soap dispensers
• Carpets unvacuumed for days at time
• Mice in buildings

These conditions are in no part due to lack of effort from our custodial staff members who are being overworked and have seen huge cuts to their overtime pay. We need more custodial staff in our schools. The district is still implementing a “hiring freeze (except for essential positions)”. How are custodial staff not considered essential positions?

We are asking for the following:

1. Fully staff the open custodial positions in the district.
2. Bring back previous overtime payment policies for custodial staff.
3. Again, every member of our school communities deserves a clean and tidy school.