Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009 - (Page 14)

executive profile Tom Taylor: A Restructure Towards Improvement What would you do if you were asked to handle the task of restructuring a custodial services department in a K-12 school system with no housekeeping experience? IEHA member Tom Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Adult and Student Policy for Portage Township Schools in Portage, IN, has improved the custodial department for his school district over the past three years, with no housekeeping industry experience and while wearing multiple hats in his position, by using the following philosophy: Restructure the program to be cost effective and efficient, while making everyone happy, thus making the schools cleaner and reducing absenteeism. “I hope what motivates my staff is the pride that they take in making sure that these facilities are ready for kids and teachers every day because that’s the message that’s constantly sent to them,” says Taylor. “Our sole focus is to make sure our buildings are safe and sanitary, ready for teachers and kids the next day.” As Assistant Superintendent for Adult and Student Policy, Taylor handles many of the personnel and human resource issues for the school district; handles student w by Laura M. DiGiulio, Editor policy issues, such as suspensions, expulsions, and parent concerns and complaints; harassment complaints; facilities and rental; and is also the custodial services director. The custodial services department is comprised of about 100 employees, both supervisors and custodians, and is in charge of cleaning and maintaining eight elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, an adult education facility, a food service building, an auxiliary services building, transportation building, and an administrative center for the 8,600 students in the school system. With so many hats to wear in his position and so many buildings to maintain, it’s a good thing Taylor has lots of experience with school administration under his belt. And, he credits IEHA for assisting him in learning about the custodial industry, which allowed him to make improvements in the department. to Portage when he was four years old, and he has lived there ever since. He graduated from Portage High School, married his high school sweetheart, and their children have gone through the Portage school system. Therefore, he is pretty well connected with the area. Taylor has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health from Valparaiso University, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University, and an Ed. S. (Education Specialist) degree from Indiana State University. He began his teaching career in Portage and then moved on to teach and be the basketball coach in Hammond, IN, for eight years and then moved into school administration. He was an assistant principal and a principal at two different high schools for 11 years, and then became Assistant Superintendent for Portage three years ago. When Taylor was hired into his current position, they asked him to get the custodial services department straightened out and going in a positive direction. Thanks to his IEHA involvement, he feels that he has made some good progress with the department over the past Background, Experience, and IEHA Taylor has lived in Northwest Indiana his entire life. He was born in Gary, IN; his family moved 4 Executive Housekeeping Today/February 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009

Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009 Contents Executive Corner Putting a Stop to Restroom Complaints Clean Soap Dispensers are Good for Business Frugal Housekeeper Executive Profile Spartan Scholarship Award Winner USGBC Tip The Green Scene 2008 IEHA Audit Report The Un-Comfort Zone with Robert Wilson 2009 Salary Survey Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers’ Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009

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