Lincolnwood, IL, USA-ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Balek has been appointed chair of a subcommittee tasked with the responsibility of developing guidelines and specifications that will implement green cleaning legislation for Missouri schools.

In July 2008, Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed into law legislation that requires the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to develop guidelines for green cleaning in schools. In this regard, Tom Quinn, DESE assistant commissioner-division of career education, assembled a “panel of interested stakeholders,” including ISSA, on November 10 in Jefferson City, MO, to begin the process of developing the green cleaning guidelines.

In so doing, Quinn noted that while the Missouri green cleaning legislation requires the state to develop the guidelines, schools’ adoption and implementation of green cleaning is voluntary. Nonetheless, by law, DESE must complete the guidelines and specifications by February 24, 2009. It is anticipated that a draft will be completed by Christmas of this year.

“ISSA is delighted to be recognized as not only a leader in the cleaning industry, but also as an environmental steward,” said Balek in recognition of being appointed chair of the Missouri subcommittee. “We see this as an opportunity to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders in crafting guidelines that are not only environmentally forward, but which are also pragmatic-a key element in ensuring their ultimate adoption by schools.”

Missouri is the third state that has enacted green cleaning legislation for schools. Illinois and New York preceded Missouri in adopting similar, but mandatory, legislation. To date, a total of 16 states have adopted green cleaning policies of one kind or another.