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Board approves sanitary pantries and honors custodial staff at Sept. 10 meeting
Summary
The board unanimously endorsed National Custodial Workers Recognition Day, recognized custodians from each district, and approved a districtwide plan to create sanitary pantries stocked with hygiene and menstrual products to reduce attendance and dignity barriers.
The Miami‑Dade School Board on Sept. 10 adopted resolutions to recognize custodial staff and to authorize districtwide sanitary pantries to supply hygiene and menstrual products at school sites.
Chairwoman Rojas led a brief recognition ceremony for custodians nominated from each board district; student adviser Kylie Sowers thanked custodial teams for keeping classrooms and common areas clean and safe. Several board members emphasized the essential role custodial teams played during Hurricane Andrew and the pandemic, reminding the room that custodians keep schools operational and welcoming.
Later, the board approved an authorization to develop and implement sanitary pantries across district schools (H7). Community speakers and student leaders described "period poverty" statistics and the effect of lack of access on attendance and self‑esteem. Miles Davis, policy director at Prism, said the pantries would help students meet basic needs discreetly and improve attendance and mental health.
Board Member Bendros Mendengall, who sponsored the pantry item, credited former interns and student advocates with drafting the framework and said the program aligns with state law and district attendance and mental‑health goals. The board approved the measure and directed staff to develop implementation details.
