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Position: Environmental Support Specialist

Department: Student Services

Program: Wheatley School

Reports to: Building Administrator

Classification/Range: Classified/Range 9

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Student Contact days

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Environmental Support Specialist provides environmental and operational support in a specialized school setting, maintaining safe, clean, and functional spaces that directly support student learning and staff effectiveness. At Wheatley School, this position supports a self-contained learning environment serving students ages K-21 who experience disabilities that impact cognition, communication, and behavior. The Specialist performs sanitation, cleanup, and light operational tasks, including prompt response to incidents requiring environmental cleanup, and works as a collaborative member of the building team. This is a non-instructional, non-supervisory position.

NATURE & SCOPE:

The Environmental Support Specialist is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and operationally functional building environment throughout the school day. The primary deliverables of this role are: timely sanitation and cleanup response, consistent upkeep of shared spaces, and logistical support that keeps the building running smoothly during student contact hours.

The Specialist works with a degree of independence within clearly defined protocols and safety procedures, exercising judgment about priorities, sequencing, and when to escalate. The position reports to a designated building administrator or facilities supervisor and coordinates day-to-day with educational staff, the school nurse, and facilities personnel to address environmental needs as they arise, including unplanned incidents that require prompt response.

The scope of this role is environmental and operational. It does not include direct instruction, behavior intervention, nursing, or therapeutic services. Regular presence in active learning spaces is expected and is incidental to the work.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Sanitation and Environmental Maintenance

• Perform daily and as-needed sanitizing of high-touch surfaces, restrooms, common areas, classrooms, and shared spaces in accordance with established cleaning protocols and product safety guidelines.
• Respond promptly and calmly to incidents requiring environmental cleanup, including those involving student health-related or behavioral incidents, using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning agents, and disposal procedures consistent with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standards and district protocol. Responses are conducted in a professional, matter-of-fact manner that supports the stability of the learning environment.
• Restock cleaning supplies, sanitation stations, and common-use items throughout the building.
• Conduct routine walkthroughs to identify and address environmental safety or sanitation concerns; report conditions beyond the scope of the role to the supervisor promptly.

Operational Support

• Assist with room setup and breakdown for instructional activities, meetings, and events, including moving furniture, materials, and equipment as directed.
• Support building transitions during student arrival, dismissal, or movement between spaces by maintaining clean and orderly pathways and shared areas.
• Perform light maintenance or operational tasks as assigned, including disposal of waste, handling of recyclables, and restocking of materials.
• Coordinate with facilities and building leadership on supply needs, work priorities, and safety concerns.

Safety and Compliance

• Follow and maintain compliance with all applicable OSHA, Oregon OSHA, district safety policies, and bloodborne pathogen exposure control plans.
• Use, store, and dispose of cleaning agents and equipment safely and in accordance with product instructions and district protocols.
• Use required PPE consistently and correctly for all applicable tasks.
• Report work-related incidents, near-misses, or potential hazards to the supervisor on the day they occur.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding student information encountered incidentally in the course of work.

Communication and Coordination

• Communicate proactively with school staff and building leadership regarding environmental needs, incident response, supply shortages, or safety concerns.
• Document work completed as directed by the supervisor, including incident response logs when required.
• Participate in required training, including initial onboarding and any required annual updates (e.g., Bloodborne Pathogens, OSHA safety, PPE use).
• Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the scope of the classification.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:

• Equity: Lead and support regional equity initiatives
• Vision: Lead with vision, follow-through, and student focus.
• Trust: Develop trust among coworkers and students through honesty and fairness.
• Communication: Communicate in an inclusive, effective, and collaborative manner.
• Personal Qualities: Be respectful, excel in customer service, caring, humble, and courageous.
• Attendance: Daily and consistent attendance and punctuality are paramount as this provides consistency and alignment with students, peers, and programming outcomes.
• Agency-wide perspective: Be involved in and supportive of continuous overall improvement of MESD programs and services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, including building staff, facilities colleagues, and administrators, to coordinate tasks and communicate effectively.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions accurately and consistently.
• Ability to work in a specialized school setting in the presence of students with significant disabilities, including students who may exhibit unpredictable or disability-related behaviors, while maintaining composure and professionalism.
• Ability to use and properly maintain personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to follow established safety, sanitation, and exposure control protocols.
• Ability to perform sustained physical work, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality related to students and school operations.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Bilingual or multilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, and/or Somali
• Experience working in a school, healthcare, or institutional environment.
• Familiarity with OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen standards or comparable safety training.
• Experience with institutional-grade cleaning equipment and commercial cleaning products.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED; AND
• Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Prior custodial, facilities, environmental services, or school support experience preferred but not required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed at a school site, a specialized program for students with significant disabilities affecting cognition, communication, and behavior. The position requires regular movement throughout the building and campus during student contact hours. Students in the program may exhibit unpredictable behaviors as part of their disability-related communication and regulation needs; all building staff, including this position, are expected to respond calmly and consistently in support of a stable learning environment.

The work may include cleanup tasks following student-related incidents. Appropriate PPE, training, and supplies are provided. Conditions are sometimes fast-paced and require sound judgment about when and how to respond without disrupting instruction or escalating a situation. The position functions as part of a collaborative building team and requires consistent, reliable presence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 
  Mobility: Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move around for extended periods of time.
• Lifting: Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Vision: Visual acuity to read and interpret written and electronic information.
• Dexterity: Ability to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate objects, tools, or controls.
• Hearing/speaking: Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information so others will understand.
• Emotional/Psychological: Ability to maintain composure and professionalism in challenging situations, remain empathetic and understanding towards individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs, handle stress and pressure effectively, and adapt to change in the workplace.

The description contained herein reflects general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

This position is subject to board policies, administrative rules and procedures, department regulations, and applicable state and federal statutes. This position does not carry administrative authority. All commitments outside of authorized programs and services are subject to prior approval by the supervisor of this position.

Reasonable accommodations for the application and interview process will be provided upon request and as required in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities may contact the Human Resources Director for additional information or assistance. Speech/Hearing impaired persons may contact the district for assistance through the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.