In the heart of Texas Hill Country lies one of the fastest growing, yet best kept secrets in the nation: a progressive gem of a city with the mindset of its big city counterparts that has retained its small-town charm. San Marcos, Texas, is one of the coolest small towns in Texas, and is centered on the San Marcos River – fed by a crystal clear artesian spring – one of the most biologically diverse and protected ecosystems in the southwest. This past decade the city’s growth has propelled the school district to be an educational powerhouse serving over 8,000 students on 13 campuses with 1,328,932 interior square feet and continuing to grow. Like the towering oaks lining the San Marcos River, SMCISD’s cleaning protocols are rooted in healthy soil; a commitment to preserving the environment. According to Robert Gutierrez, Director of Custodial Services, this ranges from an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan reducing pesticides to a thoughtful green cleaning program lowering dependence on conventional chemicals. Green Cleaning with On-site Generation After a rigorous testing process, Gutierrez selected the PathoSans® system for on-site generation of ElectroChemically Activated (ECA) solutions. The PathoSans system makes two ready-to-use products with a 30-day or longer shelf life. PathoClean® is utilized for all general cleaning and PathoCide® is used for sanitizing/ disinfecting most surfaces. The PathoSans solutions are produced on-site with water, salt and electricity. The solutions are environmentally friendly and safer for workers while matching or exceeding the performance of conventional products. And on-site generation reduces the need for product ordering, shipping, inventory, and disposal; keeping up to 95% of related packaging out of landfills. “Since we are a ‘green’ district, shrinking our environmental footprint by reducing chemicals, offsite manufacturing and waste is one of the biggest benefits for us,” Gutierrez says. “The simplicity of PathoSans is a close second. We are cutting daily cleaning chemicals from five to two, and that will provide a significant ROI.” Healthy Cleaning on the Ground “It works well”, says Felipe Martinez, Lead Custodian. He tells us that worker consensus is that PathoSans cleans better without leaving residue providing a unique blend of efficacy, gentleness, and user-friendliness in the field: from restrooms to floors to athletic facilities. PathoSans removes buildup so that surfaces stay cleaner, longer and are easier to keep clean. “Our definition of clean is the absence of odor or fragrance, and the solutions not only work but are fragrance-free,” CLEANING ROOTED IN “HEALTHY” SAN MARCOS [TX] CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (SMCISD)