Victoria company cleans 400 classroom carpets to help teachers

CHEK

WATCH: A local company has stepped in to clean up classroom carpets following a dispute between teachers and the Greater Victoria School District. Isabelle Raghem reports. 

About 400 carpets were brought back to their classrooms Thursday after being cleaned at no cost by Victoria’s Luv-A-Rug.

“Its all about the kids,” says owner Stephen Roberts. “That’s why we do it. We want them to have clean rugs so they can learn and not get sick.”

Roberts stepped in with the offer to clean the rugs after hearing of a dispute over carpet cleaning at the Greater Victoria School District.

The owner of Luv-A-Rug says he knew their offer would get some attention but they didn’t expect to get 400 carpets.

“It’s a $90,000 dollar cleaning bill really is what we would charge for this,” Roberts said.

The dispute stems from changes to cleaning standards at the district last fall. Teachers worried about cutbacks took action.

“The grievance is for the ceasing to vacuum our classroom teaching carpets,” says Carolyn Howe, second vice president of the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association.

But there may be cleaner carpets on the horizon the Greater Victoria School District said Thursday.

“We have since reviewed our practices and are introducing a new district standard in January where service levels will be increased,” the district told CHEK News.

“I’m really curious to hear their proposal. If the carpets are returning to a schedule of daily vacuuming, we’re satisfied,” Howe said.

Luv-A-Rug owner Stephen Roberts says he’s happy he could help but hopes this mess over classroom carpets is cleaned up for good.

Isabelle RaghemIsabelle Raghem

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