11. Special Situations: Transitions, Renovations, and Summer Shutdown

New Teacher Transitions

A change in science staff is one of the highest-risk moments for institutional knowledge loss. A structured handoff prevents years of quiet drift.

Checklist: Teacher Transition

  • Outgoing teacher walks the incoming teacher through every storage location in person

  • Digital inventory reviewed together and confirmed current

  • Location and access process for SDS library reviewed

  • Chemical Hygiene Plan reviewed with the incoming teacher

  • Any known problem areas (aging chemicals, unresolved unknowns, storage constraints) explicitly flagged

  • Purchasing approval process explained

  • Incoming teacher completes required safety training before independently supervising lab activities

  • District safety officer notified of the transition and available for questions

Department Reorganizations and Renovations

Any time a storage room is remodeled, expanded, or physically reorganized, treat it as an opportunity for a full inventory reconciliation rather than simply moving boxes from one shelf to another. This is also the right moment to correct legacy alphabetical storage and bring the room into proper compatibility grouping.

Summer Shutdown and End-of-Year Cleanup

Summer is the natural window for the deeper maintenance that’s hard to fit into a busy school year.

Checklist: Summer Shutdown

  • Full physical inventory count completed and reconciled against digital records

  • All peroxide-forming chemicals checked against shelf-life dates

  • Expired, unwanted, or curriculum-obsolete chemicals flagged for disposal

  • Hazardous waste pickup scheduled if needed, with generator status confirmed

  • Storage cabinets, shelving, and secondary containment inspected for damage

  • SDS library reconciled against inventory

  • Chemical Hygiene Plan reviewed and updated for the coming year

  • Any facilities issues (ventilation, eyewash stations, safety showers) reported and scheduled for repair

  • Digital inventory backed up

Internal link opportunity: Planning an Effective Summer Chemical Cleanout for Science Departments.