You don’t expect to see a table draped in pink and stacked with tampons, pads and menstrual cups at a conference for school custodians. Yet there was The Policy Project team — smack in the middle of the Utah School Custodial Managers Association Conference, between booths showing off floor waxers and selling industrial-strength cleaners. Most tables were staffed by men. Ours definitely stood out.
But we weren’t there just to make a statement. We were there to say thank you.
Since The Policy Project worked to pass House Bill 162: Period Products in Schools in 2022, requiring all public and charter schools to stock period products in girls’ and unisex bathrooms, custodians have quietly taken on the responsibility of keeping those supplies available. They didn’t ask for the job. But they’ve done it — with care, creativity and a clear understanding of students’ needs.
We came to the conference to listen and learn, and we left feeling hopeful and inspired.
We heard plenty of valid concerns. Middle schoolers, in particular, are infamous for turning anything into an opportunity for mischief, and period products are no exception. Custodians shared stories of pads stuck to stall doors, tampons thrown on ceilings and dispensers emptied in minutes. But they also pointed out that toilet paper and paper towels get misused, too — and often more so. But none of this stopped them from recognizing the importance of making these supplies available.
Because behind these concerns was something deeper: a shared sense of purpose. Again and again, we heard the same message: This matters. One custodian told me that fully stocked dispensers at his school were emptied instantly, much like a full bucket of Halloween candy left unattended on a porch. His solution? Stock just 10 or 20 products at a time and restock after lunch. Students were less likely to misuse the supplies when the supply didn’t feel infinite. It wasn’t just clever; it was empathetic. He knew kids needed those supplies. He just found a better way to meet that need.
The most surprising moments, though, weren’t about logistics. They were about culture change. An older gentleman — with over 30 years in custodial services under his belt — approached our table, eyed the pads and tampons, then picked up a menstrual cup. He told us about his granddaughters. He asked thoughtful questions. He listened as we explained how cups work and why some students prefer them. And then, with a new sense of understanding, he picked up two — one small, one large — to bring to his granddaughters “just in case.”
That moment stuck with me.
When we worked to pass HB162, we weren’t sure how it would be received — especially by the custodians who would be on the frontlines of implementation. Would they care? Would they see this as their responsibility?
At this conference, we got our answer.
They do care. Not just because it’s a legal requirement — but because they know what it means for students. They understand that access to period products is just as essential as access to toilet paper, paper towels or soap. They see that these small supplies can make a big difference in a student’s dignity and ability to learn.
And they’re making it work — even with tight budgets, crowded schedules and all the other daily challenges of keeping schools clean and functioning.
These custodians might not see themselves as changemakers. But they are. They’re helping dismantle stigma, protect student dignity and quietly build a culture of care — one stocked dispenser at a time.
If 30-year veterans and proud grandfathers can embrace the importance of period products in schools, then there’s reason to believe the rest of us can, too.