Clean Schools.
Zero Overtime.
Autonomous floor scrubbers deployed in K-12 schools and universities across the Upper Midwest. Consistent cleaning, documented results, and custodial staff finally freed up to do the work only humans can do.
3 active deployments. 21-month average payback. Local service — we're close enough to show up.
The problem
Schools are cleaning with fewer people and higher expectations.
Education facilities face a unique combination of budget pressure, staffing shortages, and non-negotiable health standards. Autonomous robots address all three.
Custodial staffing crisis
K-12 districts and universities report 20–30% custodial vacancy rates. Robots fill the gap without recruiting, benefits, or turnover costs.
Budget constraints
Education budgets are tight and increasingly scrutinized. Robots deliver measurable ROI that boards and taxpayers can see — and approve.
After-hours cleaning windows
Schools need cleaning done when students aren't present. Robots operate reliably overnight or on weekends with zero overtime pay.
Health & safety standards
Post-pandemic, cleaning standards are higher than ever. Autonomous scrubbers deliver consistent, documented cleaning — every pass, every zone.
Proven in the field
Active education deployments
These aren't demos or pilots. These are schools that have deployed, trained, and are running autonomous robots every week.
University of Minnesota
Multi-building campus deployment covering athletic and academic facilities.
Cedar Falls High School
Overnight corridor and gymnasium scrubbing, fully unmanned.
Detroit Lakes Public Schools
Three-building district deployment managed via Sproutmation RFM.
Zone coverage
Where robots work — and where they don't
We're transparent about what robots can and can't do. Here's the zone-by-zone picture for a typical school building.
Robot selection
Pick the right robot for your facility
All prices are MSRP. Most schools start with one robot and expand after seeing results.
Scheduling
Cleaning that works around the school day
A typical high school deployment schedule — robots run autonomously across multiple zones with no staff coordination required.
Event-aware scheduling
School events — games, concerts, graduations, parent nights — disrupt fixed cleaning schedules. Sproutmation RFM lets you reschedule robot jobs from your phone in under a minute. No calls to custodial staff. No overtime. The robot picks up where it left off.
Board-ready ROI
The math for a 150,000 sq ft high school
Based on one L4 robot — MSRP pricing, conservative labor assumptions.
Labor cost offset
Robot total cost
Want a custom ROI model for your facility? Book a school demo and we'll build one together.
District fleet management
One dashboard for every building
Sproutmation RFM (Robot Fleet Manager) gives district facility directors a single view across all robots, all buildings, all cleaning jobs. No more calling each school to check if the robot ran.
- Live robot status and battery level from any device
- Scheduled job management across all buildings
- Cleaning history with sq ft and time logs
- Consumable tracking — alerts before you run low
- Remote diagnostics and incident notifications
Honest limitations
What robots don't do
We believe in setting accurate expectations. Custodial staff are still needed — robots handle the high-volume floor work, humans handle everything else.
The process
From first call to first clean — 5 steps
Facility walk-through
We visit your school or campus, measure zones, identify obstacles, and recommend the right robot model(s) and count.
Written proposal
You receive a board-ready proposal with MSRP pricing, projected labor savings, payback period, and deployment timeline.
Pilot deployment
Start with one robot in one zone. Prove the concept before committing to a full fleet. Most pilots run 30–90 days.
Board approval
We can attend board meetings, answer questions, and provide documentation packages designed for public approval processes.
Full deployment
Robots are commissioned, mapped, and handed over to your team with full training. RFM is configured for your district.
Common questions
FAQ
Questions we hear from school administrators, facilities directors, and school board members.
Is the robot safe to operate when students are in the building?
Yes. CenoBots robots use LiDAR, ultrasonic, and camera sensors to detect and stop for people in their path. That said, we recommend scheduling during off-hours (evenings, nights, weekends) for practical efficiency — robots clean faster without foot traffic.
What happens during summer break?
Summer is ideal for deep clean cycles and large-area scrubbing. Many schools run extended overnight sessions across all zones. Robots continue to operate on your schedule — no overtime cost, no coordination headache.
Can we purchase through cooperative purchasing (e.g., Sourcewell, OMNIA)?
We're actively pursuing cooperative contract vehicles. Contact us to discuss current purchasing options. Many districts have successfully acquired robots through equipment leasing or capital budget line items.
What is the warranty?
All CenoBots robots include a 24-month manufacturer warranty covering parts and labor. Sproutmation provides local service — we don't ship robots across the country for repairs.
Will custodians still have jobs?
Yes. Robots handle repetitive floor scrubbing. Custodians handle restrooms, stairwells, spot cleaning, event setup, and the work that actually requires a human. Most districts use robots to maintain service levels despite vacancies — not to eliminate positions.
How long does initial mapping take?
Mapping a typical school building takes 1–2 days. We handle mapping during commissioning. Once mapped, the robot repeats routes precisely every time.
We have 5 buildings across the district. Can one system manage all of them?
Yes. Sproutmation RFM supports multi-site fleet management. You get a single dashboard showing all robots, all buildings, all cleaning logs — from any device.
Is RaaS (Robot as a Service) available for schools?
Yes. RaaS converts the robot into a monthly operating expense rather than a capital purchase — which is often easier to approve in an education budget. Ask us for a RaaS proposal alongside the purchase quote.
Go deeper
Related resources
How Schools Are Using Robots to Solve the Custodial Staffing Crisis
Practical guide to autonomous floor scrubbers in K-12 and higher education environments.
University of Minnesota: 80,000 sq ft Campus Deployment
Full deployment walkthrough, results, and lessons learned from our flagship higher ed customer.
Free Facility ROI Assessment
Enter your square footage and labor costs. Get a custom payback estimate for your school or district.
Let us clean one corridor.
We'll do a free walk-through, map one zone, and show you exactly what autonomous cleaning looks like in your building — before you commit to anything.
Or call us directly: (952) 856-0022