Hi Lisa,
I have been a teacher in a computer room for 6 years. We have never used
mouse pads mainly because of the cost. I have found with experience that
a mouse will get dirty whether you use a pad or not. You must remove the
ball periodically, clean it and the rollers inside. I use a tooth pick
and sometimes a cotton swab with alcohol. I use glass cleaner on the
tables to remove oil and lint. Finally, if you get pads you'll eventually
need to clean them to.
Good luck in your search.
Neil Johnson
Northview Schools
Grand Rapids, MI
njohnson@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu