Custodians Maintain School Grounds, Help Foster Education

DIANA LI
News Editor

The amount of work custodians put into their jobs is immeasurable. In Orlando, Florida schools, those applying for the position of custodian must pass a fitness test to be hired for the job; this measure was designed to select the most able applicants to potentially reduce work-related injuries. However, more than one quarter of the applicants did not pass the fitness test. According to National Public Radio, the high cost of workers’ compensation, which ranges from $500,000 to $800,000 annually, encourages schools to hire selectively for a more qualified staff.

The dilemma that schools face is between filling the vacancies within the custodial staff with unqualified applicants or having a smaller staff work overtime to complete jobs meant for a larger staff. With the latter scenario, the custodial staff is often strained to complete both their own jobs and the jobs of unfilled positions.

Custodial workers have one of the highest rates of job-related injuries, oftentimes missing more work days than police officers due to work injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), custodians can suffer injuries, such as cuts, bruises and burns from using machines, tools and chemicals on the job. Furthermore, custodians’ jobs often involve repeated movements, which can result in strained muscles and fatigue. A survey by the BLS showed that more than 15,000 custodians in the U.S. were injured on the job in 2010.

At AHS, the day crew often lifts heavy objects, while the night crew cleans the campus, including pathogen-filled bathrooms. Workers must take many precautions in order to prevent injuries and sickness, such as wearing gloves while cleaning restrooms.

Manny Molina, the former plant foreman and head of the AHS custodial staff, has had first-hand experience of these dangers. Molina, who retired from AHS after first semester, worked with AUSD for 26 years and nine and a half years at AHS. He began as a technician at SGHS but later transferred to AHS in 2003. After spending many years working as a foreman around the high school environment, Molina emphasizes the importance of positive school environment for successful learning.

“We are in the safety business before anything [else]; it is the absolute number one priority,” Molina said. “Safety, health and welfare are conducive to [creating] a good learning environment.”

With the school campus being integral to students’ education, the significance of an able-bodied custodial staff is undeniable.

“AHS is a very big school, and it takes a lot to clean [the campus] each day,” junior Kathy Castro said. “I really appreciate the hard work [the staff is] doing to keep our school in tip-top shape and clean.”