The first ones at school, they open up the building for incoming students. They inspect the school every morning for any safety hazards or spills for the comfort of learners. Any spills or accidents that need to be cleaned are taken care of by these dependable workers. Not only are they involved in the care and maintenance of the school, but they participate in the learning environment by displaying sociability and goodwill to others. The school’s custodians fit the role of a responsible, welcoming character that students can look up to, and should be thanked for the amount of work they do.
Custodians have a wide variety of duties to do daily, and their effort can be physically shown in the cleanliness of the school. Of their many tasks, they must empty wastebaskets, disinfect tables and floors, and check to see if faucets and drains are working properly. They take care of vacuuming and sweeping the floors, to keep all surfaces dust-free. They also clean door glasses, put away and set up tables for lunch.
In addition to their numerous tasks, the school custodians present a cheerful disposition to students, interacting with others. Their bright attitudes liven up the environment, encouraging the students in a blissful manner. The day workers, Cheryl Landry, Rhonda Jackson, and Rosy Jiminez, are considered the “heroes of the school” by many, as they help out with anything that needs assistance. Many of their duties go unnoticed by others, and should be recognized. Students do not realize that school custodians do much more than just cleaning. They help out with minor issues with individual teachers, with FedEx and UPS deliveries, and any other favors that someone may need. The 40 hours a week that they contribute to this school is a tremendous help to the students and teachers, and the school would not be able to run without their assistance.
Although much time and effort must be put into being a custodian, they are able to make an honest living and earn a competent wage. However, the CFISD budget is diminishing, while school expenses are rising. As a result of the lack of funds, the district has cut 41 million dollars from its budget in the past two years. Included in these cuts, was a percent of school custodians, who were fired as of last year, due to these budget cuts. Nonetheless, the smaller number of custodians has increased their efforts to get the same amount of work done.
The quality and quantity of work has not changed, despite the recent reduction of employees. Because of them, students can take pride in their school, increasing their spirits, and motivations to study in an apt environment. Through the custodians’ meticulous work and reliable attitudes, students are able to learn in a clean, fresh environment and have the influence of their bright, smiling faces everyday.
The Student Voice
 “ I think the work the custodians do in the school is great. If we did not have them, our school would be a dirty disaster. I think we would thank them.” – Hailey Zera, senior
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 “ The people that clean the school should be appreciated because their staff got cut this year, which means that have more work with fewer people to clean.” – Diana Carreon, junior
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 “ I think that the custodians do amazing work. There are a lot kids in the school and the custodians work to make sure we have a nice, safe, clean environment.” – Briahna Taylor, senior |
JVHS NEWS 