It’s 9 p.m. You are leaving the gym after a late practice. As you enter the hallway you hear something: music. You think to yourself, “Who could be here this late at night?” As you walk toward the pool doors the music gets louder. You look to your left to find someone in a small room by the men’s restroom you’d never noticed before. Who’s in there? You peek around the corner and find it is a custodian.
A custodian’s job is never finished. There are almost always custodians in the school. They get here as early as 6 a.m. and leave as late as 11 p.m. ALHS has ten custodians who do many jobs in order to keep the school safe, in working order and clean for students, staff and visitors.
“We set up for events, do regular cleaning, whatever has to be done” said coordinator of building and grounds, Dennis Hamberg.
Hamberg has been working at ALHS for 36 years. Right after serving in the military in Vietnam and Germany he went to school for industrial maintenance and was hired by Industrial Maintenance at the school soon after.
“It’s a good experience working here,” Hamberg said. “I wouldn’t have been here so long if it wasn’t.”
Custodians Gene Worke, Kevin Fisher, and Michelle Johnson all agreed. Worke and Fisher have both worked at ALHS for 11 years and Johnson is new to the staff. She started about a month ago.
“It’s been a really good experience so far,” Johnson said. “I really enjoy the people.”
The custodians all agreed they enjoy each other’s company. Worke said they get along well together and have a lot of fun. Johnson added they work really well as a team and said the teamwork is amazing when they have to pull things together quickly.
Principal Al Root said much the same. He said he likes their humor and interaction with the staff and students. He also said they bring fun to the building while going out of their way to do the best they can for our school.
“Custodians are a vital part of our staff at ALHS,” Root said. He also said that he’s been in many schools and he would rate ALHS as one of the best, which is due to the custodial staff.
“A lot of them [students] don’t know what goes into taking care of the school,” Worke said. “There are a large percentage of kids who don’t take care of the school.”
The custodians agreed the level of cleanliness among students has gone down this year.
“It’s not our custodians’ job to pick up after students,” Root said. “It’s a collaborative effort between teachers, students and custodians.”
The custodians said it is a lot of work to keep the school going. They work 12 months out of the year as well. They don’t get a summer break like the students do. They work straight through the summer and their holiday breaks aren’t as long as the students’ either.
Along with all of their work the custodians manage to find free time to do things they enjoy. Hamberg said he plays baseball with his grandson, was once on a dart league, and commander of the VFW.
“I’m involved in a lot of clubs,” Hamberg said.
Worke said he is a karaoke singer and really enjoys it.
“I live for karaoke,” Worke said with a laugh.
There is one thing all custodians agreed they like to do, however.
“Everybody likes to pick on Fish[er],” Johnson said teasingly, while Fisher laughs along.
Though they did admit Fisher is great company on long nights at work.
“Fish[er] is our main man,” Worke said. “He keeps the night going.”
All custodians agreed the best part about working at ALHS is the students and staff. Worke said he enjoys being around the kids. Hamberg concurred.
“The people here are very good,” Hamberg said. “The kids keep us going.”
Root said we have a great custodial staff and it would be hard to function without them.
“Without the custodians, our building would not be in the condition it is in today,” Root said.
So if you ever find yourself in a bind at school, even at night, there will always be a custodian there ready and willing to help, whatever the problem may be.