Do students ever wonder how Marist always stays looking good? While they are busy switching classes, in the locker rooms or in the arc, custodians are working behind the scenes keeping everything running smoothly.
For David Waterman, the head of building and operations, it’s not just about cleaning but about making life easier for Marist staff.
“In our maintenance department, we fix a lot of equipment, classrooms, for the teachers. Just kind of keep the school functioning at the highest level we can,” said Waterman. “Work tickets coming in, constantly, and we try to get to them as fast as we can.”
They are the reason students’ desks aren’t wobbly and lights aren’t flickering in the middle of a lesson.
The rewarding feeling helping around the school is what makes it all worth it to Maria Quinonez, one of the custodian staff.
“I’m cleaning. I’m doing an important service for the school, and for the staff and everyone here, and the students. That’s important,” Quinonez said.
A janitor has much responsibility when it comes to such a big school. Not only are they keeping it clean but also making it safe. They have to clean the slippery hallways every morning where students bring in the outside snow, rain and mud.
“In the winter with the salt, I always try to get to the front. That [hallway] is a little harder, because it takes more time to clean,” Quinonez said.
Timing is also a challenge.
“I have to wait for the boys to get out of the bathroom. With the girls, it’s fine ’cause I can go in there, but with the boys, I gotta wait,” Quinonez said.
The staff relies on one another for support throughout the challenges.
“It’s good to keep our team’s morale up, by keeping it light, and supporting one another when we have to,” said Waterman
The job is full of obstacles students wouldn’t expect.
“Some chemicals, you have to learn how to handle them and how not to breathe them in. You have to read the label, because chemicals are very strong, and dangerous,” Quinonez said.
At the end of the day a little bit of everything makes this job unique but the most important part is always the joy of being able to help other people.
“The love of work would be, getting to see us solve other people’s problems and make them happy. Which makes us happy,” Waterman said.
