Students were hired to help fill in as custodians after school. They clean floors, windows, and empty trash cans in classrooms.
“There’s plenty of work for people to do and we didn’t have the personnel to do it,” said Assistant Principal Steve Drewlo. “We couldn’t do it, period can’t do it within the time frame that was allotted. These kids have been a true godsend for us, I mean they’re really helping us.”
Drewlo says the school added a lot of space over the past three years, but couldn’t add enough custodians to clean it all.
“We had areas that we couldn’t do and teachers would say, ‘Hey are you going to get to our area coming up here, and I’m saying we’re doing the best we can.’ We couldn’t reach all of the areas around our school.”
So school officials opened up after school jobs for 5 students to work two to four hours a day. They earn $15.30 an hour cleaning classrooms.
“It’s right after school, it’s real easy to get here, you don’t have to do anything, you’re already at work,” said senior Ivan Belousav. “My usual shift is two hours, so after two hours I get to go home, it’s pretty easy.”
It works for students who have no transportation for other after school jobs. They simply take the activities bus home when the work is done.
“It’s a good deal because I have a ride home, it’s good money, I’ve done this before,” said junior Lenny Porter.
There are no weekends, holidays, or late nights, making it a good work experience.
“Not as much anxiety as [working at] a random Cub or a random gas station because you’re already familiar with the building and the teachers and students,” said Porter.
The students chosen for this pilot project are described as motivated self starters who are helping to solve a problem. It’s a solution other schools are watching.
“Right now it’s giving us a chance to come up for air. It is solving the problem at this moment,” said Drewlo.
There’s also a sense of pride in making their school look its best, while getting paid to do it.
“It makes me feel kind of good because I’m helping out the community, I’m making everything clean, making everything look nice for my fellow students,” said Belousav.
The students are not allowed to use any kind of chemicals. Bathrooms, kitchens, and locker rooms as well as office spaces are not accessed by the student workers. They also have to be at least 16 years old.
