In the face of ongoing budget cuts within the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD), custodians are bracing for the impact on their workloads and livelihoods. With the district looking to trim staffing in various departments, custodians like Roberto Manrique, head custodian at California High School, and another anonymous custodian from Windemere, are already anticipating the challenges ahead. The cuts not only affect the custodial staff but also impact the students and the overall school environment, highlighting the essential role these workers play in maintaining clean and safe schools.
The Changing Landscape for Custodians
Roberto Manrique, who has been with the district for years, is no stranger to the consequences of budget cuts. “Every time the district cuts custodians, they cut custodians from high schools,” Roberto explained. This pattern has led him to expect that cuts will hit his team as well. “I’m not expecting anything new from this,” he added, acknowledging the inevitability of the situation. In his experience, a reduction in custodial staff at the high school level means that remaining workers are expected to do more with less. While he believes that one less custodian can be managed, he hopes the cuts won’t exceed that. “I hope that no more than one or two custodians are cut, because that will be really hard on us,” Roberto shared.
At Windemere, another custodian voiced similar concerns. With only five custodians handling a large campus, losing even one would make the workload significantly harder. “One cut would mean a significant increase. That’s a lot,” the custodian said, explaining that they already struggle with the current staff structure. While some custodians have been moved to other sites due to retirements and vacancies, the lack of new hires to replace these positions is a looming issue. “They won’t hire back to replace them,” he noted.
The Workload and its Effects
For custodians, budget cuts don’t just mean fewer hands to handle the workload; it also means less time to complete essential tasks. Roberto mentioned that with fewer custodians, it becomes more difficult to manage the projects they would typically do during non-school days, such as maintenance and repairs. “If I don’t have those two days to do projects, I will have to find another time,” he explained. “School will be ready for any school day, but we’ll have to adjust.”
The loss of working hours is particularly concerning. According to Roberto, hours are being cut, meaning custodians will have less time to do their jobs. “We are losing money, and that affects our families,” he said, stressing how these cuts create financial strain on workers who depend on their full-time wages to support their households.
At Windemere, the custodian expressed concern about the physical toll of the job when cuts are made. “If we spread more out and do more work, it’s going to be harder. The site remains the same size, but now we have to manage it with fewer people,” he said, highlighting the challenge of maintaining a large school campus with a shrinking team.
Union Support and Negotiation
Both custodians are part of unions that provide support in times of job uncertainty. Roberto, while hopeful, acknowledged the need for strong negotiations to protect custodial jobs. “I believe my union will make a good negotiation to save custodial positions,” he said. The anonymous custodian from Windemere also referenced the security of union membership. “Once you’re permanent, you’re part of the union. It gives us security,” he noted, explaining that seniority protects workers in cases of layoffs.
However, the custodians also understand that union negotiations can only do so much. “If we don’t make a good deal, they might strike,” Roberto said, hinting at the serious action the union might take if the situation doesn’t improve.
A Bigger Picture: School Cleanliness and Student Experience
While custodians are impacted by the cuts, the students are also affected. In addition to maintaining cleanliness, custodians play an essential role in ensuring that schools are safe and ready for all activities. Without enough staff, some routine tasks may go undone. “We do more than just clean,” Roberto explained. “We set up for events, sports, and fix minor things. We just want to make the school a nice place for teachers and students.”
At Windemere, the anonymous custodian echoed this sentiment, adding that custodians often take on small repairs, like fixing clogged drains or changing light bulbs. “We do what we can, but for major repairs, we submit a work order to the maintenance department,” he said. These tasks are critical to ensuring that the school environment remains functional, and with fewer custodians, there’s a risk that these jobs might not get done as efficiently.
Recycling and Environmental Challenges
Beyond cleaning, custodians at both schools also handle the recycling and waste management. However, as both Roberto and the Windemere custodian pointed out, students often don’t separate recyclables from trash, which makes their job harder. “Students don’t always separate their trash, so it ends up mixed. We try to do our best, but when it’s all thrown together, it’s hard to recycle properly,” the Windemere custodian explained. Roberto also pointed out that this lack of effort from students affects the overall cleanliness and sustainability efforts at the school.
Conclusion: The Hidden Costs of Budget Cuts
As budget cuts loom over SRVUSD, custodians like Roberto and the team at Windemere face uncertain times. These cuts not only affect their job security and finances but also the quality of the school environment. With fewer custodians to keep the schools clean, safe, and functional, the students will inevitably feel the impact. Whether it’s delayed repairs, less time for projects, or simply maintaining a clean campus, the role of custodians is far from secondary.
For now, custodians are doing their best to adjust and make the most out of a challenging situation. But as Roberto wisely pointed out, “We have to understand the situation, but it’s money we are losing, and it’s affecting our families.” As SRVUSD faces these difficult decisions, the district must consider the broader impact on those who keep our schools running smoothly—custodians who go above and beyond every day to make sure our schools are safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone.
Author’s Note: These interviews were fun and interesting as this was the first time I had gone out to staff from another school to try and learn about this kind of stuff. I like this article overall and I feel like the quotes and writing are very well intertwined.
