Got Passion?

This year's winners of the Leadership Award
*John Cavallaro, Custodian - Jefferson ES
*Christopher Pacio - Head Custodian SHS

Recently I had the honor of addressing the district custodial maintenance team at the Annual Custodial Maintenance Kick Off Meeting for the 2012-2013 School Year.  With summer approaching, this the official start of the school year for district lead projects and initiatives aimed at achieving our goal of  'Providing an Environment that is Conducive to Learning'.

This goal while simple in terms is only acheivable through a shared vision that encompases environments well beyond the classroom itself as we survey the district's need in the area of facilities and grounds.  The men and women of the Summit Public Schools custodial maintenance team clearly demonstrate the value add that they bring to the district year round.  This ROI is critical in measuring the outcomes that provide the district with buildings that remain in a high state of readiness to foster better learning environments for student achievement.

Results like these are not possible in an outsourced setting as the accomplishments go unmatched in a system that calls for basic cleaning functions from privitized firms that often fall short of the extra efforts needed to be truly successful.  The catalyst is PASSION!  These individuals have what it takes to go beyond the basics of janitorial duties and instead exhibit the spirit, knowledge and determination to act as custodians; care takers of the facilities.

At a time when budgetary dollars are stretched and all aspects of the operations are continuosly evaluated for cost benefit, the value add remains the primary reason continuation and continued success.  In summary, "We are in the Business of Education!"  And these men and women continue to play a vital role in the delivery of instruction.