Position Overview

The Custodian RW-5 performs a variety of general maintenance work and custodial tasks in a school in order to ensure that the school is maintained in a healthy, orderly, safe, and sanitary manner. The Custodian RW-5 is on 24-hour duty with responsibility for Level I Maintenance (general/preventive maintenance) and cleanliness within the school. The Custodian RW-5 also is responsible for opening and closing the school, by unlocking all designated entrances at the specified time and by closing the school by locking the entrances at the designated closing time. Prior to closing the building, the Custodian is required to ensure that there are no personnel or students in the building, turn off all lights, lock all doors, and ensure that all entrances are properly secured. Additionally, the Custodian is responsible or liaising with Security, setting the security alarm, exiting the building, and calling Security to confirm security alarm set. This position is a safety-sensitive position. This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.

The Custodian RW-5 will report to the Principal.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

General maintenance duties include the following:

Electrical

Makes minor repairs related to low voltage electrical system, machinery, and equipment.
Assists the supervisor or another worker as a team with replacing electrical switches, receptacles, ballasts, and light bulbs/tubes.

Painting

Preps new surfaces for painting by ensuring the smoothness of the surfaces, utilizing primer when needed.
Paints all types of interior and exterior surfaces with brushes, rollers, sprayers, etc.
Under instruction of supervisor, who ensures that surfaces are level, receives specific instruction on choosing the best instrument or painting tool to use; selecting the proper type of interior and exterior paints to use in accordance with the intended purpose and color requirement; and removing old paint prior to repainting surfaces when necessary.

Carpentry

Assists or makes minor repairs to counters, floor tiles, stairs, castings, window frames, cabinet doors, shelves, and various other minimal carpentry repairs.

Ground maintenance and general cleaning responsibilities include the following:

Ground Maintenance

Rakes and removes leaves, removes snow and ice (utilizing a shovel and/or snow blower), and uses ice melting agents to melt or remove ice from walkways, steps, driveways, etc.

General Cleaning

Is on 24-hour duty with responsibility for performing Level I Maintenance repairs.
Opens the school, by unlocking all designated entrances at the specified time.
Closes the school by locking the entrances at the designated closing time; prior to closing the building, ensures that there are no personnel or students in the building, turns off all lights, locks all doors, and ensures that all entrances are properly secured; and liaises with Security, setting the security alarm, exiting the building, and calling Security to confirm security alarm set.
Collects and disposes of all accumulated trash (picks up trash, and empties trash cans and other trash receptacles) and bags trash for pick-up.
Sweeps (classrooms, hallways, stairwells, multi-purpose rooms, cafeterias, etc.), mops, buffs, burnishes, strips, and waxes floors.
Scrubs walls.
Maintains the cleanliness of restrooms at all times; and reports leaks and non-working sinks, commodes, and urinals.
Performs routine cleaning of classrooms and offices.
Removes indelible ink and stains by using strong cleaning solutions or by spot painting where necessary.
Shampoos and spot clean carpets.
Washes windows.
Dust lockers, desks, ledges, chairs, stair railings, etc.
Performs daily checks and inspects the building and grounds for cleanliness, state of repair, work accomplishments, theft, and vandalism, and reports on findings.
Frequently checks all areas for proper operations of vents, radiators, and thermostats for schools receiving heat and hot water from outside sources (may require removing trash and other debris from ducts, vents, and other heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment); and informs the supervisor of inadequate conditions of cooling, heating, and hot water equipment.
Maintains the gymnasium by keeping it clean, which consists of sweeping, scrubbing, waxing, and buffing floors.
Works with teachers and other faculty members in arranging furniture in offices and classrooms, etc.; and informs supervisor if there are requests for making arrangements to move large, heavy equipment from one location to another (may include laboratory and shop equipment, desks, tables, chairs, files, audiovisual materials, projectors, screens, televisions, speakers, film cases, books, supplies, stage set-ups, microphones, speakers for scheduled activities/events, and removal of milk containers from school that have milk programs).
Performs or assists with converting all-purpose rooms when being used as cafeterias, playrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, etc.; and folds and stores tables.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of 2 years’ of work experience is required.
Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector is a plus.
Computer literate preferred.
Knowledge of how to utilize, and properly maintain, custodial equipment safely.
Ability to follow written instructions.
Ability to follow oral instructions.

Abilities in the following areas:

Electrical

Ability to perform minimal/limited electrical work.

Painting

Ability to learn how to prepare standard surfaces and coating methods and techniques, e.g., removing such things as rust, dirt, and old paint from surfaces so that coating materials will adhere properly.
Ability to sand; use a wire brush, scrapers, spackle, and putty surfaces; and brush out, roll on, and spray coating of materials.
Ability to read and follow oral directions that explain, for example, how to apply and use prepared solvents and thin and stir coating materials, and use tools and equipment such as scrapers, wire brushes, putty knives, sandpaper, paintbrushes, rollers, and spray guns.

Carpentry

Ability to utilize woodworking techniques, such as basic shop mathematics and measuring tapes, squares, levels, and other carpentry tools to lay out, measure, cut, construct, and install materials according to dimensional requirements and specifications.
Ability to operate a variety of hand and power tools such as hammers, hand saws, drill planes, routers, screwdrivers, power nailers and fasteners, glues guns, metal shears, screw guns, power saws, and power sanders and planes.

Custodian

Ability to perform all cleaning duties independently and without instruction.
Knowledge of the proper uses of a variety of special cleaning and sanitizing solutions.
Ability to clean and make adjustments to powered cleaning equipment.
Ability to use ordinary cleaning tools such as brooms, mops, buffers, waxers, sanders, etc.

Physical Efforts

The work involves a wide range of grounds and housekeeping and general maintenance functions for schools and facilities, which involves moving heavy equipment/furnishings, climbing ladders, bending, stooping, and standing for long periods.
Good hand and eye coordination is required and the Incumbent must be physically fit to carry out assignments.
Frequently, the Incumbent will be required to lift and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally, with the assistance of special equipment and/or other workers, up to 90 pounds when handling tiles, sand, brick, and cement.

Working Conditions

Building and general maintenance work normally is performed indoors and grounds maintenance is performed outside during all four seasons in all types of weather.
Based on the assignment, the Incumbent is confronted with a variety of conditions, such as extreme heat and cold.
Also, the Incumbent is subject to receive abrasions, cuts, splinters, bruises, strains, and burns, to fall off ladders, and/or to inhale fumes when exposed to strong cleaning chemicals.

DCPS Values

STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing ineffective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

District of Columbia Public Schools

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Custodian RW-5