Being a high school with a considerable student body, Arcata High can be a challenging place to operate and continue functioning. But luckily the school has a quality custodial team to keep it running smoothly. 

A lot of people might not notice it, but the custodial team is always hard at work in the background doing their best to maintain a pristine campus. This includes general sanitation (bathrooms, classrooms, and various messes), groundskeeping, maintenance work, and many other things. But while it may be a busy job, that doesn’t mean it’s particularly bad at all. 

“It’s the people, seeing everyone every day,” Jim Hogan said on what the best part of his job is. 

While nothing is especially easy, one aspect of the job remains more formidable than most others; dealing with the school bathrooms.

“There’s messes that don’t need to be there, especially the deliberate stuff, that’s irritating…disturbing almost,” Hogan said. 

It’s not incredibly hard to behave like a normal person most of the time, but for some students that seems to be the case. On a related note, the paper towel dispenser in the boys’ bathroom by the front office had reportedly been ripped off the wall and put in the sink on Tuesday. The custodial team shouldn’t have to deal with things like that, but they still do, which is very admirable.

Something that Hogan is particularly happy with is the new recycling program this year, perpetrated by the Go Green club here on campus. 

“Now that recycling is going, there’s less trash going into the dumpster, and it’s been much needed,” Hogan explained. 

In the world of custodianship there are constant developments and the action never stops, which is what keeps it exciting.

“It’s fun, there’s never two days the same, so it stays interesting, but the people are the best part,” Hogan concluded.

 If you happen to see the custodial team on campus, be sure to say hello and maybe thank them for what they do because they certainly deserve it!