Alveena Nadeem
Editor
As quick as the coronavirus’s spread, Dyersburg High School’s Custodial Staff filled the school with napkin rolls, hand sanitizers and disinfectant sprays. Without a vaccine, cleaning is one of the only weapons to fight the pandemic. But the custodians do more than just refilling Germ-X bottles. The staff’s work when students and faculty go home ensures that everyone can return the next day.
“We [always] sweep, dust and mop. We wipe down each desk. And now, we do extra: we spray door handles and basically the entire room. We keep up with the soap and extra sanitizer. In the classrooms, the bathrooms--it takes more time to do all those extra steps,” Head Custodian Lance Estes said.
The Custodial Staff’s war to protect the Trojans against COVID-19 has many battles. And sometimes, the coronavirus wins. A student gets sick. The staff reacts immediately.
“This is a list of 10 different classrooms that need to be fogged by tonight. It was just brought in a minute ago. If there was a child in [a classroom] who was [exposed or infected], we use a fogger that blows a disinfectant into the air. It’ll cover everything in the classroom. It’s the same thing hospitals use,” Estes said.
Despite these efforts, the coronavirus does not retreat. It does not rest. It does not hide. The custodians must work nonstop.
“There have been times we stayed till three o’clock in the morning cleaning up. We have no slack time,” Lance said.
But the Custodial Staff has a key advantage against the virus: students and teachers. No matter how small, each action to prevent the virus is another victory for the staff.
“I think teachers are even helping more than before. They keep sanitizers, rolls of toilet paper, and disinfectant sprays in their classrooms. They wipe down the desks too. Little things like that--they help,” Estes said.
Young age does not blind students from the reality of this war. This year, the custodians have noticed new efforts to help keep the school clean and push for a coronavirus-free world.
“I think students understand that it’s a different world now. I don’t notice trash in the hallways as much anymore. I noticed that the floors are still really nice--even in the Commons. Even five weeks into the school year. We appreciate all the help we can get--especially during the games. Make sure you throw your trash away. That helps us the most,” Estes said.
As new policies roll into the school, custodian Jason Patton reminds students of the purpose behind all these changes: the reason behind every table wipe, Lysol spray and sanitizer squeeze.
“Everybody, be safe,” Patton said. “That is the main thing.”
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