Staff Maintains Century-old High School, ‘Asthma-Friendly’ Status Crowns Work

WILDWOOD – It was a weekend of memories for Wildwood High School alumni as they celebrated the building’s centennial during several events that started with an Oct. 14 football game and ended with a gala the following night. 
Alumni were recognized during the football game and about 125 toured the building Oct. 15. They watched a video featuring appearances from former and current students and staff sharing memories of years spent in the high school.
About 180 people attended the gala event at the Grand Hotel, Cape May.
While room usage and courses may have changed over the years, it was evident from comments made during the tours that alumni and staff share the same pride about the building and time spent there.
More than 7,800 graduates have walked through the doors and today, “You could eat off the floors,” according to the custodial staff.
“We have good kids, although they have their moments,” custodian Jeff Clement said. He credited the current students with “taking pride in the building and therefore, treating it right. We see the kids in the building, at games or around the schools and they respect the work we do.”
Clement, on the staff for five years, also noted that often the custodial staff receives compliments from visitors, such as referees, about how the building looks.
The 10-person staff does everything from hand-stripping floors, so it can be polished “like a sheet of glass,” to replacing light bulbs, removing snow, routine cleaning, and preventative maintenance.
Using environmentally-friendly products, the building earned recognition as “asthma-friendly,” meaning its air quality and products do not trigger asthmatic attacks.
“Even the new section is 60-years-old,” noted Supervisor Pat Quinlan, whose been part of the team since 2004.
He and Francesco “Junior” Valez handle most of the electrical and plumbing work, as the team attempts to do as much work as possible in-house. Valez is the assistant supervisor and will have 14 years on the custodial staff next spring.
Two alumni, Jack Holland and Calvin Hayward, are also part of the custodial staff and neither thought they’d be back working at the school after graduation, but both are glad they are.
“The building looks pretty much the same as when I was a student here,” Holland said. He’s been on the staff five years.
Hayward agreed, noting tile has replaced the carpet in some areas since he graduated in 1983. He’s been on the staff for two years.
Another alumni, Jason Fuscellaro, with the district since 2000, thinks the building looks the “same or better” since he graduated in 1994.
He remembers using typewriters instead of computers when he was a student, and as supervisor of technology and data management, he’s faced with preparing students for life after graduation by bringing as much technology into the building as possible.
“It’s a real challenge with a 100-year-old building,” Fuscellaro said. Placement of additional electrical outlets, for example, can present challenges because of the cement walls, along with having WiFi access points so students and teachers can use present technology.
“We’re moving away from paper,” Fuscellaro said. “No matter what students do after graduation, work or college, they need basic technology skills. Our job is to make sure the students are exposed and ready for the world after graduation.”
Of the $20-million school budget, Martha Jamison, business administrator, said about $200,000 is spent on the high school building’s maintenance.
Last summer, two air conditioning units were placed with funds from the capital reserve, and 17 water fountains were replaced this summer. The district’s long-range plans include updating the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system, lighting, and boilers.
“The boilers are from the 1950s,” Quinlan noted, explaining that steam is used to heat some of the building and converted into hot water to heat the rest.
“We really try to be pro-active,” Quinlan said about his staff. “If we see something needs to be addressed, we take care of it; we don’t walk past it.”
Three custodians work at the elementary school and the others at the high school, although during the summertime, everyone pitches in to get the buildings ready for the new school year.
“We all really work together,” Quinlan added. “It’s a real team effort to keep this building looking as good as it is and operating as it should.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.