Remember that custodian that I filed a complaint abaout?

[jan/cape]

In October I complained about a custodian that makes me very uncomfortable around kids. I complained that he was sitting with students at lunch (kindergarteners and a boy that was sitting at a table by himself for discipline reasons.) This man just gives me an uneasy feeling around kids.

Part of the reply I got after he was spoken to was.......

1. Mr.* will curb his presence in the cafeteria aside from his usual custodial duties in that area.
2.Mr.* will no longer sit with students in the cafeteria or interrupt the discipline process of a student or students that another staff member is handling.
3. Mr.* will primarily have lunch in the staff dining area.
4. Mr.* may have lunch in the cafeteria, but will do so at the senior citizen table or with other adults.
5.Under the ' Bullying Program', Mr.* may adress and report misbehavior as all staff can under this program.
6. Mr. *'s interactions with students need not cease, but it has been recommended to Mr. * that his conversation with students MAINLY center around school safety and care of property.

Part of Mr. *'s response to my voicing concerns was"....He also states that his interaction with children has always been in the open, amongst adults and therefore does not feel it creates an uncomfortable situation. UHG!!!

Well, Friday I had to stay behind in the Kindergarten classroom as one of the students was not having a terrific morning. (I have to go to all of the specialists with the Kindergarten). Well, the teacher walked the kids to the gym and when she returned to the classroom I headed for the gym. When I walked into the gym this custodian was running laps with them. I didn't say anything and I tried my darnedest to ignore him, but I was wild!!
I later went right back to the assistant principal told him about the gym insident and asked him what part of the above did Mr. * not understand?

The A.P. said could this be bordering on harassment? I said I am not accusing Mr. * of anything, but if I did not say anything and God forbid something awful happened I would be sick.
The A.P. went on to say that this custodian has been saying how terribly busy they are and just can't get to everything and that they are 'staight out'. So he shouldn't have any time to run laps in the gym with kids.

This custodian just makes me CRAZY/ANGRY!!!!!

 

[annemariec]

Oh my gosh. I do remember!

It's just getting wierder, jan/cape. I would watch him like a hawk.

What did the A.P. say he/she would do about it this time??

Annemarie

 

[jan/cape]

Annemarie, One of the secretaries told me that the A.P. spoke to him again that same afternoon.
The custodian makes me nuts because after the first complaint I made.............he does occasionally sit at the senior citizen lunch table in the caf. but he sits facing the kids and does not have any conversation with the seniors. He has at times placed himself in the hall to do 'hall/bus duty' at the end of the day. and I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO give the' hall all clear' wave. I stand there until another staff member looks for the all clear.
I do not harass this man I just refuse to acknowlege him,and I do not report his every move, but this past event was just over the top after what he was spoken to about.

 

[Kermit]

That is just plain creepy, especially with all the stuff you've said before. The guy could just be a nice guy who enjoys kids, but if he has half a brain, he would see that what he's doing is just begging for trouble in today's society.

 

[Krisu]

I still find it odd that he has so much free time for stuff like that! Do you think there is more to the story about why he is even there? How long has he been there?

 

[annemariec]

There's something not quite right about his approach towards the kids (as you describe). And towards you. If he knows how you feel about his antics and does them anyway it seems like he's trying to get to you.

*Edited for OOps. Wasn't done...

Didn't you mention he had a "history" of bothering other teachers? I can't remember what he did.

Annemarie

 

[DaisyDebbie]

Jan, I was thinking about you the other day and today. I work in the office of an elementary school. We have a security guard at a desk when you first enter the building. Our regular man is in the hospital with pneumonia. We've had a number of replacements, but one in particular sounds just like this custodian. I found him talking with a child that was sitting on the bench waiting for the A.P. to come talk to him because he was in trouble. This security guard was telling him he should apologize, etc. I went and got the principal and told her I felt this was not appropriate.

Today he was high fiving the kids as they walked by his desk and wandering around the halls. Then right before dismissal he vanished from his post. The prinicipal called his supervisor to ask where he went.

Sounds like you're guy doesn't want to work that much and want to be a kid again Unbelievable!

 

[jan/cape]

Ya know Annemarie, this guy actually thinks that he is our little gift.
About 1 week after I originally filed the complaint he was standing behind the office counter greeting people/parents as they came into the office. They were just there to see one of the secretaries for one reason or another. He was NOT doing any kind of custodial duties! This guy thinks he is Mr. Happy and he thinks that everyone is just wild about him. He is just so full of himself.
The A.P. also spoke to him about being in everyones business. The assistant supt. complained that he is always in her office. Another person at work filed an in house sexual harassment form on him. And the A.P. secretary has been complaining to him about the custodian.
I just do not understand why he is still employed there?/
Are they waiting for something horrible to happen? God forbid and it may never come to that, but come on already!
But I will keep on watching

 

[jan/cape]

Ya know Annemarie, this guy actually thinks that he is our little gift.
About 1 week after I originally filed the complaint he was standing behind the office counter greeting people/parents as they came into the office. They were just there to see one of the secretaries for one reason or another. He was NOT doing any kind of custodial duties! This guy thinks he is Mr. Happy and he thinks that everyone is just wild about him. He is just so full of himself.
The A.P. also spoke to him about being in everyones business. The assistant supt. complained that he is always in her office. Another person at work filed an in house sexual harassment form on him. And the A.P. secretary has been complaining to him about the custodian.
I just do not understand why he is still employed there?/
Are they waiting for something horrible to happen? God forbid and it may never come to that, but come on already!
But I will keep on watching

 

[jan/cape]

DaisyDebbie, this guy also walks around high fiving the students. I think he is overstepping his boundry. If he was teaching assistant or had another para or teaching position the contact probably wouldn't raise my Ire as much because he would work with the students. But in his role as a custodian the contact he makes seems way out of line.

Our principal doesn't seem concerned,(he kisses right up to her.He is like a little leach and attatches to who ever seems important in the school to himm. He wants to be a "big dog") she said it is the first time we have had a custodian quite like him. No other custodian chooses to have lunch in the caf. or the staff dining room. I certainly wouldn't mind if they ate in the staff dining room, but at the lunch table wirh 5 and 9 year olds id very different.

 

[Serena]

I imagine the principals' hands are tied until he actually does something. I hope he never does.

 

[JasonLyons]

he has a very unusual name

 

[Wishing on a star]

With all of the complaints... which are not being addressed by the principle.... If nothing happens to resolve the situation soon, then I think it will be time to request action from the school district Superintendant, School Board, etc...

In cases like this, the School is probably required to follow protocol, ie: the written notice you mention, asking this freak to correct his behavior. Followed by a second notice, then followed by temporary suspension, etc... etc.... ad-nauseum. So, that may actually be the very first step in the right direction. Kind of puts you in a 'wait and see' situation for now. Ugghhh!!!!

Keep your eyes on this guy!
And remember, any concerned parent, or teacher, or whoever does have the right to address the School District Superintendant, and/or the School Board!

 

[jan/cape]

Jason, You made me laugh , but Mr. * is better than what I really want to call him.

Wishing on a Star, Time will tell, won't it?

 

[annemariec]

Jan,

I agree with Wishing on a star about the protocol.

But what in the world happened with the sexual harrassment charge? And all of the other complaints?? Do they just get filed away after warnings?? That's a lot of complaints!! He's been "talked to" a lot too.

Looks like protocol would be stepped up a few notches with varied complaints from different staff members and a serious charge of sexual harrassment.

Didn't he know how you felt about his behavior and interacting with students? And yet as soon as he saw an opportunity he chose your class to run laps with?? I would be livid.

If it happens again or something similar with your class --- I would tell him in no uncertain terms, you don't want him participating in your student's class activities.

Document, document, document.

Annemarie

 

[Blondie]

Well, I'll go against popular opinion here and say that maybe this poor guy as no life outside of the school.

Maybe during the school day, that is the only time he is around anyone. He obviously wants to feel liked and needed.

I would hate to see this guy tar and feathered for something that he isn't guilty of. Has anyone seen him act inappropriately around the children? I don't think that running laps w/the kids or high-fiving them constitutes as molestation.

Maybe he just needs to be reminded that he is there as a custodian, not as a mentor or teacher's aide, and if he can't follow his job description he needs to find another job.

Don't your schools require a criminal background check before hiring?

You said:

Another person at work filed an in house sexual harassment form on him.

He should've been placed on probation/suspension until the complaints against him could be investigated. If he is still there it is the school system's fault if something happens.

 

[bumcat]

jan/cape - Do you have a police officer friend or family member? If so I would get his license plates or if you know his full name and birth date they could run a check on him. You never know what might pop up on his records.
This guy is just too weird and usually your "gut" feeling is right most of the time.
My daughter became friends with one of the lady custodians some yrs ago they even exchanged pictures but she never went out of her way to do things with the kids!!!

 

[marlasmom]

Blondie - I think you are absolutely right. The filing of a complaint does make him guilty. Further was there not a teacher present when the kids were running laps. If so, and the teacher found nothing to complain about, why the concern? If no teacher was present, then the custodian was doing a good thing in keeping the kids occupied.

 

[Blondie]

Marla, I hadn't thought about leaving the kids unattended in the gym!

If one of the kids gets hurts, guess who is going to be sued? The teacher that left the kids in there unattended!

I don't know.....it almost sounds like this guy is being railroaded and discriminated against for some reason. I hate it when people at the hospital talk down to our housekeepers. They are some of the hardest working people up there, but becasue they work for a little more than minimum wage and wear housekeeping attire, they are looked down upon as the "lowly cleaners."

I surely hope that he is not the pedophile/sex crazed person he is being made out to be.

 

[Cindy B]

Remember a complaint of sexual harassment, does not constitute guilty. I remember working with a manager when a complaint of sexual harassment was filed. He did not "touch" anyone, he just had a filthy mouth, and off color jokes which were well, nasty and demeaning.

I'm with Blondie on this one. This guy could just be friendly. Or maybe he misses his own kids

I'm assuming he is older as well, maybe he doesn't see what he is doing is wrong in some peoples opinion. We've had friendly bus drivers/custodians before where we used to live, and its fine.