Nearly 700 apply for Ohio custodian job

PERRY TWP., Ohio —

Plant closed. Laid off.

Lack of work.

How hungry are people for work in today’s sinking economy?

Nearly 700 people have applied for a single job as a school custodian.

Perry Local Schools have an open position — full time with benefits — at Edison Junior High School after its afternoon janitor retired. It pays $15 to $16 an hour.

The job opened last Saturday, and district officials say the stack of applications continues to expand daily. So much so, the deadline to apply for the position was moved to 3:30 p.m. Monday to give potential hires more time.

Many of those who have applied say they lost their previous job due to budget cutbacks by their former employer.

“A lot of people have their stories when they come in. It’s heart-wrenching,” said Superintendent John Richard.

Hope?

Dane Steed, 51, forged blades at Heinemann Saw Co. in Canton for nearly four years until last month.

He and several co-workers were let go because of a lack of work available. He put his name in the mix for the custodian post.

“Times are bad,” the Plain Township man said.

Steed said he has previous custodial experience at a school district and hopes he can retire at Edison.

“I don’t want to be doing this again,” Steed said.

Donna Croston, 49, of Plain Township, spent nine years on the assembly line at the Hoover Co. in North Canton before it closed last winter.

Prior to Hoover, she lost another factory job because the plant shut down.

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