Cleanliness takes on new dimension for head custodian during pandemic

The sun is not yet up most mornings when Judd Nyberg arrives for work at Glacier High School.

With most students and teachers still making their way to the school, Nyberg begins his busy work day unlocking the doors and filling the numerous disinfectant bottles located in classrooms and throughout the school. His job as head custodian might not be a position glorified by many, but Nyberg takes great pride in his work and takes very seriously his responsibility to help keep the school’s nearly 1,400 students as well as teachers and staff healthy and safe.

“People don’t generally become custodians out of a sheer love of cleaning, but what started out as just a job for me has really turned into something I truly love to do,” Nyberg said. “It is more important than ever to make sure that everything is as clean and germ-free as possible, and I do my best every day to keep everyone safe.”

In charge of a staff of five, Nyberg is the only member of the custodial staff who spends his work hours cleaning the school during the day, when students and staff are present. Along with his usual duties of cleaning up after lunch, the occasional spill and sometimes after a student has been sick, Nyberg now uses an electrostatic sprayer to make sure all of the surfaces in the common areas of the school are disinfected at all times.

“We are dedicating a lot more time to disinfecting, not only myself but also the staff that I have working here at night. All of the surfaces in the school have to be disinfected daily,” he said. “I work the same amount of time, but the focus of my effort is a bit different from what it used to be. We really want to do everything we can to make sure the students and staff are as safe as possible.”

A GRADUATE of Flathead High School, Nyberg took a custodial job with his alma mater in 2004 and was there to help take the plastic wrapping off all the new furniture and equipment when Glacier High School was completed in April 2007. Nyberg was moved to the new school in June of that year and has been caring for it ever since.

For Nyberg, the job is a way to be himself while doing what he loves best — helping people.

“I’m a pretty quiet individual most of the time, but at work I am able to be in a comfortable environment where I can be more outgoing. Interacting with the staff and the students helps me feel young and makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than just myself,” he said. “Doing the same thing over and over has got to be the hardest part of the job. It sounds weird, but I do like it when there is something different that I have to deal with, even if it is a spill or something worse. Besides, I really do like being able to help people and I really do appreciate my job every day.”

Along with his custodial duties, Nyberg also enjoys spending time volunteering as a chaperone for the special education program and Special Olympics, something he has been doing for nearly a decade, helping out with basketball, bocce and track and field.

While Nyberg spends most of his time behind the scenes, he is just glad to be able to contribute to keeping Glacier High School in any way possible.

“I just like to help wherever I can throughout each day,” he said.

Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at 758-4446 or jweber@dailyinterlake.com.