Custodial and maintenance crews at Ridgewood High School are entering the final stages of a comprehensive, district-wide campus restoration initiative this week as the school prepares for the return of students and faculty. The summer undertaking, which peaked during mid-August, involves intensive deep-cleaning, indoor reorganization, and key exterior facility upgrades across the high school grounds.
At the center of the physical plant preparations is a dedicated team of facility workers managing the logistical challenge of resetting a high-traffic secondary school. According to David Clark, manager of custodial services for the district, the process requires systematic, room-by-room coordination to ensure every square foot of the facility is sanitized and fully functional. Crews have spent the summer stripping and waxing classroom floors, deep-cleaning high-use common areas, and organizing incoming school supplies.
Inside the classrooms, the physical transition is highly coordinated. Head custodian Solenish McIntosh has been overseeing the storage and redeployment of thousands of pieces of furniture, instructional materials, and specialized art supplies that are temporarily packed away each June to allow for unobstructed maintenance. Staff members, including custodian Norman Campbell, focused on floor preservation and waxing, while others like John Wilson handled detailed sanitation in student restrooms and locker rooms.
Beyond the classrooms, the district also prioritized outdoor athletic infrastructure. Maintenance crews recently completed a comprehensive resurfacing and painting project on the Ridgewood High School tennis courts. The court renewal, which involved spreading and leveling specialized athletic court paint during dry mid-August weather, ensures the surface is in optimal, safe condition for the fall varsity tennis season and physical education classes.
For Ridgewood taxpayers, this annual maintenance push represents a critical preventive effort. Regularly sealing outdoor courts, deep-cleaning interior masonry, and protecting high-traffic flooring materials are vital steps that extend the lifespan of municipal and educational facilities, protecting the community's capital investments for years to come.