Grounds Custodian

About the Role

Palmyra Area School District is seeking a full‑time Grounds Custodian to maintain turf fields, turf house, athletic fields, and the exteriors of all district buildings. The position is 40 hours per week with a schedule that varies based on athletic event preparation and event times. When no events are scheduled, work is primarily daytime, but the custodian must be available for evenings and weekend events as needed.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be able to provide required Pennsylvania clearances (PA Child Abuse Clearance, PA Criminal Clearance, FBI Clearance); the district pays for these.
• Ability to work independently with or without supervision.
• Positive attitude, energetic, team player, and pride in work.

Responsibilities

• Grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming, weeding, mulching, power washing, fertilizing, and lining of athletic fields.
• Maintenance of turf fields.
• Potential pool chemical testing (district will pay for certification).
• Cleaning classrooms, offices, bathrooms, hallways/stairwells, multi‑purpose rooms, windows, etc.
• Daily trash removal.
• Athletic event set‑up and tear‑down.
• Minor maintenance fixes and work orders.
• Transferring items within buildings, including lifting boxes.
• Summer cleaning as assigned.
• Snow removal as needed.

Benefits

• All required clearances paid for by the district.
• Paid vacation days and holidays.
• 10 paid sick days annually, with carry‑over if unused.
• $20,000 life insurance policy at no cost.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits with two medical plan options (PPO with $500/$1,000 deductible or High‑Deductible with $2,000/$4,000 deductible and district contributions to a Health Savings Account).
• Paid waiver available if benefits are not needed.
• District pays full cost of tuition and reasonable expenses for courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, or in‑service training (up to $1,200 per year).
• Pension through the Pennsylvania School Employee Retirement System (PSERS).
• Eligibility to participate in 403(b) and Roth 403(b) retirement programs.

Pay

Hourly rate: $16.49 – $19.79, depending upon experience.

Schedule

Full‑time, 40 hours per week. Weekly schedule may be adjusted to accommodate evening and weekend events for turf fields. If no events are scheduled, work is primarily daytime, but availability for evenings and weekends is required. Paid holidays are observed; work on a paid holiday is compensated at time and a half. Overtime hours are available.