Custodian

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve.

We invest in our employees both at work and beyond. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, employees receive access to an Employee Assistance Program with wellness resources, two hours of paid wellness time each month, and eight hours of paid volunteer time each calendar year to support causes that matter to them. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and focus on work-life balance.

The DPI Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) in the Division of Access and Opportunity is currently seeking applicants for a full-time, year-round Custodian position (1.0 full-time equivalency). The WSD provides educational services for deaf and hard of hearing students ages three to twenty-one.

As our Custodian, you aren’t just cleaning buildings – you are creating a safe, welcoming, and pristine environment where our community of staff and students can thrive. If you take pride in your work, love seeing the instant results of a job well done, and want a stable role where your efforts are genuinely appreciated, please apply today. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is manual work generally of a heavy physical nature in the cleaning and maintenance of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) buildings and grounds. Under the direction of the Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, the Custodian will maintain and clean assigned school facilities. WSD is a residential school which operates twenty-four hours a day, five days a week, as well as special events occasionally on weekends, with students attending classes approximately 10 months a year. In addition, summer school sessions are offered.

In this role, you will:

• Clean and sanitize facilities, including washrooms, shower rooms, special rooms, classrooms, offices and hallways using proper equipment and techniques.
• Protect and preserve floor surfaces to maintain appropriate appearance and cleanliness, using power equipment, lifting and moving heavy objects when needed.
• Maintain cleaning equipment and supplies to preserve and prepare for future use, following safety rules.
• Complete necessary training, follow operating procedures and safety rules, and perform other tasks as assigned.

Starting salary will be $18.72 per hour (approximately $38,937 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 03, range 08. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position is eligible for a $0.80 per hour night differential for hours worked between 6:00pm and 6:00am, and a $0.80 per hour weekend differential for hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours that fall during both periods are eligible for both differentials.

Employees in this position may be eligible for a $1.00 per hour add-on for fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), contingent upon achieving an ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating of 2 or higher.

Check out the excellent benefits this position offers on the Employee Trust Fund’s information page. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Special Requirements: This position has physical requirements which include but are not limited to lifting up to 40 pounds, twisting, bending, climbing, reaching and pulling.

Schedule Details: This is a full-time, year-round position. This position works Monday through Friday with a start time between 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and an end time between 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a 30-minute lunch break. A standardized schedule will be discussed at the time of the job offer. The work schedule may occasionally vary a few times per year to accommodate operational needs.

Remote Work: This position is not eligible for remote work and requires the employee to be onsite at their headquarters on the WI School for the Deaf campus in Delavan, WI, during all regular working hours.

Travel: This position does not require regular travel.

Headquarters: The position is headquartered at the WI School for the Deaf campus located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Pre-hire requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A tuberculosis screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

A minimally qualified applicant must have experience with all the following:

• Performing cleaning duties.
• Following instructions/standard operating procedures.
• Using safety practices (e.g., using proper lifting techniques, following chemical safety guidelines, etc.).

For this position, please submit an updated resume and respond to the application questions. Review our Application Tips page on the DPI website for additional guidance.

Application materials will be evaluated, and qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the job posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter Maria Butters at Maria.Butters@dpi.wi.gov.

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met. Applications will next be reviewed after November 15, 2026.