CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Custodians play a vital role in ensuring schools will reopen safely in a few weeks, but one custodian who has been working throughout the pandemic is concerned.

Brandon Brown is a custodian at Cochrane Collegiate Academy. He, and many other custodians, have been hard at work over the summer.

“Teachers are there now, doing remote learning from their classrooms. So we are constantly cleaning up and sanitizing,” Brown said.

But Brown is concerned that soon they’ll be even busier. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools recently announced a new plan to reopen on October 12 to elementary students. The plan would divide the students into two groups. Each group would learn in the classroom twice a week.

“When school starts we will be wiping down desks and tables, wherever the kids touch,” Brown said.

Brown is concerned there isn’t enough custodians to keep up and properly sanitize. He also thinks custodians should get more PPE — like uniforms to help curve the spread.

“A lot of custodians have ideas, but a lot of them are intimidated by because they feel they might lose their job,” Brown said. “If we’re intimated and we don’t speak up how do we expect people to treat us?”

While Brown has some nerves regarding the risk of exposure he says there’s a great sense of pride with the role he’s tasked with. However, he’s calling on the district to do a better job of keeping them safe and he’s calling on other custodians to speak up.

School leaders say by the time schools reopen, safety improvements will be in place to protect students and staff members. Some new guidelines include enforcing social distancing, mask wearing, and increasing air flow throughout the buildings.