Janitor job draws hundreds of applicants

CANTON, Ohio, March 7 (UPI) -- One of the hottest jobs in one Ohio community is a position as a school janitor, officials say, noting nearly 700 people have applied for the position.

The job in Canton, Ohio, pays $15 to $16 an hour plus full benefits, the Canton (Ohio) Repository reported Saturday.

The job at Perry Local Schools' Edison Junior High School opened after its janitor retired.

The newspaper said many applicants say they lost their previous job due to cutbacks by their former employer.

"A lot of people have their stories when they come in. It's heart-wrenching," said Superintendent John Richard.

Donna Croston, 49, of Plain Township was one of the applicants. She said she spent nine years on the assembly line at the Hoover Co. in North Canton before it closed last winter.

Croston said the job at Edison represents for her more than a paycheck.

"There's a lot of people out there like me that are looking for stability," Croston was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Barry Mason, business manager for Perry Local schools, said he will narrow the field to 30 to 50 applicants for an interview.