October 2nd, 2024 was National Custodian Appreciation Day. In recognition of that day, we decided to check in with longtime custodian John David "Dutch" Van Schoick, who has had a lengthy career with the District.
When school started for the year in 1978, “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees was set to be the year’s #1 song, the musical “Grease” was firmly the top choice of moviegoers that summer, and Trapper Keepers were the hottest new addition to school supply shopping.
Since then, much has changed across town and across the globe. People have come and gone. Cultural interests have grown and then waned as others took their place. Technology has evolved in the blink of an eye. But there is comfort that some things have remained with us across eras. Take Camden Elementary School custodian John David “Dutch” Van Schoick, for example.
While the youngsters of the day were rocking out to the dulcet tones of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, “Dutch” came to work at the Camden Central School District for the first time. Not that he was new here, of course. A 1971 graduate of Camden High School, he was a talented multi-sport athlete for the Blue Devils in basketball and baseball, and was a Tri-Valley League All-Star in the former.
An enduring sense of humor also emerged. In his senior yearbook class will, he quipped “I leave my name to this school for future biological study and research.” Unbeknownst to him at the time, he was going to give back a lot more than a quick-witted one-liner to Camden schools in the future.
After High School, Dutch attended MVCC and went on to work for the Village of Camden, and for the Rite Aid warehouse in Rome. Over time, he knew something better for his long-term future was out there somewhere. His uncle worked on the District’s facilities team, and after hearing more about the work, Dutch applied for a job with his encouragement. He did whatever he could to stand out throughout the hiring process with Superintendent of Grounds Bob Buell.
“I bugged the heck out of him,” Dutch said. “....I used to go to his house two times a week and knock on his door.”
And with that, his professional journey began where his student journey ended: at Camden High School. Dutch spent the next 19 years at CHS, mainly working the 3:30 to 11:00 shift. That time after school hours allowed him to get to know countless students and staff through their activities outside of classes. In 1993, the senior class surprised him by dedicating the yearbook in his honor.
“He keeps good relations with the students, co-workers, and administrators at Camden High,” they wrote. “Dutch is a sincere and caring person. He truly cares about the students at CHS.”
As the decade progressed, the opportunity for advancement and a change of scenery came up. Due to a colleague’s illness, he spent a summer filling in at Camden Elementary as the supervisor for summer cleaning, and that caught the eye of Superintendent of Grounds Alan Palmer. When a permanent vacancy arose at CES, Dutch became the man for the job, and he’s been there ever since.
One doesn’t stay in a role as long as he has without loving the work, and that sense of pride in a job well-done is what keeps Dutch coming to work each day.
“I think over time, my favorite part is knowing that the job gets done,” he said. “These kids and teachers come in every day and they have to have that clean environment to learn in. If I don’t get any complaints, we’re doing our job.”
A commitment to the task at hand is something he’s come to know since childhood as the son of a typesetter. His father worked long hours at the Camden Advance Journal, the forerunner to the paper now known as the Queen Central News, and that became his example to follow.
“I watched him work hard and long hours doing that stuff, and I think it taught me to be dedicated to what I do,” he said.
That’s not to say that he doesn’t find ways to have fun. Dutch has become an avid toy collector specializing in PEZ Candy Dispensers and Hot Wheels diecast cars, and it’s a common sight to see one of the front display cases loaded with PEZ dispensers for all in the CES community to admire and enjoy. By his estimation, he owns thousands of dispensers, including the ones his son collected growing up. He also enjoys being a grandfather, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Browns. 
In the present day, he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down as he approaches the start of a 47th year of service. He has some goals to chase yet, and is also proud to call Camden his home.
“I moved away and lived in Rome for awhile and bounced around here and there when I was younger, but Camden has always felt like that solid place to be,” he said. “I loved growing up in Camden when I was a kid, and i’m glad my son got to grow up here. It’s a nice and safe community. I always felt comfortable here.”
Wednesday, October 2nd was National Custodian Appreciation Day, and Dutch wants to make sure that his colleagues across the District know that they are appreciated.
“I’d really like to put a spotlight on all custodians,” he said. “They come in every day and do their best to keep the environment clean and safe for everybody, and I hope everybody appreciates that.”