“I came in quietly and I’m leaving quietly … just the way I like it.”
That’s how Todd Mann described his retirement as lead custodian at Luverne Middle/High School.
Mann is officially retiring this month after 35 years with the school district.
He said his final year has been anything but typical, due to distance learning and the continuing construction project this summer.
“It’s been different,” Mann said. “Construction has changed everything.”
Mann should know. He’s spent almost 45 total years in the building, counting his years as a student.
After graduating from Luverne High School in 1975, Mann worked as a small engine mechanic at Rock County Implement.
In 1985 he began as a custodian at the former Luverne Elementary building on Luverne Street.
After about six months, the groundskeeper position opened at the middle/high school building and Mann moved into that role.
He spent the next 24 years working outdoors mowing grass, grooming athletic fields, clearing ice and moving snow.
“Most of the time I was the only guy outside,” Mann said. “In the summers we did hire college kids to help with the mowing.”
About halfway through his years as groundskeeper, the new elementary school was built next to the high school and the size of the campus expanded greatly.
“The size of everything pretty much doubled … the sidewalks, parking lots, the ball fields … it all got much bigger,” Mann said.
In the winter Mann would arrive at school between 3 and 4 a.m. to begin removing snow and ice before staff and students arrived for the day.
While he was groundskeeper, Mann also began training for boiler operations.
About 10 years ago he was promoted to lead custodian and has been overseeing boiler operations and custodial work at the middle/high school since then.
“There was a lot to learn when I started working inside,” Mann said. “I learned a lot from the other guys.”
Through all of the changes, Mann said one thing has remained – the pride that he has in the school buildings and grounds.
“We can really be proud of how well maintained our building has been and how clean it is kept,” he said.
“People could tell how old the high school is by the 1950s glazed brick tile,” he pointed out, “and they often compliment us on how good of shape the building is in for its age.”
“We always kept it clean and they spent the money needed to keep it looking good,” Mann said. “It’s not like that everywhere.”
When asked what he will miss most, Mann didn’t hesitate.
“The kids and the teachers and all the people I’ve gotten to work with,” Mann said. “I’ll miss them.”
“Custodians work with students, teachers, office staff, cooks – everybody. That’s been the best part.”
Mann said he has no immediate retirement plans, other than spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Mann’s son and daughter both live in the Sioux Falls area.
“I’ll probably pick up a part-time job or help here and there,” he said.
He and his wife, Shawn, also hope to keep taking trips on their motorcycle once pandemic concerns diminish.
“We had some trips planned, but we’ll wait now till things settle down and more things are open again,” he said.
For now, he’ll get used to being away from school after all these years.
“If you had told me in high school I’d spend my career back at the school, I would have said you were crazy,” Mann said.
“But I’m glad I did – I worked with a lot of great people and I always took a lot of pride in the work.”