Hidden School Safety Crisis: New Review Finds Aging Buildings and Low-Wage Custodial Gaps Are Putting Students at Risk

Across the United States, a growing number of school districts are struggling with a safety problem that has nothing to do with security drills or emergency lockdown procedures. Instead, it is rooted in something far more ordinary — crumbling buildings, delayed maintenance, and a shrinking workforce responsible for keeping schools physically safe.

A new legal and data review from J&Y Law warns that the condition of school facilities and the underpaid workers tasked with maintaining them are quietly creating an overlooked school safety crisis affecting millions of children daily.

Rather than rare catastrophes, the report describes a steady accumulation of risks: leaking roofs, worn-out flooring, outdated infrastructure, aging playgrounds, and HVAC systems long past their prime. When school staffing shortages collide with these conditions, even routine hazards can go unaddressed — sometimes until a student or educator gets hurt.

Schools Are Getting Older, But Repairs Aren’t Keeping Pace

Many public schools across the country were built decades ago, and a significant number now operate with outdated systems and limited renovation budgets. Temporary classrooms have become semi-permanent. “Quick fixes” often replace comprehensive repairs. Problems that begin as manageable maintenance tasks linger until they turn into genuine safety threats.

District reports and injury data continue to show that slips, trips, playground falls, infrastructure failures, and building-related hazards remain significant contributors to injuries on school grounds. According to J&Y Law’s review, many of these accidents are tied not to chance — but to delayed maintenance and under-resourced support staffing.

“These are avoidable problems that turn into avoidable injuries,” the review notes.

The Custodial Workforce Is Shrinking — and Aging

Behind every safe school building is a maintenance team tasked with preventing problems before they become emergencies. But that workforce is thinning out.

More than half of school custodians are now past age 50, and districts nationwide report persistent vacancies in facilities and maintenance positions. Hiring new staff has become increasingly difficult since the pandemic, with many workers leaving the field entirely or seeking better-paying roles elsewhere.

Fewer custodians working larger campuses means fewer inspections, slower response times, and a greater likelihood that hazards remain undetected or unresolved.

Industry experts repeatedly stress that custodians are not just cleaning staff — they are the first line of defense in preventing slips, falls, environmental hazards, and structural issues on school campuses.

Low Wages, High Responsibility

At the core of the staffing crisis is pay.

J&Y Law’s analysis highlights that many custodians and education support professionals still earn salaries in the high-$20,000 to low-$30,000 range, well below national wage norms. In some states, wages trail standard custodial benchmarks by thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, rising costs of living have eroded real earning power over the last decade.

This pay environment fuels turnover. Some custodians work multiple jobs to stay afloat. Others leave the profession entirely. And as staffing drops, remaining employees shoulder more work — often across outdated facilities in constant need of repair.

From a legal standpoint, the review notes that when school officials are aware of staffing shortages and unresolved safety risks yet delay corrective action, liability exposure increases.

The Result: More Preventable Injuries

When fewer trained professionals are available to maintain schools, safety shifts from proactive to reactive. Falls remain one of the leading causes of school injuries. Playground accidents and facility-related incidents persist. Environmental quality concerns continue to surface in aging buildings. Even school traffic zones remain risky in areas without adequate crossing supervision.

“These are not isolated flukes,” the report explains. “They reflect structural shortages and delayed maintenance systems.”

Fixing the Problem Requires Investment — Not Temporary Solutions

J&Y Law’s review concludes that meaningful change requires long-term investment, not short-term patches.

Recommended priorities include:

• Raising pay for custodians and support staff

• Ensuring stable, full staffing levels across campuses

• Strengthening inspection and preventative maintenance programs

• Accelerating repair turnaround times

• Recognizing custodians as essential safety personnel

Districts that have taken these steps report fewer hazards, faster repairs, and safer environments overall.

A Safety Conversation Schools Can No Longer Avoid

School safety discussions often focus on emergency response and crisis scenarios. But J&Y Law argues that a more immediate safety threat exists in the building conditions students encounter daily — and in the workforce responsible for keeping them safe.

The message is blunt: when schools underpay and understaff essential maintenance roles, preventable injuries become inevitable.

For policymakers, administrators, and families, the review serves as a warning — and a reminder. Safe learning environments depend not only on security systems, but on the people, resources, and upkeep behind the walls students walk past every day.

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