Meet Kyle, the Boiler Guy!
Meet Kyle, the Boiler Guy!
For most families, the school week starts Monday morning with backpacks, buses, and busy routines. For Building & Grounds Supervisor Kyle Gustafson, getting ready starts earlier. On Sundays, Kyle checks the school boilers and building systems that help make sure schools are warm, safe, and ready to welcome students the next morning.
Kyle has spent 16 years working in schools and caring for the systems most people never see. During Minnesota winters, that often means checking boilers after hours, monitoring buildings in below-zero temperatures, and making sure schools are ready to open each day.
For Kyle, keeping the boilers running is personal.
“I think about the kids,” he said. “For some people, this is their safest place, and if we cancel school, they don’t have that. This is the most dependable place they have in their life.”
Service to schools runs deep in Kyle’s family. His father, whom Kyle describes as his role model, worked as a lead custodian for Richfield Public Schools for 33 years, and three generations of his family have served as boiler operators and custodians. Kyle continues that legacy in St. Louis Park Public Schools.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his 8-year-old daughter, riding his motorcycle, and ice fishing. But when Sunday arrives, Kyle always willingly sets aside his personal plans to make sure every student has a warm, safe school on Monday morning.
While families and staff may never see the early morning checks or late-night calls, Kyle’s work makes a difference every day. His commitment helps ensure our schools are ready to welcome, support, and inspire every student who walks through the door. Thank you, Kyle!