An introduction provided by NEA-Alaska President Bill Bjork had already set the stage for the audience’s response to Caffroy.

“(He) doesn’t believe in sitting around waiting for things to happen. He makes them happen,” Bjork said, telling the crowd that when the Mat-Su School District outsourced its custodians and laid off more than 100 education support professionals, Caffroy attended “How to Beat Privatization” training, formed the Local Offense Committee and organized informational meetings to keep employees informed.

“He was also instrumental in getting language into KPESA’s contract that if the district decides to contract out, then KPESA will be notified beforehand,” Bjork said.

Caffroy has been part of Homer High School’s custodial staff for 23 years, and the head custodian for 18. He supervises a staff of 5.5 and is a regional director for KPESA.

“He’s really been a very effective and stalwart head custodian here. Everybody relies on him,” said HHS Principal Ron Keffer. “He’s always done extremely well. He’s a strong union guy and is an excellent leader.”

Be that as it may, Caffroy does not claim to be a public speaker. He credited the inspiring tone of his comments to his love of kids.

“The speech was from my heart. That’s why I work there,” he said.

Summarizing his comments at the assembly, Caffroy said he once heard experts say that education in Alaska was at about 50 percent.

“That surprised me. And I thought, no, we’re doing better than that,’” Caffroy said, summarizing his comments at the NEA-Alaska assembly. “Then I thought, ‘why don’t I believe we’re halfway?’”

He recalled hearing a former Kenai Peninsula school board member saying that when she enrolled her daughter at Kenai Central High School she discovered there were 50 percent less course offerings to choose from than when the board member had graduated in the mid-1980s.

“In the mid-1980s, Homer High School had 9.5 custodians. This year we have 5.5. That’s not quote 50 percent, but you get the picture. I started believing,” he said.

Caffroy also recalled a conversation he had with Rayna Duenas, HHS assistant principal, when he realized there was a large decrease in students between freshman and senior year.

“She said, ‘yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Between 10th and 12th grade we’re losing students.’ And I thought, I know those kids, they’re my community. A lot of these families I know. Those kids are not getting adequate education,” Caffroy said.

He offers one solution to get Alaska past the 50 percent.

“We’ve have to get involved,” he said “In the state of Alaska money is not the problem. I say that because Alaska is the richest state in the country. Money is not the problem. We have a political problem. If we don’t get more active, get our friends, neighbors and community involved, we’re never going to get the resources we actually need.”

His call to get involved is more urgent in light of the district’s recent announcement that budget cuts for next year will result in the loss of 75 teachers.

“Everybody is hearing that (HHS) is going to lose five teachers. This isn’t just making class sizes bigger. It’s cutting program and there aren’t very many programs left,” he said. “This is a serious situation. People have to get involved if they value our education.”