Perry Elementary custodian Geraldine Eley cleans a chalk board at the school Thursday afternoon. Eley offered to cut her hours in half because she didn’t want anyone else to lose their job. (Chris Bergin / The Star Press)
Perry Elementary custodian Geraldine Eley cleans a chalk board at the school Thursday afternoon. Eley offered to cut her hours in half because she didn’t want anyone else to lose their job. (Chris Bergin / The Star Press)

By Joy Leiker, Star Press

jleiker@muncie.gannett.com

SELMA -- Geraldine Eley stayed at home to raise her sons, but about seven years ago, at age 70, she went to work as a custodian at Perry Elementary School.

Now, at age 77, she's volunteered to cut her own hours, with hopes it will help Liberty-Perry Community Schools save money -- the same challenge faced by many local schools.

"I told 'em I'd be glad to do it to save someone else's job," Eley said Thursday, while washing chalkboards and cleaning carpets inside classrooms. This week she started working her new part-time schedule.

"We were looking for permanent reductions to save money," said Supt. Bryan Rausch, who sent a memo to non-certified staff, asking them to consider cutting their own hours. "(Eley) did that because she was a nice lady."

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