For his swan song, Pine Tree Elementary School’s head custodian Dan Hart is painting the walls of the lunchroom rather than making sure they’re pristine.
Hart, who will retire when school comes to an end this June, is marking the end of his 36-year run in Lake Orion schools by painting a mural of an LO Dragon in Pine Tree’s gymnasium/lunchroom.
‘That silly grin he has is the same one I have when I’m up to something mischievous,? Hart said, referring to the expression on the dragon’s face.
The mural has taken more than a year of effort, usually on Friday afternoons so the paint is dry by the time students get back to school on Monday.
He expects it to be finished either this Friday, or the Friday after.
The mural, painted on the cinder block walls, is of a green dragon hovering over a rendering of the school.
‘Holy catfish, it is hard to draw on these walls,? Hart said about the difficulties he has getting started.
The mural is no match for Hart’s dedication to the Orion community.
Hart grew up in Oxford, and went to school there, but came to Orion frequent as a child.
‘I used to play on this very spot before the school was here,? he said about Pine Tree.
He got his start in the district in 1972 at the now-closed Proper School. Hart then worked at Webber School for 13 years, where he became the head custodian.
After a stint at Orion Oaks, he ended up at Pine Tree, where he’s been since 1991.
‘This place is like home,? he said. ‘When someone asks me how many kids I have, I say, ?400.? I’ve seen a lot of kids grow up here. It’s the best part of the job.?
Hart also had time to raise his own family in Oxford.
He and wife, Maxine, have three boys, John, Kevin and Tim, and now two grandkids, Desiree and Raymond.
When he retires, Hart said he’s going fishing.
‘I’m going to go out and play with my old cars and go fishing with my granddaughter in my old leaky boat,? he said.