Pinckney Elementary School head custodian Larry Fish, center, is embraced by Pinckney students after receiving the Lawrence school district's Class Act Award during a ceremony Tuesday morning at East Heights School. Fish received the award, along with a 00 check from Truity Credit Union, partly for his hard work and dedication in helping Pinckney staff make the move this summer to East Heights, where students and staff have been temporarily relocated while renovations continue at Pinckney.

What a way to start the day. Larry Fish, head custodian at Lawrence’s Pinckney Elementary School, was greeted Tuesday morning with a $200 check, a gym packed with grateful students and a surprise visit from Superintendent Kyle Hayden.

Hayden stopped by East Heights School, where Pinckney staff and students have been temporarily housed this year while renovations continue at Pinckney, that morning to honor the longtime custodian with the district’s Class Act Award.

The honor, given each semester to an outstanding classified staff member working in the Lawrence district, is meant to recognize those who foster cooperation and open communication, effective teamwork, the accomplishment of professional tasks and goals, promoting trust and respect, and demonstrating leadership, accountability, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic.

“I do not know what we would do without the hard work and dedication of Larry Fish,” Pinckney Principal Kristi Hill said in her nomination. “The amount of work and time he put into helping staff pack and move from Pinckney to East Heights this summer was second to none.”

With the recent closure of Pinckney’s portable classroom unit — due to mold growth discovered earlier this fall — and quick turnaround in moving staff into the main building, Hill wrote, “he deserves this award more than anyone.”

“Larry is loved by the students and staff,” Hill said. “We know we can always count on him to be positive through any tough situation.”

After receiving his award and $200 check from Truity Credit Union, Fish expressed his gratitude to Pinckney students and staff.

The Class Act Award, he said, had “blindsided” him that morning.

“I knew something was up when I saw some faces show up here who aren’t normally here,” he said, perhaps referring to the district officials and members of the press watching from the sidelines of the East Heights gym.

“But thank you,” Fish said. “Just one day follows the next, and one foot in front of the other, is how we got through this. Thank you.”

Larry Fish joined the Lawrence school district in 2000 as a substitute custodian, and has worked at Sunflower and Pinckney elementary schools.