Javier Escalante, left, and Ray Aguilar, electricians for Flowing Wells School District, use a scissor jack to replace a burned-out bulb in the commons area at Flowing Wells High School.

Photos by Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

Other articles by Andrea Rivera:

Amphi seeks new budget overrideSharing her spirit Kids score big at basketball camp STEM program inspires kids Tanque Verde superintendent arrested Things to love about the Northwest Side School notes Field now named after baseball-loving boy Finding a place in history Moving on after 31 years

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No school district could function without the contributions of its support staff.

Support staff are the people who transport students to school. They're the ones who prepare a healthy breakfast and lunch for thousands of children. They're the people who work nights sweeping empty hallways. And they'reinside classrooms helping teachers.

But those are only a handful of the positions performed by support staff.

Without attendance clerks, maintenance workers, painters, welders, groundskeepers, custodians, electricians and special-education aides, a district would cease to function.

"They truly are what holds up our school," said Principal Elizabeth Armenta in reference to the support staff at Roadrunner Elementary School. "They are the foundation. I can't say enough about these guys. They're awesome. They are there when you need them for anything and everything."

Armenta's sentiment is one held by district staff in the Amphitheater, Flowing Wells and Marana school districts.

Here we profile an electrician at Flowing Wells, take a brief look at what a day is like for some of the support staff at Roadrunner Elementary School in the Marana district, and sit down for five questions with a relief bus driver and transportation clerk at Amphi.