After relating all of the horrible things the school custodian, Fester Smudge, is known to have done, a student whose locker won't open needs Mr. Smudge's help.

Fifth grader Jack finds himself the target of ridicule at school when it becomes known that his father is one of the janitors, and he turns his anger onto his father.

After their lunches are stolen, Harry Buttz Elementary School students Darren, Tina, Juan-Carlos, and Walter eat radioactive burritos that give each a strange ability--along with serious gas--which, with training by Janitor Stan, may help them foil Number Two and the BO twins' evil plan.

"The Keepers of the School--known to their friends as Ben, Jill, and Robert--have one last chance to save their school before it's torn down to make room for a seaside amusement park. But their nemeses, janitors Lyman and Wally, are just as determined to keep the kids out of the way and the demolition on schedule"--

Justin has lost the hat his grandmother made for him, and if he is to find it in time for her visit he will have to go talk to Mr. Rumkowsky, the gruff old school custodian in charge of the Lost and Found.

While Basil the school janitor is napping, birds build a nest atop his head and when the eggs hatch, he becomes a proud "dad" to the chicks.

Jake Maguire faces challenges when he loses his job, must drop out of school, and discovers his girlfriend missing.