custodian

This term carries a strong sense of guardianship and trust, implying a duty to preserve something of value for the future. In a professional or legal sense, it suggests a formal responsibility to protect assets or records from damage or theft. In a practical, everyday context, the word often refers to facility maintenance staff. While "janitor" is a common synonym, "custodian" is frequently preferred in institutional settings like schools to emphasize the broader responsibility of building care and security over simple cleaning.