Success in Schools Depends on the Entire Staff

During budget pain, we tend to focus on the obvious effects on education in the classroom. However, it is important to keep in mind that school success is dependent on everyone who works in the schools. A lot has been said about increasing class size, saving music programs, and protecting counselors. But equally important are the rest of the support staff that do the day-to-day work that keeps the district running smoothly.

For example, every school has a secretary and a clerk (two clerks in each middle school). These employees are the ones who interact with parents and community when they walk into the school. They keep track of daily attendance, make sure classes are properly scheduled, manage report cards, document the results of English Language testing, and even serve as health clerks for students who get sick or hurt during the day.

Employees in the district's business office keep track of all purchasing and payments, manage the facilities department, make sure food service is adequate in the schools, and oversee the information technology infrastructure for the schools.

Custodians keep the schools clean, make sure bathrooms are stocked, provide routine maintenance, and set up for assemblies. Maintenance workers repair buses and trucks, fix broken equipment, maintain facilities and furniture, change lightbulbs, and clean up graffiti.

Media techs keep the libraries at school sites open, read with children, teach students about library research, organize book collections, distribute textbooks, and manage library circulation.

These are just some of the key positions in the schools and district office that have been cut back over the years. Unfortunately, as we look at cutting expenses for 2010 through 2012, these support services are vulnerable again. We must remember through the process that all district employees are integral to the successful education of our children.