Clerical Services ESP — 
Building a Quality Workforce

The Myth: "Secretaries
Just Type"

The standard public perception of Clerical Services ESP simply sitting behind a desk all day typing on a computer couldn't be farther from the truth! Without their attention and care, the school district, including the classroom, would probably come to a screeching halt. It's ironic that when the secretary is ill, there's almost never a substitute called in. Generally the slack is taken up by others in the work area, and most of the workload is in limbo until the ESP returns to work.

It is also not generally known that many Clerical Services ESP do not have a "lunch hour" or any regular daily down time as most other employees do. Time management for Clerical Services ESP is usually influenced by others within their work environment. When a student misses the bus, when a student needs medical attention, when a parent arrives for an appointment or a non-scheduled meeting, when visitors need information or attention, when there is an altercation in the building, when staff need assistance, when other staff are out sick, when supervisors or administrators are on the road and need information or assistance, when emergency or law enforcement personnel are in the building, when auditors are on site and have questions, when teachers have classroom issues that require out-of-classroom attention, when students have vehicle or sports schedule issues, when students have parental/guardian problems, when younger students need supervision outside the classroom — the "secretary" is usually the staff member called upon to suspend all other activities and address the situation.

Generally the standard remedy devised by Boards of Education for this inequity in daily time allocation for Clerical Services ESP is to arrange "compensatory time" when things are deemed "quiet." Although most Clerical Services ESP enjoy the freedom to decide how to do their jobs, much more attention needs to be paid to when and how daily "down time" is provided for them. Because they interact closely with parents, students, other staff and the public, situations of stress, conflict and crisis are constant. Many also supervise student office workers, and also students who are being disciplined through detention, for illness, and for those who may have special needs.

Recognizing and defining the multitude of tasks and responsibilities performed by Clerical Services ESP in the school district is essential to their recognition as valuable and essential public school staff who contribute hugely to enhancing student achievement. Dispelling the "myth" about Clerical Services ESP and informing administrations and communities about who they really are and what they really do is a vital task for members.

To Section 7: The Technology Explosion