Skilled Trades ESP—
Building a Quality Workforce

Current Issues/ Current Technology

 "Quick 'n' Dirty" Training Sessions

Regulations and licensing are crucial to Skilled Trades ESPs’ job security. Usually they are the ones who must be responsible for being informed about what regulations and licenses apply and what kind of new or special training is needed to perform assigned duties. Skilled Trades ESP are often caught between the need for extra training to do a job and the administration’s desire to cut corners and fast-track a task. The result is usually an incomplete, inadequate, “quick ‘n’ dirty” training session provided by the administration. This kind of training shortchanges everyone. In the long run, it shortchanges the students most of all.

Skilled Trades ESP must continually educate their administrations and insist that they provide appropriate and comprehensive training. They must constantly demand that the level of training be commensurate with the quality end result desired by all involved.

The Disconnect Between Skills Required and Salary Paid

While learning on the job is as prevalent for Skilled Trades as for other ESP, most of the jobs Skilled Trades perform require certification and are regulated in some way. Often, however, job classifications are poorly defined by administrations, and there’s a disconnect between the level of pay and the level of skill required to do the job. Additionally, Skilled Trades ESP are often left with the cost of acquiring certification training.

Skilled Trades ESP must be tenacious about informing administrations that their jobs require particular skills. These skills should be recognized and compensated appropriately. Knowledge, training, and certification should equal better pay!

“Other Duties as Assigned”

Skilled Trades ESP often enjoy the freedom and responsibility to decide how and when to fulfill job orders and tasks. These rather unique circumstances occur because of the nature of the skilled jobs they do. Unfortunately, administrations sometimes take advantage of this relatively loose structure by including the catch-all phrase “and other duties as assigned” in job descriptions. This shortcut creates many problems, two in particular.

The most obvious is misuse of the time and abilities of a particularly trained and skilled individual by assigning a job that could be easily and efficiently done by someone less skilled. Secondly, when work orders contain anything and everything that may need doing, with little consideration to the skill level of the individual assigned, it is nearly impossible to determine compensation based on skilled trades licensing and ability.

Both employees and employers would benefit if administrations focused on the special abilities and training of Skilled Trades ESP in order to utilize their expertise most efficiently. The students and the community that supports the school districts would reap the benefits of better recognition, definition, and utilization of Skilled Trades ESP.

Inclusion, not Isolation

The nature of the jobs performed by Skilled Trades ESP creates a false impression of isolation from students and staff and from the overall mission of the school district. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Skilled Trades ESP are essential parts of the whole school environment. Their skills and expertise create a safe and modern environment for everyone. Often they work from a more remote location such as a maintenance yard or building, but their presence is vital on a daily basis.

As with all Education Support Professionals, inclusion in the school district mission, more support from supervisors and administrations, and greater recognition of their unique contributions to enhancing student achievement are essential needs for Skilled Trades ESP.

The Computer Age

Computers have arrived in some way or another in every school district and have changed virtually everything regarding communication, information, and recordkeeping. They require new, more involved wiring or wiring modifications and hook-ups, and better space management. In order to keep up with new job requirements, Skilled Trades ESP training and licenses must be up to date.

Unfortunately, Boards of Education do not keep pace with the continuing need for appropriate training and professional development programs for Skilled Trades ESP. The many gaps in training to be able to develop, install and maintain new systems make it difficult for Skilled Trades personnel to meet their ever-changing job expectations. Recognition by BOE of the explosion in technology is not enough. They must work much harder to provide training, in-service programs, and professional development for Skilled Trades ESP.

Central Heat and Air Conditioning

The boiler has always been one of the mainstays in the school building environment. Operation, maintenance and repair of the boiler and other parts of the heating and/or cooling systems are all part the overall quality of the school environment. Once again, technology has overtaken the “mainstay,” and boilers and other individual heating systems are being replaced by central heating and air conditioning systems. School administrations must provide meaningful and up-to-date training and professional development programs in order to help Skilled Trades ESP Skilled Trades ESP install and maintain these new systems.

Student Safety and Equipment Technology

The job of developing, installing and maintaining new equipment and meeting new regulations for safety falls on the Skilled Trades ESP. They must know what the new regulations are and then pro-vide and install modifications based on whatever changes need to be made. They address things like permanent benches and bleachers, improved and specific kinds of playground equipment, special, new or improved lighting, new kinds of sports field surfaces, new entrance and egress for students and staff based on security concerns, new monitoring and surveillance equipment for campus safety, new and improved alarm systems, new and improved lavatory appliances, indoor air quality mechanisms, safer and cleaner ventilation systems, better storage and control of hazardous materials, and an ongoing array of changes and repairs to meet requirements that are constantly changing. Skilled Trades ESP meet and surmount these challenges with competence and skill as part of the ESP Quality Workforce.

Shadowing

Skilled Trades ESP make an additional and unique contribution to the school environment by providing students with a mature, hard-working, highly skilled role model. In some school districts they work with the Vocational Teachers on a regular basis. In others, students are permitted to “shadow” Skilled Trades employees in order to gain experience and insight into a particular trade. This positive and valuable opportunity for students is also a proud, responsible opportunity for Skilled Trades ESP.

To Section 6: Privatization and Skilled Trades ESP