There are “employee of the month” programs; shout outs in some districts’ newspapers; and we have all heard and/or experienced the “I could not do my job without ….” tribute.

Yet over the course of three decades,  I have observed far too many classified staff (in various departments) who were essentially ignored, ordered around, criticized publicly for errors and not included in some school events.

Human Resources can take up the challenge to ensure that all employees are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.  This is not an idle thought, but one which if reflected upon is crucial to the morale and thus motivation of employees to work at their best level.  We know that it is not sufficient to just say “I respect classified employees.”  It takes regular, traditional and routine measures, led by the administration, to  let all other employees know the classified work force is crucial to the mission of educating children.

It is not sufficient to have an “employee of the month” program or a ‘shout out’ column in the district newspaper.  There are many more creative measures which some districts take to remind everyone how crucial the support staff is in the district.  One interesting program was to have each group (secretaries, custodians, trades, etc.) annually present a report to the school board outlining their contribution to the district.  The presentation was limited to 5 minutes and guidelines/suggestions were provided on how to make the presentation informative and interesting.

In the end, though, it may not be so much ‘actions’ which speak louder than words in this matter.  Actions can become routine and often limit recognition to a few.  In the end, it may well be that words speak louder than actions in the matter of recognizing the value, worth and crucial contribution classified staff make to the mission of educating children.

As in any relationship, we are advised by the wise that it is often the simplest of gestures which make a difference:  kind words spoken on a stressful day; acknowledging how difficult a task or job it is; complimenting a support staff in the presence of others; asking how the work goes, and reminding them to be sure to talk to you if they have ideas which may improve the situation; as well as serendipitously thanking them for their contribution.

There are a dozen other ways in which words can speak volumes in terms of letting classified staff know they are crucial.  The key to creating this culture in a workplace is leadership.  “Lead by example,” it is written.  The Human Resources department should step up to this challenge, not only by example, but through brief workshops on the subject for administrators.

Editor's Note:  Michael J. Millerick, SPHR is Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development with the education consulting firm Total School Solutions.

In a published decision, the Third Appellate District California Court of Appeal ruled this week that “unlicensed school personnel are not authorized by current law to administer prescribed injections of insulin to a diabetic student, even if the student requires such injections pursuant to a [federal] Section 504 or IEP plan, absent express statutory permission.”  Therefore, the court concluded, section 8 of the California Department of Education’s legal advisory “that states unlicensed school personnel have such authority is invalid.”  The court affirmed the trial court’s judgment and issuance of a writ of mandate directing the California Department of Education to refrain from implementing or enforcing portions of the legal advisory that authorize the administration of insulin to students by school personnel who are not authorized to administer it under state statutes and to remove those portions from its legal advisory.  “[T]he trial court correctly determined the portion of the legal advisory, authorizing unlicensed designated school personnel to administer insulin to diabetic students in nonemergency situations, is inconsistent with California law and therefore, invalid,” the Court of Appeal stated. 

The court found injections of insulin to be the administration of medication, a nursing function under Business and Professions Code Section 2725, a provision of the Nursing Practice Act.  It found no exception in that Act for unlicensed school personnel to administer insulin injections to students “as proposed by the legal advisory issued by the CDE.”  The court also concluded that Education Code Section 49423 – which states that a pupil required to take prescribed medication “may be assisted by the school nurse or other designated school personnel” -- does not authorize unlicensed school personnel to administer insulin injections that diabetic students may require pursuant to a Section 504 Plan or IEP.  “[W]e have no power to rewrite the statute to make it conform to a presumed intention that is unexpressed,” the court stated.

For a copy of the decision please contact your Labor Relations Representative