Putting the Spotlight on Technical Services
Technical service employees are usually some of the highest paid in a school district. Many times they have to meet the same professional criteria as technical service employees working in other fields. Not only do they have to have specialized training, but since they work for a school district, they also have to know how to work in a school environment. That means being able to communicate with students and staff. In fact, many of the jobs in the technical services field promote communication. Because of budget cuts across the state, many of these positions are the first to be eliminated.
NEA in its “2002 Status of NEA K-12 ESP Membership Study” has accumulated the following data about technical service employees.
• NEA considers the following classifications to fall under the technical services category: computer operators and programmers; systems analysts and data processors; media and public relations specialists; designers; photographers; graphic artists; audiovisual or language technicians; and mechanical and electrical technicians.
• Technical service employees make up 2 percent of the NEA ESP membership. That translates to more than 6,500 people.
• Ninety percent of technical service employees work full time.
• More than 84 percent of technical service employees have attended professional development training in the past two years.
• More than 11 percent are currently attending school or college.
• The following topics represent the kind of training technical service employees are looking for:
Installing, repairing and upgrading equipment
Designing, maintaining and operating internal computer networks
Assisting with the development of Web sites
Conducting training seminars for staff
Mentoring students and staff in the use of technology.