Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Not a Lot of Coverage

  • By Jerry Enderle
  • 04/01/19

You wouldn’t know it by watching the news, but on April 12, the President signed H.R. 276, the “Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act”, which directs the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Program to acknowledge excellence exhibited by classified school employees. Job titles included in this category are paraprofessionals, clerical staff, custodial and maintenance services, transportation services, food services, skilled trades, health and student services, security services, and technical services.

Often overlooked and lumped into the category of “support staff”, these people are essential to keep schools safe and successful. Some districts and states have recognition programs for classified employees, but it seems only fitting that there be a national award.

Report Time?

It’s not only students who need to complete reports this time of year. Just as we were going to press, a number of national reports were published—more than I have room to mention. Here are a few.

The U.S. Department of Education released “Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources”, which provides best practices and includes resources school leaders and teachers can utilize as they work to achieve a positive school climate, lower disciplinary issues, and enhance school safety. Download it at www2.ed.gov.

The Chiefs for Change issued “Breaking Through: Shattering the Glass Ceiling for Women Leaders”. The report addresses the fact that despite the increasing diversity of our nation’s schools, and the enormous representation of women at other levels of our public school systems, the vast majority of district superintendents and state chiefs are white men. You can read it at chiefsforchange.org.

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) published “State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity and Access.” It highlights the powerful impact of state leadership in driving critical policy decisions at the national and state level to support broadband networks, bandwidth capacity and home access for low-income families. Find it at www.setda.org.

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management April/May 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • abstract representation of hybrid learning environment

    The Permanence of Change: Why Hybrid Is the New Baseline

    Hybrid learning is here to stay, and it's reshaping how campus spaces function.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

Digital Edition