Security Services ESP —
Building a Quality Workforce

The Security Services Quality Workforce that exists in our public schools does not happen by accident. A quality workforce emerges from an ongoing effort by all employees in the district to contribute to the school community "state of readiness." This workforce comes together when Security Services ESP are recognized to be part of, and deliberately included in, the school district mission to enhance student achievement.

The building blocks of a Quality Workforce for Security Services ESP are fair and equitable terms and conditions of employment, including job security and a living wage; results-oriented job descriptions; new employee orientation programs; ongoing inservice training programs; relevant and current skill set training; and career-enhancing professional development programs.

This information — originally published as a booklet — highlights some of the challenges Security Services ESP face daily, as they endeavor to build a Security Services ESP Quality Workforce.

Our Job Descriptions — Who We Really Are and What We Really Do

 "Violence is an equal opportunity crisis. It respects no boundaries, addresses, cultures, or ages. It has become a cruel equalizer that is especially devastating to children. It has shattered the order and purpose of our nation's public schools. Across the nation education employees struggle daily to reduce, manage, and control the violence. In particular, those employees who are responsible for school security need training, support, and resources if they are to have any chance of creating a safe environment for our children in schools." — Mario M. Coumo, Former Governor, State of New York, New York Times, January 29, 2000

Our Job Description

Security Services ESP are the essential school employees responsible for the safety and security of students, faculty, staff, campus visitors, and campus property. In some states, they are armed police officers with the power to arrest and use physical force if necessary. In other states their training and legal jurisdiction is at a lower level, but their jobs are no less difficult or dangerous.

Security Services ESP specialize in school and student-related problems. The most important role they play on a daily basis is often that of counselor, big brother or big sister, or just friend, to the children with whom they interact. They are often the adult role model for the most troubled and difficult students, and the person those students come to when they need to vent a frustration or bend an ear.

Security Services ESP have a wide variety of tasks and work under many job titles, including security guards, school resource officers, security workers, police, school safety advocates, school safety assistants, ISS officer, and non-managerial supervisor. As many as 97% work full time and are full 12-month employees. Some two- thirds have attended college, and almost half have completed trade, technical, or vocational training. As many as 50% have met specific job requirements such as certifications or college courses and approximately 15% take examinations or courses on a regular basis.

Defining and describing the jobs that Security Services ESP do is a challenge not often met by school boards. Among the ESP who actually have job descriptions, as many as 59% believe theirs does not accurately describe the amount and type of work they do, according to NEA Research Division polling. As many as 48% state that they have no input in updating or changing their job descriptions as they exist now, and 11% report that they have no job descriptions at all!

The role of Security Services ESP in the school environment is generally recognized as part of the school mission only in the context of emergencies. Their day-to-day contributions as role models and providers of safety and stability for students is not recognized in their job descriptions. School administrators rarely make the connection between the Security Services ESP and the mission of the school district as a whole — enhancing student achievement.

Since September 11, Security Services ESP jobs have become more difficult and wide-ranging and their responsibilities have dramatically increased. They actively participate in enforcing safety and security policies and intruder emergency plans. They gather, secure, and guard confidential information about students, staff, and visitors. They are drug and substance, firearm and weapons experts who take risks and encounter dangerous and emergency situations and individuals every day. To be effective, Security Services ESP must keep current on information and laws. New and dangerous situations involving guns, bombs, and intruders have raised the level of stress and violence in school districts. Security Services ESP continue to rise to the challenges with courage and competence.

What Security Services ESP really do on a daily basis must be identified more fully, and then described more accurately in a comprehensive and meaningful job description. With little or no input in the job description writing process, Security Services ESP are unable to achieve meaningful changes in their terms and conditions of employment, such as salary, job security, grievance adjudication, task management, time management, skill training, or career-enhancing professional development.

Your written job description — your work identity — matters a great deal! It should be accurate, result-oriented, comprehensive, and current. It should be a written description of who you really are and what you really do as part of the school community and the Security Services ESP Quality Workforce.

To Section 2: Federal and State Statutes