Community Members As School District Employees

In many suburban and rural communities, the school district is one of the largest employers in the area. As a result, local parents are often employed in your school district as educators, aides, secretaries, food service workers, bus drivers and custodians. This arrangement has several pluses and minuses which are important to note.



When community residents work in your school they have an immediate connection and vested interest in your school's performance. They are able to observe first hand your successful programs and innovations and as a result become goodwill ambassadors to the community. This can be very beneficial around budget time when you are asking for additional funds for new programs. Community based employees are generally reliable and have good attendance records. As I have mentioned in other posts, parents in the school tend to have a calming affect on the students.



On the other hand, having community members employed in your school can also be problematic. If the employee has access to confidential information by virtue of working in the guidance or attendance offices this may present a problem. Confidential information about a student or their family would be available. By working in the Main Office they may become aware of a personal situation regarding a staff member which otherwise would also be confidential. The community based employee may be tempted to give special privileges to their own children or their friends children. Difficulties with the Instruction program or student discipline could quickly become common knowledge.



In my personal experience some of best employees and some of my worst have been members of my school's community. If you are going to employ community members in your school then I suggest that you and your Superintendent formulate a Letter of Professional Standards which would be given to all of your employees each year. This letter would help to delineate how matters of confidentiality and professional decorum should be handled by your staff. This approach might help to cut down on the amount of confidential information that leaks out of your school.