Pay in schools???? Help and advise needed

[gibbo_ap]

Afternoon all, After a recent job evaluation throughout the Staffordshire Moorlands I have been wondering what other schools are doing about their websites i.e. do you build your own or go elsewhere, if so how much do you usually pay. If you build your own what is your job title, and most importantly is it in your job description?

I am employed as an IT Technician and get paid peanuts, my new job description says nothing about web design or even, like in some of the others, manage update and maintain. I have completely build the school website (flash page) with a CMS and continue to add features. Also am currently working on an area for the Primary Pyramid schools.

There is only one job description which gets close to what i do and that is 'Web Manager' which talks about

• Develop, manage and promote all of School’s/College’s internal and external websites.
  
• Design and implement the overall architecture of these websites.
  
• Create templates that staff will use to create content themselves; manage this content.
  
• Using server-side and client-side scripting, develop, update and manage online applications for the use of teachers, students, parents and the community.
  

Which i do all of these and more. The only problem with the job descripton is (even though it doesnt say about line management) it talks about working within a web team (but there are no other jobs descriptions for other members of the team).

 

I am at a loss and would appreciate you all letting me know what you school does web site wise and job title ... wise etc

 

(also a lil critique on the site would be great)(flash page)

 

 

Any help and advice would be appreciated

[Quackers]

I'm in staffordshire too, and they have put me as "ICT Co-Ordinator".

 

I do the website , were half way through moving to joomla though.

 

and i do everything else, we only have a support contract from Staffordshire Learning Technologys for the SIMS part, as we got rid of RM, so do not need the curriculum support contract, we got rid of the AV support, we do all filter cleans, lamp changes etc our selfs. No hardware support contract, got rid of that, do it all in house or buy extended warrantys. So the head felt that role fitted me best.

[reggiep]

we got rid of RM, so do not need the curriculum support contract, we got rid of the AV support, we do all filter cleans, lamp changes etc our selfs. No hardware support contract, got rid of that, do it all in house or buy extended warrantys. So the head felt that role fitted me best.

 

I have just moved from a non RM school to an RM CC3 school.

What did you move to and was the move traumatic?

 

We also have a support contract on most things and although it's an easy life I would still like to bin most of the support as the costs are ridiculous

[Quackers]

I have just moved from a non RM school to an RM CC3 school.

What did you move to and was the move traumatic?

 

We also have a support contract on most things and although it's an easy life I would still like to bin most of the support as the costs are ridiculous

 

we moved from Connect 2.4 (NT4, Win98SE) to a out of the box 2003 Server and XP Clients. almost everything you need is their already, except print quota's which only cost 400 quid. Not traumatic at all went very smooth, and were happy.

[Geoff]

I know it's a bit late, but you really need to look at what your job description says before you go through job evaluation.

[Pete10141748]

My job title is "ICT Manager", which translates as "anything and everything that needs doing that is remotely to do with ICT is up to you"

 

Myself and the Techie here built the school's website between us (not live yet waiting on Head's approval )

 

TBH I'm happy to do anything they ask me to do (wel, almost anthing )

wether it's in my actual JD or not - I'd rather do something new and learn about it than say "sorry, thats not part of my job..."

[Ryan]

Same as me here ^

[gibbo_ap]

My job title is "ICT Manager", which translates as "anything and everything that needs doing that is remotely to do with ICT is up to you"

 

Myself and the Techie here built the school's website between us (not live yet waiting on Head's approval )

 

TBH I'm happy to do anything they ask me to do (wel, almost anthing )

wether it's in my actual JD or not - I'd rather do something new and learn about it than say "sorry, thats not part of my job..."

 

I was doing that i did everything which was asked and more, then when i went for JE meeting with the boss he could not see all the extra we do (or any other support staff in the school) i would be happy to continue doing as they say, i enjoy the extra stuff i do (its the stuff in my JD which is boring) but i get paid bugger all. the JD as noted above pays more than twice what i get and when i pointed this out (not even asking to put on that just saying thats what i do) asking for a rise (so i could afford to actually live) he (the head) as good as laughed me out the door.

 

i just feel s*it upon by them (had a call only monday asking me and the teckie to help the caretaker to move some benches - i did because he would have been on his own if not)

 

ahhh well

[Guest Guest]

TBH I'm happy to do anything they ask me to do (wel, almost anthing )

wether it's in my actual JD or not - I'd rather do something new and learn about it than say "sorry, thats not part of my job..."

 

Im the same but im quickly getting sick of it now. This week im chasing up contractors and looking after an apprentice. Now personally id call that a managers job but do i get managers pay? No. Do i even get an average pay for a technician? No. What i do get is one grade above the litter picker and cleaners whos responsibilities amount to carrying out the trash and putting the mop away after them!

Personally id say looking after 350 workstations, 8 servers, dozens of printers, the website, etc etc etc is a little harder than looking after a mop and brush!!

[Geoff]

Find a new job then.

[mortstar]

What i do get is one grade above the litter picker and cleaners whos responsibilities amount to carrying out the trash and putting the mop away after them!

 

I agree that pay is shocking. However, this job-snobbery, I think, is a more than a little off. The reason why our pay is so bad is a similar attitude held by the managers of our schools.

[gibbo_ap]

planing on getting a new job, the problem (catch 22 if you like) is i dont drive and am finding it harder and harder to afford lessons let alone insurance on the pay im on. really should have got this whole driving thing sorted years ago jus never had the time or money

[button_ripple]

Im the same but im quickly getting sick of it now. This week im chasing up contractors and looking after an apprentice. Now personally id call that a managers job but do i get managers pay? No. Do i even get an average pay for a technician? No. What i do get is one grade above the litter picker and cleaners whos responsibilities amount to carrying out the trash and putting the mop away after them!

 

Same boat as you! I get 8K a year, i work a 35 hour week (but i never finish at them times) looking after 4 servers, 30 teacher laptops, 45 pupil laptops, 1 suite and all the projectors, whiteboards and printers. I really should be paid a little bit more!! I work longer than the TA's and do more than them, but they still get more than what i do!

[Ryan]

8k for 35 hrs a week? Jesus dude, i'd be evaluating whether it's worth your while staying where you are. I perhaps wouldn't suggest holding them to ransom and threatening to leave, but i'd be looking for more than that for what you do.

[pallen]

I am in a similar position as I have always been willing to help where I could, but recently my attitude is changing. We have yet to go through the full JE process, but the first meeting that I had with the head I discovered that he has decided that the things I had put down should not be in my remit. What really annoyed me though, is the fact that I have written to the head on numerous occasions indicating the extra work I had taken on and that I wanted an up to date Job description to reflect this. It would have been very easy for them to tell me that it should not be my job from the start. Instead I have found that all the work they were happy for me to carry on doing, is now being redirected somewhere else as they would now have to pay me more.

 

It seems to me that some schools are just not ready to give responsibility to people other than teachers. While this is the case it is going to be very difficult for IT technicians to get an increase in pay to match the responsibility they have. Or even a contract which is accurate for the work they do. So yes, I am looking for another job now.

 

As for the original post, web design/administration in itself is a full time job. It should be listed in your duties/tasks as part of your contract. If it is not listed and they wont pay you extra for it, you can stop doing it. If your not part of a union, join one now. Any queries you have regarding Job description can be checked with them. And always check with the unions before you stop doing anything to make sure you are within your rights.

 

By the way, the JE was supposed to evaluate what you currently do, so it may be that the school has assessed you and decided that you fall into your current grade. If you can find a closer match to a higher scaled job with the tasks that you do, you can appeal to be matched with the new job(Web Manager in your case) Again check with the union who should be able to help you with any JE and current work load queries.

[ANiceEnglishman]

Same boat as you! I get 8K a year, i work a 35 hour week (but i never finish at them times) looking after 4 servers, 30 teacher laptops, 45 pupil laptops, 1 suite and all the projectors, whiteboards and printers. I really should be paid a little bit more!! I work longer than the TA's and do more than them, but they still get more than what i do!

 

What does 'looking after' involve? If there is no second line support and 'the buck stops with you' when there is a problem then just over minimum wage seems rather low.

 

If it's day-to-day support, changing the backup tapes and toners, resetting passwords and resolving simple problems then it's a more reasonable.

[Pete10141748]

had a call only monday asking me and the teckie to help the caretaker to move some benches

 

Yeah we've had that here a few times, although fair enough the CT asks us nicely to help him out, and I don't mind as the caretaker here is a good guy and we have a laugh. Plus I'd feel bad if he had to do it himself, I know I'd be pi$$ed off if it was me and someone else didn't bother to help me!

 

Of course, if I was actually *ordered* by someone in the SMT to do something like this, first thing I'd ask for is a Risk Assessment, what Health and Safety they have in place to ensure the moving of the equipment was safe, what would happen to my job if I were to hurt my back and be off for weeks, etc etc...........

 

[SpuffMonkey]

I agree that pay is shocking. However, this job-snobbery, I think, is a more than a little off. The reason why our pay is so bad is a similar attitude held by the managers of our schools.

 

Nah - the reason the pay is so bad is because we keep doing a load of stuff that is not on our JD and not getting paid for it. Point me to the teacher who takes on loads of extra responsibilities without the commensurate rewards!

[Guest Guest]

I am in a similar position as I have always been willing to help where I could, but recently my attitude is changing. We have yet to go through the full JE process, but the first meeting that I had with the head I discovered that he has decided that the things I had put down should not be in my remit. What really annoyed me though, is the fact that I have written to the head on numerous occasions indicating the extra work I had taken on and that I wanted an up to date Job description to reflect this. It would have been very easy for them to tell me that it should not be my job from the start. Instead I have found that all the work they were happy for me to carry on doing, is now being redirected somewhere else as they would now have to pay me more.

 

It seems to me that some schools are just not ready to give responsibility to people other than teachers. While this is the case it is going to be very difficult for IT technicians to get an increase in pay to match the responsibility they have. Or even a contract which is accurate for the work they do. So yes, I am looking for another job now.

 

As for the original post, web design/administration in itself is a full time job. It should be listed in your duties/tasks as part of your contract. If it is not listed and they wont pay you extra for it, you can stop doing it. If your not part of a union, join one now. Any queries you have regarding Job description can be checked with them. And always check with the unions before you stop doing anything to make sure you are within your rights.

 

By the way, the JE was supposed to evaluate what you currently do, so it may be that the school has assessed you and decided that you fall into your current grade. If you can find a closer match to a higher scaled job with the tasks that you do, you can appeal to be matched with the new job(Web Manager in your case) Again check with the union who should be able to help you with any JE and current work load queries.

 

I dont want to dampen your hopes but if your JE turns out anything like ours then appeals, unions or anything else wont help you

[pallen]

j17sparky - oh, you haven't dampened my hopes. I am fully aware that I am going to get royally S*****d. I just think it's about time schools recognised the tech support they are getting is way above what they are paying(in a lot of cases). Most people work in schools due to enjoying the job, and they do more than their contract states. However, there comes a point when it stops being that little bit extra, and starts becoming taking the p**s.

 

I'll admit that I was hoping JE would actually identify the job I am doing rather than the one I was originally employed to do and might actually get a pay rise. The only way that is going to happen is if I leave, which is a shame as I used to actually like it here, but the longer this JE goes on, the more I resent the place.

[ChrisH]

You just have to treat these low paid jobs as stepping stones. You have your experience now, so go out and find a job where they are willing to pay for your knowledge, skills and experience. That is what i did although I moved from a company rather than a school. 4 years down the line I am a lot happier doing a job using the skills I had trained for in the first place and my wage has doubled.

You just have to find the right place to work which can be the most difficult part but very satisfying once you are there.

[Guest Guest]

...starts becoming taking the p**s.

 

I'll admit that I was hoping JE would actually identify the job I am doing rather than the one I was originally employed to do and might actually get a pay rise. The only way that is going to happen is if I leave, which is a shame as I used to actually like it here, but the longer this JE goes on, the more I resent the place.

 

 

That pretty much sums up how i feel. I have little motivation now; i had a server to rebuild this week but due to doing jobs which others should be doing ive put it on the back burner. Last year i would have started it and risked staying late one day to get it sorted, but now ive realised my efforts wont be appreciated so it can just wait till next holidays.

 

When i first heard of JE i was optomistic and thought finally ill get the wages i deserve. I even turned down a few better payed jobs thinking that would be the case. How nieve i was

[Guest Guest]

You just have to treat these low paid jobs as stepping stones... ...skills I had trained for in the first place

 

Thats the way i had always thought of it, but i had also nievely thought i may be able to stay and "move up the ladder" in terms of wages. I never expected to be worse off after 3 years (due to lack of cost of living rises and high inflation) and be being forced out so soon.

 

Im training in the networking side of things, just about finished my CCNA. Started on my CCNP. Great "they" are always looking for people with my skills... Not round here they arnt. A job search of networking jobs within 50miles of my area brings up a whole 1 job. Damn my area!

Edited April 17, 2008 by Guest

[torledo]

@TS

 

I'm just going to go straight in and critique you're website...'cos i'm a git. j/k

 

The first thing a visitor who reaches a flash intro does is look for that skip intro button. It doesn't matter what fancy animations and bells and whistles you've got on the flash intro if it doesn't display a menu or navigation pretty darn quick it's going to get skipped. All those accreditations are painfully slow in loading. There's no way anyone who's ever visited the site has ever found out what the last 2 or three accreditadions are. Noones that patient or that interested tbh.

 

the site itself is more promising, although i did find it a litttle bit unsttructured and a bit busy. I think better to unclutter and alow the navigation bar to guide the visitors to the website sections. Also, you might want to investigate the formatting and display of the site on different browser at different resolutions.

 

Having said that i think it's a terrific effort and you're defitely heading in the right direction....and it's far better than anything i could have done.

 

HTH.

[gibbo_ap]

totally argree about the flash page but its what the boss wanted, its virtually the same as the one on the old site exept i updated the look to the new site timeing is pretty similar, i h8 it tho.

 

i have tried to make it as clean as possible but keeping the informatio we(the boss) wanted on the page