Changing the State Allocation Formula for the Secretary Unit

The number of secretarial positions that the State of Delaware will provide a local school district is based upon a formula defined in state law. This formula provides one secretarial unit for every 10 Division I units up to 100 units and one secretary for every 12 Division I units above 100 units. This formula was last changed in 1973.

In recent years, the General Assembly has passed legislation that has placed an increased clerical burden on schools and school districts. Public school choice legislation and a charter school bill both create a new and different clerical task of tracking students who apply to advantage themselves of these opportunities. "HB 85", passed five years ago, creates a reporting requirement to DPI for pupils who commit crimes on school property. Recent legislation created a discipline oversight committee which has identified an array of statistics and surveys that schools and school districts must now gather and complete. The state department has created a statewide attendance reporting system that has increased the clerical tasks in a school district. With all of these new reporting requirements, the state has maintained the same clerical support as it adopted in 1973.

Proposal: To change the secretarial allocation formula from 1 secretary for every 10 units up to 100 units and 1 to 12 for any additional units to 1 to 10 for all units with a minimum guarantee of one new secretarial unit per district.

Results of Proposal:

Cost: $2,520,387 including salary, OEC and health insurance.