The Puyallup School Board has declared March 9-13 as Classified School Employee Week.

The recognition coincides with Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation honoring classified school employees this week statewide.

The school board unanimously approved a Classified School Employee Week proclamation at its March 2 board meeting. The proclamation recognizes the more than 1,800 classified school employees “working with and helping children in Puyallup’s schools and departments.”

By supporting the learning environment, classified school employees “are crucial partners with teachers, parents, administrators, and our school board,” the proclamation states.

Classified employees are involved in nearly every aspect of education, including maintaining school buildings and school grounds, providing secretarial and clerical assistance, preparing and serving meals, providing safe transportation, keeping school facilities clean, assisting in the classroom, providing a secure environment, and offering many other specialized services.