Minutes-Regular Meeting-July 11, 2006
Personnel Commission
July 05, 2006
July 11, 2006
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Klonecky at 3:30 p.m.
PRESENT
Personnel Commissioners:
Dr. Harold M. Klonecky
Dr. Owen H. Griffith
Mr. Steven M. Busch
Dr. Kris Koga, Director-Personnel Commission
Mr. Walt Heath, Associate Personnel Analyst
Ms. Denise Aguayo, Associate Personnel Analyst
PLACE AND DATE OF MEETING
Torrance Unified School District Office Board Room, 2336 Plaza del Amo, Torrance, July 11, 2006.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Busch.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES –Regular Meeting of June 27, 2006 and Special Meeting of June 29, 2006
Mr. Busch moved, seconded by Dr. Griffith, that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 27, 2006 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of June 29, 2006 be approved. Motion carried 3/0.
APPROVAL OF ELIGIBILITY LIST – School Bus Driver
Dr. Griffith moved, seconded by Mr. Busch, that the Eligibility List for School Bus Driver be approved. Motion carried 3/0.
APPROVAL OF REVISION- Job Descriptions – Director-Facilities/Operations, Manager-Transportation & Safety, and Supervisor-Transportation
Dr. Griffith moved, seconded by Mr. Busch, that the Revision – Job Descriptions – Director-Facilities/Operations, Manager-Transportation & Safety, and Supervisor-Transportation be approved. Motion carried 3/0.
Dr. Koga explained that the revisions to these three job descriptions are primarily adding responsibilities as the District’s Designated Employer Representatives for the random alcohol and drug testing program. These designations ensure compliance with requirements of the Department of Transportation and other governmental agencies.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Announcement of new Associate Personnel Analyst – Ms. Denise Aguayo.
Dr. Klonecky congratulated Ms. Aguayo on her promotion and welcomed her to the Personnel Commission.
Dr. Koga pointed out that she was not only pleased to have Ms. Aguayo join the Personnel Commission staff but welcomed a promotional employee appointment. She noted Ms. Aguayo’s education and experience that has prepared her for the analyst position.
Dr. Koga reiterated the need for restoration of this position since it had been frozen for the past three years. She pointed out that the Personnel Commission budget included a Personnel Analyst position (Range 87) for 12 months per year and with the appointment of Ms. Aguayo as the Associate Personnel Analyst (Range 85) at 11 months, this reflected a $6,566 or 1.8 percent savings to the already “bare bones” Personnel Commission budget.
CASBO NewsBreak – June 29, 2006
“ Full repayment of prior-year mandates” is reflected in the new 2006-07
California budget for K-12 districts (although current year mandates are only partially funded).
Bottom Line: TUSD will have a windfall to the 2006-07 general fund due to the Personnel Commission’s mandate reimbursement requests from prior years.
Dr. Koga noted the great news of full repayment of mandated cost reimbursements from the State of California. She then announced that the 2005-2006 Mandated Cost Reimbursement Report was completed and sent to the District’s consultant reflecting a total of $271,567.54 or 79.9% of the Personnel Commission Budget, 2005-2006.
Dr. Koga then reviewed the Reimbursable Cost History of the Personnel Commission (see attached) for the previous five school years—2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-1005 and 2005-2006. She noted that the grand total of the comprehensive five consecutive years of reimbursable cost reports of the Personnel Commission amounted to $739,366.29. She pointed out that the Torrance Unified School District would receive these monies in mandated cost reimbursement due to the Personnel Commission comprehensive documentation.
Dr. Koga commended the Personnel Commission staff for their time and efforts in documentation of those areas deemed reimbursable by California legislation.
Dr. Klonecky thanked staff for their efforts which would be realized in funding back to the District.
Job Announcements:
Child Development Program Assistant-Tier I/Tier II
2007 CSPCA Annual Conference– February 15-18,2007–Long Beach, CA
Next Regular Commission Meeting:
August 8, 2006, 3:30 p.m.-District Office Board Room (only meeting in August)
Note: September meeting schedule will resume to first and third Tuesdays.
COMMENTS FROM STAFF
Dr. Koga related that Personnel Commission staff would soon distribute a Clerical Needs Survey to clerical employees and administrators. She noted that the purpose of this survey was to obtain feedback from school sites and offices relating to their particular technical clerical needs. She added that currently clerical employees were required to pass a typing speed test and that some districts were dropping this requirement along with the shorthand requirement and replacing these with more extensive computer software program testing requirements.
Dr. Koga noted that this survey is intended to provide feedback from administrators and clerical staff for assessing relevant needs of sites based on class specifications.
Dr. Koga added that the Personnel Commission Staff had completed the Annual Report of the Personnel Commission, 2005-2006 and would place this item on the next Commission agenda for approval.
In response to Mr. Busch’s suggestion that CSEA leadership should also be included in this process, Dr. Koga noted that all clerical employees would receive the survey and be afforded the opportunity to respond.
Dr. Koga announced that she would be participating on a technical panel at the Pasadena Unified School District on Wednesday, July 12th, to assist in the selection of a new Personnel Commission Director. She added that she had served on several other Director panels in support of school districts and the merit system overall.
COMMENTS FROM PERSONNEL COMMISSIONERS
Dr. Griffith commended staff on the extensive information currently provided on the District’s website, and the continuing effort involved in updating and revising the Personnel Commission Handbook.
Mr. Busch noted the increase in the number of Applicants Eligible in the Annual Report of the Personnel Commission, which rose from 325 in 2004-05 to 659 in 2005-06.
COMMENTS FROM THOSE IN ATTENDANCE
Ms. Peggy Shannon, CSEA Labor Relations Representative, expressed disappointment that the Personnel Commission had not approved the First Reading of the Revision to Personnel Commission Rule 9.3.3, 9.3.3.1 at its last meeting. She expressed concern for an employee who failed to pass probation in a promotional position.
Ms. Shannon addressed the issue of Tier II Paraeducators being re-assigned to Tier I status based on changes in student’s IEP. She stated that although the District considers this change in status as a transfer, she believes it is a demotion. Ms. Shannon suggested that the District retain the employee’s Tier II salary for the remainder of the school year.
Ms. Shannon also raised a concern that the Adult Education Instructional Assistants have not been under Personnel Commissions jurisdiction. Their recruitment, examination, determination of hours and assignments are all overseen by the Adult Education Department. Her concern is that although these employees are considered part of the CSEA Chapter 845 bargaining unit, their status may require further study.
Ms. Roberta Belyea, Chapter 845 President, cited the case of employees who promoted into Educational Assistant – ASSISTT positions as being potential examples of the negative impact on employees referred to by Ms. Shannon.
Dr. Koga suggested that the Paraeducators document their concerns and meet with the Personnel Commission staff in an effort to resolve potential problems and concerns.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned 4:25 p.m.
