The Personnel Commission is a nonpartisan public body responsible for the administration of the Merit System. It consists of three members appointed for three-year terms with the term of one member expiring each year. One commissioner is appointed by the Santa Barbara County Board of Education; another is appointed by the exclusive bargaining unit, CSEA; and the third commissioner is appointed by the other two members.

The Personnel Commission meets monthly, typically on the fourth Thursday of each month, at 12:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Santa Barbara County Education Office, 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Santa Barbara. The meetings can also be viewed via video conference in the Board Room at the North County Office, 402 Farnel Road, Santa Maria. In the months of October, March, and June, meetings are held at the North County Office Board Room and can be viewed via video conference at the South County Office Board Room. All Personnel Commission meetings are open to the public.

Current commissioners are: Michael Ostini, appointed by the bargaining unit, CSEA; Gary Pickavet, appointed by the Santa Barbara County Board of Education; and Carmen Jaramillo, appointed by the other two members of the commission.

The commission employs staff to administer the Merit System. The staff members are responsible for conducting personnel management procedures for the classified service according to the commission’s rules. Current staff members are: Tracie Cordero, Classified Human Resources Specialist and Melissa Rodriguez, Classified Human Resources Analyst.

All Personnel Commission staff members are available to SBCEO classified staff if they have any questions concerning their employment.