Personnel Commission Overview
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.
Statement of Purpose, Ethics, and Values
Purpose
Public service and the education of future generations are honorable endeavors. Excellence in support of public education is the ultimate goal of a merit system for classified employees. The merit system provides for the effectiveness of the classified service by the selection, promotion, and retention of qualified employees. A merit system of employee selection, promotion, and retention provides equal opportunity for all.
Values and Ethics
As leaders in support of the merit system, we set the standard for collaboration and ethical behavior by our personal conduct and our institutional leadership. We perform our duties to bring esteem and distinction to our public education system. We foster confidence in the fairness, objectivity, and impartiality of our decisions and leadership. We respect the dignity of all employees in the classified service and maintain the confidentiality of any sensitive information to which we are provided access. We support the fair and equitable administration of state and federal laws in the mutual interest of the employees, students, and community we serve. We promote and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace as fundamental to the integrity and sustainability of the merit system.
Adopted December 20, 2018
Commissioners
Michael Ostini
Appointed by the California School Employees Association, Chapter 817
Gary Pickavet
Governing Board Appointment
Carmen Jaramillo
Appointed by the other two commissioners
Resources
2022-23 Annual Report | Highlights