4400 THE MERIT SYSTEM
The Merit System was established when Congress passed the Civil Service Act of 1883 (Pendleton Act), which set up the first civil service system for federal employees to guard against patronage appointments. In 1936, the first Merit System law for school districts was established. Currently, almost 100 school districts and county education offices in California have adopted a Merit System. Merit System law (Education Codes 45240-45320) provides that classified employees are selected, retained and promoted on the basis of merit and fitness, exclusive of discrimination due to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, political affiliation, marital status, disability, gender, sexual orientation or national origin. The Merit System means that an impartial body is responsible for implementing and interpreting Merit System rules and adjudicating appeals on those facets of employment within its purview. The Personnel Commission is the impartial body authorized by the state to be responsible for certain personnel matters affecting classified school employees.
In 1975, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to transfer certain duties and functions pertaining to the classified service to the Santa Barbara County Education Office Superintendent of Schools/Governing Board. The Education Code provides that when such transfer occurs, it is mandatory that the Superintendent/Governing Board establish a Merit System for all classified employees if the county
has a Merit System in effect at the time of adoption of the resolution of transfer by the Board of Supervisors. The Merit System did exist for county employees at that time and it was, therefore, mandatory that it be established for the Santa Barbara County Education Office classified service. As a result of the transfer, the Merit System was adopted at the Santa Barbara County Education Office in 1975.
The Santa Barbara County Education Office Personnel Commission, composed of three members, follows a set of rules aligned with related legal codes, board policies and administrative rules and regulations, Collective Bargaining Agreements, applicable labor laws, and case law. The Director, Classified Human Resources of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, is the secretary to the Personnel Commission and prepares all necessary information provided to the Commission on a monthly basis for a public meeting during which the Commissioners review data, discuss topics within the jurisdiction of the Personnel Commission, and take action on necessary items to maintain efficiency and fidelity of the Classified Service.
The rules found herein are a result of considerable research to satisfy all provisions of the Education Code and related administrative policy. Although the rules are flexibly tailored to the needs of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, we readily recognize that as the rules are applied, there will be need for revision, amendment and addition.
Approved:
Sept. 17, 1975
Revised:
Apr. 29, 1982
May 28, 1992
Jan. 23, 2014
