The San Mateo County Office of Education has utilized the Merit System since 1966 to ensure that employees are selected, promoted and retained without favoritism or prejudice. The Personnel Commission oversees a Civil Service (Merit) System of Personnel management for San Mateo County Office of Education employees. The fundamental purposes of the Merit System are: (1) to ensure that employees are selected, promoted, and retained on the basis of merit and fitness; and (2) to provide employees protection against arbitrary dismissal through rights of appeal to a Personnel Commission.
The California Education Code provides the legal guidelines to execute these responsibilities. The following are specific functions for which the Personnel Commission is responsible:
- Recruiting, testing and certifying candidates for employment in classified jobs on the basis of merit and fitness through a process of competitive examination.
- Preparing classification descriptions including recommended minimum qualifications.
- Establishing and keeping up to date a classification plan by allocating classified positions to classes within the plan, and allocating each class within the plan to the proper salary grade.
- Conducting labor market salary surveys, and recommending to the Board of Education salary schedules based on the principle of "equal pay for equal work."
- Conducting hearings of appeals resulting from administrative actions including suspensions, demotions, and dismissals.
- Adopting rules and regulations to ensure the efficiency of the service and the selection and retention of employees on the basis of merit and fitness.
- Assuring fair treatment of applicants and employees in all aspects of employment without regard to political affiliation, race, color, national origin, sex, or religious creed.
Personnel Commission members are appointed to serve three-year terms. One is appointed by the Board of Education, one is appointed by the bargaining unit representing the largest number of classified employees, and the third is appointed by the other two Commissioners. Personnel Commissioners must be residents of San Mateo County and be known adherents of the merit principle. Personnel Commission meetings are held monthly at San Mateo County Office of Education. Meetings are normally held on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public.
MEMBERS OF THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION
| CHRISTINE COFFEY |
Appointed by the Personnel Commission |
| OLGA HOJA |
Appointed by the Board of Education |
| PAUL SCANNELL |
Appointed by San Mateo County Office of Education classified employees |
The Personnel Commission staff is committed to providing "hands-on" service support in helping you meet all your classified human resources management needs while fulfilling our purpose to uphold the principles of fairness, consistency, and accountability in administering our merit-based employment program.
Staff Contact Information
Glenn Siegel
Administrator, Classified Human Resources
gsiegel@smcoe.k12.ca.us
(650) 802-5367
Eric SooHoo
Human Resources Analyst
esoohoo@smcoe.k12.ca.us
(650) 802-5368
Lorena Vargas
Benefits Analyst
lvargas@smcoe.k12.ca.us
(650) 802-5611
Donna Cervelli
Executive Administrative Assistant
dcervelli@smcoe.k12.ca.us
(650) 802-5309