Report 2017-104 Recommendation 8 Responses
Report 2017-104: Montebello Unified School District: County Superintendent Intervention Is Necessary to Address Its Weak Financial Management and Governance (Release Date: November 2017)
Recommendation #8 To: Montebello Unified School District
To ensure that Montebello hires the most qualified executive and management staff, Montebello should immediately adhere to its policies for hiring classified employees, including screening candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications. Montebello should also hold provisional employees to the same standards for minimum
qualifications as its policy requires.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2023
The district has fully staffed its executive personnel and management staff through Human Resources following district recruiting and hiring policies and practices.
- Completion Date: February 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Montebello has not demonstrated that it has adhered to its policies for hiring classified employees. Further, Montebello did not provide evidence to show that it screened candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications or that it interviewed and ranked candidates.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021
To ensure that the Montebello Unified School District hires the most qualified executive and management staff, the Personnel Commission has started a review of job classifications, updates job specifications, and increased the level of scrutiny to ensure compliance with the Personnel Commission's existing rules and regulations. The Personnel Commission is also adjusting and improving rules. With respect to applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, personnel commission staff conduct rigorous screening measures, check, validate, and verify information, and prepare and certify eligibility lists. The Personnel Commission not only pre-screens provisional employees to ensure they meet the qualification, the PC also now places them on public agenda inviting comments and objections, if any. The former director did not adhere to these policies.
- Completion Date: July 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Montebello has not demonstrated that it has adhered to its policies for hiring classified employees. Further, Montebello did not provide evidence to show that it screened candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications or that it interviewed and ranked candidates.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020
MUSD continues to follow its policies in hiring the most qualified classified employees and ensuring they meet minimum qualifications. This policy also includes provisional employees. MUSD advertises vacant positions inside and outside of the district. Postings include Maintenance Manager, and Payroll & Benefits Manager. Documentation showing the complete process has been submitted for the positions filled.
- Completion Date: July 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Montebello has not demonstrated that it has adhered to its policies for hiring classified employees. The documentation Montebello provided is incomplete and does not show that it followed its hiring processes. Montebello did not provide evidence to show that it screened candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications or that it interviewed and ranked candidates.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019
MUSD continues to follow its policies in hiring the most qualified classified employees and ensuring they meet minimum qualifications. This policy also includes provisional employees. MUSD advertises vacant positions inside and outside of the district. Postings include Directors Fiscal Services, Maintenance, Operations and Facilities Development, Procurement & Logistics, and Transportation. Documentation showing the complete process has been submitted for the positions filled.
- Completion Date: October 2019
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending
Montebello has not demonstrated that it has adhered to its policies for hiring classified employees. The documentation Montebello provided is incomplete and does not show that it followed its hiring processes. Montebello did not provide evidence to show that it screened candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications or that it interviewed and ranked candidates.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
MUSD continues to hire the most qualified classified employees by ensuring they meet the minimum qualifications. MUSD also continues to advertise vacant positions inside and outside of MUSD. Postings include Chief Business Officer, Director of Fiscal Services and Director of Maintenance, Operations and Facilities Development. Documentation showing the complete process from beginning to end has been submitted for the positions filled.
- Completion Date: November 2018
- Response Date: November 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
Montebello has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that it followed the policies for hiring classified employees. Specifically, Montebello did not provide support that it filled the positions for the Chief Business Officer and the two director positions. Further, Montebello did not demonstrate how candidates met minimum qualifications.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
6-Month Agency Response
MUSD will continue to hire the most qualified classified employees by ensuring that they meet the minimum qualifications and holding provisional employees to the same standards. MUSD will continue advertising vacant positions inside and outside of MUSD. MUSD has posted the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Chief Business Officer, Director of Educational Services, Director of Human Resources, (2) Principal-Elementary. Furthermore, the Director of Fiscal Services and Director of Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities Development positions were also flown inside and outside of MUSD. As requested by the State Auditor, we will submit the documentation once the process has been completed from beginning to end. At this time, we do not have the above mentioned positions filled including Board approval.
- Estimated Completion Date: 6/30/2018
- Response Date: May 2018
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
MUSD will continue to hire the most qualified classified employees by ensuring that they meet the minimum qualifications and holding provisional employees to the same standards. MUSD will continue advertising vacant positions inside and outside of MUSD. MUSD has posted the Chief Business Officer position and has most recently revised the associated salary schedule. Furthermore, the Director of Fiscal Services position has also been revised and will be posted for the selection of a successful candidate.
- Completion Date: December 2017
- Response Date: December 2017
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
Montebello has not demonstrated that it has adhered to its policies for hiring classified employees, including screening candidates to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
All Recommendations in 2017-104
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.