Report 2017-104 Recommendation 9 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 #9 To: Montebello Unified School District

To ensure that Montebello hires qualified classified employees, the personnel commission should, within 90 days, revise its policies to require the classified director to provide it with the education and work experience of any candidates on eligibility lists for high-ranking positions. It should also require the director of the personnel commission—the classified director—to provide it with a list of all provisional appointments, including information on how those employees meet the minimum qualifications.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

The Personnel Commission and the Provisional Director are revising rules to improve accountability, oversight, and transparency. Existing policies are sound, the enforcement of rules and regulations is heightened by ensuring compliance with existing procedures. The Director provides a list of all provisional appointments and ensure they meet minimum qualifications.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Montebello has not addressed our recommendation. It has not demonstrated that the personnel commission revised its policies to require the classified director to provide the education and work experience of candidates on the eligibility lists for high-ranking positions.

Further, in its response to Recommendation #3, the Los Angeles County Office of Education noted concerns with the district appointing the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business Services without a "sunset clause", allowing the position to be filled indefinitely by the interim.


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

MUSD's personnel commission has revised its policy where the classified director provides the education and work experience of candidates for high-ranking positions, including provisional appointments. Documentation showing how the employees meet the minimum requirements is included.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Montebello has not addressed our recommendation. It has not demonstrated that the personnel commission revised its policies to require the classified director to provide the education and work experience of candidates on the eligibility lists for high-ranking positions.

Further, in its response to Recommendation #2, the Los Angeles County Office of Education noted concerns with the district's attempts to fill the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.


Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2019

MUSD's personnel commission has revised its policy where the classified director is to provide the education and work experience of candidates for high-ranking positions, including provisional appointments. Documentation showing how the employees meet the minimum requirements is included.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Montebello has not addressed our recommendation. It has not demonstrated that the personnel commission revised its policies to require the classified director to provide the education and work experience of candidates on the eligibility lists for high-ranking positions. Further, Montebello's list of provisional appointments does not include information on how those employees meet the minimum qualifications.


1-Year Agency Response

The Director of Classified Human Resources continues to provide the personnel commission with a spreadsheet with the names and dates of assignments for all temporary, as needed, limited term, and out of class assignments.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

Montebello has not addressed our recommendation. It has not demonstrated that the personnel commission revised its policies or that the classified director provides the education and work experience of any candidates on the eligibility lists for high-ranking positions. Further, Montebello's list of provisional appointments it asserts it provides to the personnel commission does not include information on how those employees meet the minimum qualifications.


6-Month Agency Response

The Director of Classified Human Resources is providing the personnel commission a spreadsheet with the names and dates of assignments for all temporary, provisional, as needed, limited term, and out of class assignments.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Montebello did not demonstrate that it implemented the recommendation. Montebello did not provide evidence that the personnel commission revised its policies as recommended.


60-Day Agency Response

The Director of Classified Human Resources will provide the Personnel Commission with the education and work experience of all candidates on the eligibility lists for high-ranking positions, as well as how the minimum qualifications are met for all provisional appointments.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending


All Recommendations in 2017-104

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.