📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

DVC Main Jail

Published: June 30, 2016 80 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 11 findings

F1 Page 50
The Grand Jury finds that the Board has violated the Brown Act on at least two occasions. These violations were due to the lack of open session discussion regarding the superintendent's contract and incomplete reporting of closed session decisions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 51
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
F2 Page 50
The Board chose to add the superintendent's expenses to his annual salary. While this is contrary to the spirit of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act adopted in 2012, the practice is commonplace for superintendents hired before 2013.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 51
If the Board chooses to grant the Superintendent a salary raise in excess of the percentage granted to District Bargaining Units, they should announce the amount together with the Superintendent’s annual performance goals and discuss the increase in a public meeting. (F2, F3)
F3 Page 50
There is history of poor communication and mistrust of the Board and District administration by the public they serve.
Related Recommendations (7)
R1
Page 51
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
R2
Page 51
If the Board chooses to grant the Superintendent a salary raise in excess of the percentage granted to District Bargaining Units, they should announce the amount together with the Superintendent’s annual performance goals and discuss the increase in a public meeting. (F2, F3)
R4
Page 51
Soquel Union Elementary School District should make available on their website an easily filed complaint form with guidelines. (F3, F4)
R5
Page 51
The Board should include a summary of complaint topics received since their last meeting in the meeting minutes. All complaint topics should be summarized, including Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure, Uniform Complaint Process, Freedom Of Information Act, email, etc. (F3, F4)
R6
Page 51
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R7
Page 51
The Board should include public recognition, recorded in meeting minutes, of all financial contributions from HSCs and other contributors of funds to the District. (F3, F6)
R8
Page 51
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F4 Page 50
The lack of an adequate, posted complaint procedure and problem resolution process contributes to the mistrust of the District and Board.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Page 51
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
R4
Page 51
Soquel Union Elementary School District should make available on their website an easily filed complaint form with guidelines. (F3, F4)
R5
Page 51
The Board should include a summary of complaint topics received since their last meeting in the meeting minutes. All complaint topics should be summarized, including Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure, Uniform Complaint Process, Freedom Of Information Act, email, etc. (F3, F4)
F5 Page 50
The Board has failed to adequately develop and report performance standards for the superintendent.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 51
The Board should include in the Superintendent’s performance standard a goal of reaching an agreement between the District and the HSCs that specifies accounting report content and frequency. (F5, F7)
F6 Page 50
Although HSC contributions are a significant part of the discretionary budget for schools in the District, they are not well managed and they do not receive adequate public recognition. Soquel Union Elementary School Board – Full Disclosure is Not Optional 2015-2016 Final Report 51
Related Recommendations (3)
R6
Page 51
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R7
Page 51
The Board should include public recognition, recorded in meeting minutes, of all financial contributions from HSCs and other contributors of funds to the District. (F3, F6)
R8
Page 51
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F7 Page 51
There is no policy in place to reconcile HSC donations with District expenditures. The proposed contract policy between the District and contributors of donations in excess of $500 is intended to address this issue.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3
Page 51
The Board should include in the Superintendent’s performance standard a goal of reaching an agreement between the District and the HSCs that specifies accounting report content and frequency. (F5, F7)
R6
Page 51
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R8
Page 51
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F8 Page 51
Because HSC contributions for teacher supplies are combined with contributions from other sources, accounting to individual donors for each teacher's expenses is impractical.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 51
The District should assume all responsibility for funding and managing teacher supply accounts and/or define a clear donation policy for contributions to teacher accounts. (F8) Published April 26, 2016 52 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F9 Page 80
The Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy and the Sheriff’s Medical and Mental Health Care Procedure Manual lack guidance for when an inmate should be transferred to a hospital for a higher level of care or when an inmate should be placed on IV hydration.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Page 81
Clear guidelines need to be established in the Sheriff’s Medical and Mental Health Care Procedure Manual for when an inmate should be given a higher level care such as IV hydration or transfer to a hospital. (F9)
F10 Page 80
The Detoxification of Chemically Dependent Inmates, Federal Bureau of Prisons Clinical Practice Guidelines, February 2014, contains useful information related to recommended standards for the medical management of withdrawal from addictive substances.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Page 81
The Sheriff-Coroner should review Detoxification of Chemically Dependent Inmates, Federal Bureau of Prisons Clinical Practice Guidelines, February 2014, and revise applicable Sheriff's policies and procedures to meet or exceed federal guidelines. (F10) Published June 8, 2016 82 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F11 Page 80
The Sheriff’s Office at times refers to placing at-risk inmates in the infirmary, when in fact they are placed in the Observation Unit. The Observation Unit is not an infirmary. The Grand Jury finds this misnomer to be misleading to the public and endangering of the public trust. Another Death in Our Jail 2015-2016 Final Report 81
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Page 82
The Sheriff-Coroner should stop referring to the Observation Unit as an infirmary unless major steps are taken to improve the medical services provided in this unit. Continuing to refer to this group of observation cells as an infirmary is misleading to the public and does a disservice to the public trust. (F11) Commendation C1. In this entire unfortunate situation, there is but one bright spot. The Corrections Officers who watched over Krista DeLuca during her last hours carried out their duties with professionalism and compassion for their charge by making small but meaningful efforts to preserve her dignity during her last hours. The Corrections Officer who was working at the booking desk was concerned for Ms. DeLuca’s safety and kept her in booking so he could keep a closer watch on her. Corrections Officers in the Observation Unit made efforts to provide water and assistance while performing their required duties.

Commendations 17

Observations 1