Santa Clara County Grand Jury
• 2009-2010
• Agency Response
LOS Altos Business Services
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Page 2
Per the District's current CBAs,internal applicants are given priority over external applicants who may be better qualified for the job. LASD Response The district disagrees with thefinding. While internal applicants have the opportunity to apply for jobs ahead of external applicants, only well-qualified internal applicants actually benefit from this opportunity.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 2
Each Board should revisit this subject in future CBAnegotiations to ensure that competency isthe determinant factor inthe job candidate selection process. LASD Response The district recognizes that competency isadeterminant factor in thejob candidate selection process, but it isnot the only important factor. Other factors we consider include past work performance, the ability to work well with others, demonstration of astrong work ethic, and the ability to acquire new skills.
F2
Page 2
The PAUSDutilizes aprocess that requires teacher job applicants to teach demonstration lessons which are subsequently scored by aqualified review team. The scores are utilized assignificant factors in hiring decisions. LASD Response While we are not familiar with the PAUSDhiring process, we believe we have aprocess inplace that results in attracting and hiring the very best qualified candidates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 2
All Districts should consider adopting interview practices like PAUSDwhich provide opportunities for applicants to demonstrate their teaching skills. LASD Response Theprocess in our district includes requiring applicants to demonstrate their teaching skills by delivering ademonstration lesson, thus we have already implemented this recommendation.
F3
Page 2
Twenty-two of the 32 Districts have policies covering the hiring of employee and Board member relatives. LASD Response While we do not have knowledge of the hiring policies of other districts in our county, we have apolicy in place in our district that covers the hiring of employee and board member relatives.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 2
All Boards should formulate and implement policies covering the hiring of relatives, including the disclosure of any familial relationships to the Board, to avoid the appearance of bias or favoritism in the recruitment and job assignment processes. LASD Response The district will review its current policies in light of this recommendation and implement any necessary changes prior to December 31,2010.
F4
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Twenty-two of the 32 Districts do not permit employees to be placed in direct reporting relationships to their relatives. The following 10 Districts stated they do not have awritten policy regarding the direct supervisory relationship of related employees. [See Report for list.] LASD Response While we do not have knowledge of the policies and practices of other districts in our county, our district isnot one of the 10districts on the list.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 2
The Boards of the Districts listed in Finding 4should formulate and implement apolicy prohibiting direct employee supervision of spouses and other relatives. Response to2009-10 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report LASDResponse As stated above, LosAltos School District already has implemented this recommendation.
F5
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The following 18 Districts allow the Superintendent to override the policy of not permitting relatives to be placed in direct reporting relationships to current employees, on acase-by-case basis: [See Report for list.] LASDResponse While we do not have knowledge of the policies and practices of other districts in our county, we recognize that our district isone of the 18 districts on the list and contend that weshould not be on the list. We believe the Grand Jury has misinterpreted our policy.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 3
Boards should adopt apolicy of reviewing all Superintendent decisions that override the policy that pertains to the placement of related employees in direct reporting positions. LASDResponse The district already has implemented this recommendation. The Grand Jury has misinterpreted our policy regarding Employment of Relatives. Our policy states the relatives can be in the same department, but may not be in asupervisor toemployee relationship. [Policy isattached.)
F6
Page 3
Fourteen of the 32 Districts are aware of and/or document the number and names of related employees. The following Districts do not document this information. [See Report for list.] LASDResponse While we do not have knowledge of the policies and practices of other districts in our county, our district isnot one of the 14districts on the list.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 3
The Boards of the Districts listed in Finding 6should implement apolicy of identifying familial relationships and tracking such data. LASDResponse Asstated above, LosAltos School District already has implemented this recommendation.
F7
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Only LosGatos-Saratoga Joint Union and the PaloAlto Unified Districts responded that they ask about familial relationships on their job applications. LASDResponse While we do not have knowledge of the policies and practices of other districts in our county, we acknowledge that our district does not ask about familial relationships on our job applications.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 3
All Boards should implement measures to identify familial relationships during the hiring process. LASDResponse The district agrees with this recommendation and, to the extent permitted by law, intends toimplement the recommendation prior to December 31, 2010. eadministration and governing board of LosAltos School District. (Date) 2