San Mateo County Office of Education

Employer Description

THE ORGANIZATION

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) provides leadership, coordination,
and a variety of instructional, business and consulting services to the County’s 23 public school districts, charter schools and the community college district, thus enhancing their ability to provide quality educational programs.

THE MERIT SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL COMMISSION

The San Mateo County Office of Education has utilized the Merit System since 1966 to ensure that classified 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 Merit System is a method of personnel management which is designed to promote the efficiency and economy of the workforce and the good of the public by providing for the selection and retention of employees, promotional opportunities, in-service training, and other related matters on the basis of merit, fitness, and the principle of “like pay for like work.” 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.

PERSONNEL COMMISSION MISSION

To recruit, select and promote highly qualified employees using valid and innovative skills assessment examinations and selection procedures; to compensate classified employees based on the Merit System principle of equal pay for equal work;  to provide exceptional customer service; and to implement personnel management  programs that align with and support the mission and goals of the Personnel  Commission and the San Mateo County Office of Education.

PERSONNEL COMMISSION VISION

To be regarded as a trustworthy and customer focused department that thoroughly understands and expertly delivers solutions for the unique personnel management needs of managers, employees, and members of the public we serve. We expect and demand of ourselves the best we have to offer by working together as a team, striving for operational excellence and adhering to our core values.

PERSONNEL COMMISSION VALUES

• We communicate openly and honestly and build relationships based on trust, respect, and caring.
• We work together effectively to achieve our individual and department goals.
• We treat every employee and member of the public with honesty, dignity, and respect.
• We are dedicated to the highest level of achievement within our areas of responsibility.
• We earn the confidence of those we serve by acting with integrity and behaving ethically.
• We listen attentively to our clients to truly understand their needs and then deliver solutions.
• We take pride in exceeding client expectations and striving for continuous improvement.
• We give higher priority to people than to tasks.
• We strive to make people feel valued and appreciated.