REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 19, 2023
FROM
JACQUELYN GREENE, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Agreement with California State University, San Bernardino for Student Internships
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve non-financial agreement, including non-standard terms, with California State University, San Bernardino for student internships for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2029.
(Presenter: Jacquelyn Greene, Director, 383-2005)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommended agreement is non-financial in nature and as such, does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Preschool Services Department (PSD) provides Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool programs that include comprehensive child development and family services comprised of education, health, nutrition, parent involvement, and psychological services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families. The overall goal of these programs is to increase the health and school readiness of disadvantaged children and increase the self-sufficiency of low-income families. Head Start and State Preschool programs have been operating in San Bernardino County since 1965. Since 1999, PSD has provided these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services.
Under the terms of the recommended agreement, PSD will provide training and field experience to student interns from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) at PSD school sites. Interns seeking to obtain credentials in early childhood education will gain practical experiences outside the classroom.
CSUSB student interns will provide additional classroom support for activities and observation to all learning site locations for the support of children, parents, and teachers in early childhood education, nutrition, social work, and marriage and family support services throughout the county. CSUSB student interns will gain field experience and internship hours with PSD’s oversight.
PSD utilizes a Board of Supervisors (Board) approved student internship agreement template with several agencies countywide. CSUSB requirements differ from the Board-approved student internship agreement template regarding training and services provided; therefore, this agreement has been adjusted to meet its specific requirements. This agreement establishes the terms and conditions under which PSD will provide Learning Sites for students.
PSD employs qualified professionals who can provide the needed tutelage and guidance to student interns participating in service learning, internships, field practicums and any substantially similar program. PSD’s population of over 3,000 children ages 0 to 5 will provide CSUSB interns with student-focused learning experience and provide beneficial services to PSD. Additionally, the use of interns is a valuable means of maximizing available public resources.
CSUSB is a self-insured entity. As such, its administrators and insurance require certain terms and conditions that differ from the standard County contract. The non-standard items are:
1. Each party will indemnify and hold the other party harmless from and against any and all liability, loss, expense (including reasonable attorney's fees), or claims for injury or damages arising out of the performance of this agreement but only in proportion to and to the extent such liability, loss, expense, attorney's fees, or claims for injury or damages are caused by or result from the negligent or intentional acts or omissions of Learning Site, its officers, agents, or employees.
• The County standard contract does not include any indemnification or defense by the County of a contractor.
• Potential Impact: By agreeing to indemnify CSUSB, the County could be contractually waiving the protection of sovereign immunity. Claims that may otherwise be barred against the County, time limited, or expense limited could be brought against CSUSB without such limitations and the County would be responsible to defend and reimburse CSUSB for costs, expenses, and damages.
2. The agreement does not require CSUSB to meet the County’s insurance standards as required pursuant to County Policy 11-07.
• County Policy requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance at limits and under conditions determined by the County’s Risk Management Department and set forth in the County standard contract.
• Potential Impact: The agreement does not include County standard insurance requirements. This means that the County has no assurance that CSUSB will be financially responsible for claims that may arise through this agreement, which could result in additional expenses to the County.
PSD recommends approval of the agreement, including non-standard terms, which will allow PSD to provide training and field experience at Learning Sites to CSUSB interns through internship services to children throughout the county.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Seven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on November 8, 2023; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 9, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Director, 386-8623) on November 1, 2023; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on November 29, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on December 4, 2023.