REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 21, 2024
FROM
TRACY REECE, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Contracts with School Districts to Provide School-Based Probation Officers
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve revenue contracts, including a non-standard term, with the following school districts, for the provision of school-based Probation Officers, at a cost not to exceed $34,131 per each assigned full-time Probation Officer, in the aggregate amount of $955,668 for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025:
1. Adelanto Elementary School District - three probation officers ($102,393).
2. Apple Valley Unified School District - two probation officers ($68,262).
3. Bear Valley Unified School District - one probation officer ($34,131).
4. Chaffey Joint Union High School District - one probation officer ($34,131).
5. Chino Valley Unified School District - two probation officers ($68,262).
6. Colton Joint Unified School District - one probation officer ($34,131).
7. Cucamonga School District - one probation officer ($34,131).
8. Morongo Unified School District - one probation officer ($34,131).
9. Needles Unified School District - 0.75 probation officer ($0).
10. San Bernardino City Unified School District - three probation officers ($102,393).
11. San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools - six probation officers ($204,786).
12. Upland Unified School District - two probation officers ($68,262).
13. Victor Valley Union High School District - five probation officers ($170,655).
(Presenter: Tracy Reece, Chief Probation Officer, 387-5692)
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
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). A total of 28.75 Probation Officers (POs) Full Time Equivalents will be assigned to 13 school districts (Districts). The Probation Officer for the Needles Unified School District will be assigned on a part-time basis and will not be charged to the district. The average annual cost of each Probation Officer (PO) is $137,889, and each district will reimburse an amount not to exceed $34,131 for each assigned full-time PO. The total cost of the 29 POs for 2024-25 is $3,998,787, of which the Districts agree to pay a not to exceed amount of $955,668. The Probation Department’s (Department) remaining cost of $3,043,119 will be funded by the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA). The JJCPA allocates state resources annually to fund programs that address juvenile crime prevention and focus on public safety. The Department requests annual Board of Supervisors (Board) approval for the services provided by these contracts. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department’s 2024-25 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
For more than 20 years, the Department has utilized various grants to fund school-based POs, including funding under the JJCPA. The POs serve as a resource for the Districts, and work with students and their families to provide necessary intervention/prevention services in response to problems that reach beyond the school setting and affect the student’s academic progress. These intervention/prevention efforts often result in reduced student delinquency and improved classroom attendance and performance.
Services provided by the POs are based on the needs of the Districts and the guidelines of the contract. Some Districts use the POs for home visits with school personnel to increase attendance and/or use the POs to teach National Curriculum & Training Institute classes on campus such as anger management, cognitive life skills, delinquent behavior, drugs and alcohol, gang involvement, shoplifting, and truancy. The services offered by the POs are advertised during Districts and principal meetings to encourage participation. Many Districts have opted for services depending on their budgets.
On May 23, 2023 (Item No. 46), the Board approved revenue contracts with the Districts listed in the Recommendation, at a cost not to exceed $33,137 per each assigned full-time PO, for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Approval of the recommended contracts will allow school PO services to continue for an additional year, through June 30, 2025.
In the event that JJCPA funding is not available to continue these services through 2024-25, contract language has been included that allows either party to terminate the contract upon 15 days’ written notice.
These contracts contain the following term that differs from the standard County contract:
1. The contracts with the Districts allow for mutual indemnification.
• The County standard contract requires the contractor to indemnify the County in accordance with County Policy 11-07.
• Potential Impact: The contracts will require the County and the Districts to indemnify each other based on comparative fault. The County could be liable for potential harm or loss incurred by the Districts.
While this is a notable exception to the County’s standard contract language, the Department recommends approval of these contracts, including the non-standard term, to continue the prevention efforts which often result in reduced student delinquency and improved classroom attendance and performance. County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and provided input on the proposed contracts with the Districts. In addition, the Districts have each presented and obtained approval of their contracts from their respective governing body.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Maria Insixiengmay, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 1, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-8623) on November 2, 2023; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst III, 387-5285) on November 29, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on November 29, 2023.