Mandatory COVID Vaccination Verification Submittal
On August 11, 2021, the California Department of Public Health released a Public Health Office order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to this order, all paid and unpaid adults serving San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools will need to provide proof of full vaccination status OR be tested at least once per week.
In accordance with this Health Order, we are currently taking steps to implement its requirements, including the first step of verifying the status of employees who are fully vaccinated. Following this verification, we will be identifying employees who will need to undergo the weekly diagnostic screening. Finally, we will review and explain the diagnostic screening process to all affected employees.
As such, we are asking that all fully vaccinated employees provide proof of vaccination status starting on September 27, 2021. Proof of vaccination status can be a copy or photo of your vaccination card or documentation from your health care provider regarding your vaccination status. If you have lost your card, you can visit https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ to request a QR code that will have your vaccination details.
SBCSS employees will be required to log onto the BEST NET Employee Self Service ESS portal and upload proof of their vaccination status. Use this link to log onto BEST Net https://employeeselfservice.sbcss.k12.ca.us/login.aspx. If you have not registered for SBCSS’s Employee Self Service portal, you will need to know your net pay from your last SBCSS paycheck. Please check your direct deposit record, or your pay warrant record if you’re not using direct deposit, for your last net pay amount. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated and will help provide us with the information required to implement this order.
Please note that the system used to manage the tracking of testing is separate from BEST NET. As a result, there may be a delay between the time you upload your proof of vaccination and the time we transfer that verification to the test tracking system. If you receive an email requiring that you submit to testing, but you are fully vaccinated, please notify us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can have the record corrected.
As in dealing with any sensitive information, access to records of vaccination status will be limited to administration and confidential employees. We remain committed to our process of clear communication, therefore, will provide updates to this health order and/or guidelines as they are received.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the submittal of your vaccination verification you may contact Valerie Alanis or Sandy Avina in the Risk Management office during work hours at (909) 386-9670. We are here to help you.
Indoor Masking Requirement
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has updated its indoor masking requirement. On December 15, CDPH will require masks to be worn in all indoor public settings irrespective of vaccine status through January 15, 2022, at which point California will make further recommendations as needed in response to the pandemic. You may read the full news release from the CDPH website here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR21-352.aspx.
Effective Wednesday, December 15, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools will comply with this new masking requirement. All staff and visitors will be required to wear masks while indoors at all SBCSS sites, regardless of vaccination status.
At this time, the Guidance for K-12 settings regarding masking remains the same. Click to read more: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2021-22-School-Year.aspx.
For more information, please contact a member from the Pandemic Liaison Team -- @Victor Torres or @Daniel Anchondo or (909) 413-5984 or (909) 413-0299.
Combined Giving Campaign Forms Due On Jan. 6
To support the efforts of charitable agencies in our county, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools every year provides an opportunity for employees to get engaged through the Combined Giving Campaign. The deadline to submit paperwork pledges is Jan. 6, 2020.
This is an opportunity for employees to contribute to community-based charities through payroll deductions for the 2020 calendar year.
Staff members have the opportunity to be part of this campaign by completing a form emailed to all staff to help the Worldwide United Way chapters in San Bernardino County and/or the SBCSS Child Assistance Fund.
The SBCSS Child Assistance Fund helps students with needs served through County Schools programs. The fund provides clothing, bus passes to attend school, eyeglasses and other ways of assistance to help students attend and stay in SBCSS County Schools programs.
Arrowhead United Way is one of four chapters in San Bernardino County which provides an option for SBCSS employees to give locally from their paycheck. See the attached Combined Giving Campaign Form for web addresses of the four chapters.
A gift of $1, $3, $5 or $10 or more per month will make a difference to a child. The deadline to submit the original signed form is January 6, 2020, to the Benefits Team in Human Resources.
Donations Needed For Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
The deadline to make donations to this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive is Nov. 8. The Food Drive, which is organized through Employee Connection, supports students and their families who are in SBCSS programs. Last year, there were close to 380 baskets sent out to students and their families. Your generous support is need this week to benefit students for the upcoming holiday.
Employee Connection is collecting cash/check and food donations with its following members at County Schools' administrative sites -- Brier (Kimberlee Bailey and Laura Campos), Desert/Mountain (Makenna Hultquest), Roy C Hill Education Center (Dan Evans), Support Center (Martha Ruedas) and West End (Chantel Avila).
Cash/check donations are strongly encouraged. Make checks for donations to Employee Connection. It costs about $35 to assemble one basket for a student's family.
The following items will be included in the baskets, for those who wish to make individual donations: stuffing; boxed potatoes; canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce and yams; gravy, jello/pudding; brownie/cake mix; and juice.
Register Now For Annual Harvest Lunch On Oct. 16
In partnership with County Superintendent Ted Alejandre, Employee Connection would like to invite SBCSS employees to the annual Harvest Luncheon, where County Schools’ staff members are honored for their years of service. The luncheon also serves as a kick-off the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive – not to mention this year’s version of the enlightening “Who’s Who?” game. There's bound to be plenty of delicious food, fellowship, fun and fabulous prizes!
The Harvest Luncheon will be held on Oct. 16 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Professional Development Center of the San Bernardino City Unified School District (see attached flyer for details).
On the day of the Harvest Luncheon, check-in registration for the event begins at 11 a.m. Staff is encouraged to arrive early, pick up their food and be seated since the program will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m.
A limited supply of Spirit Shirts will be available for purchase at the venue, and SBCSS staff also will have the opportunity to order the Spirit Shirt(s) of their choice.
Back by popular demand, this year's lunch will be catered by McGrath's Catering. There will be a variety of sides, drinks and desserts with your choice of stuffed turkey with gravy or a vegetarian option.
Don't forget, those who bring a 64-ounce bottle of juice for the Thanksgiving Food Drive will receive an additional opportunity ticket for chances to win fabulous prizes!
Don't miss out on this year's event -- register today at http://sbcss.k12oms.org/422-176164. Access code is Harvest19. The deadline to register is Oct. 4.
Employee Connection Blood Drive On Aug. 15
Employee Connection will hold a blood drive on Aug. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brier building in San Bernardino.
Donations will benefit Life Stream Blood Bank. Everyone who makes a donation will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.
To make an appointment to donate blood, click on the following link: https://giftoflife.lstream.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/74641
For more information about about the blood drive, contact Kimberlee Bailey at 909.388.5701.
Houston Selected As New Assistant Superintendent For SBCSS
Dr. Stephanie Houston has been selected as the new assistant superintendent of Innovation and Engagement for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Houston comes to us with more than 24 years of experience serving the students of our county via her extensive career with the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupation Program (CRY-ROP).
Currently, Stephanie is the CRY-ROP superintendent and has served in that position for more than a decade. Prior to that, she worked as a CRY-ROP teacher, program manager and director. She is a graduate of Cal State San Bernardino and has a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Redlands. Additionally, she earned a doctoral degree in Education Transformational Leadership from Brandman University where her doctoral dissertation was entitled: Catalyzing Change: Identifying Action to Accelerate Collective Impact Progress in San Bernardino County.
Dr. Houston will begin her new role as assistant superintendent of Innovation and Engagement on July 1, replacing recently retired Dr. Lynne Kennedy.
We look forward to having her in the leadership team of our organization and are confident she will do an outstanding job for our staff, our client school districts, and community partners.
Children Deserve Success Receives Statewide Recognition In April
The John Burton Advocates for Youth recognized the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Children Deserve Success program for being the winner in the California Foster Youth FAFSA Challenge during a ceremony on April 1 in Sacramento.
The Foster Youth Services program, as part of Children Deserve Success for County Schools, coordinated efforts so that 52 percent of high school seniors in the county who are in foster care filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-19 academic year. The John Burton Advocates said that was the top producer in the Large County category across the state.
John Burton Advocates works to create greater post-secondary educational opportunities for foster youth. According to date, only 4 percent of foster youth earn college bachelor’s degrees by age 26, in comparison to 37 percent of the general population.
In the FAFSA Challenge, the statewide average for foster youth completing the FAFSA form was just 47 percent. County Schools salutes the work and dedication our schools and districts show to support our foster youth – a great effort that is worthy of statewide recognition!
Teacher Recruitment Fair Set For March 30 In San Bernardino
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, in collaboration with the County Teachers Association and county district superintendents, is announcing registration for the annual Countywide Teacher Recruitment Fair for job seekers, looking for employment in education.
The fair, which will be held on March 30 at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, is seeking applicants for grades K-12 positions in all subject areas, including career technical education. This is an opportunity for qualified candidates to meet with a host of San Bernardino County school districts, as well as institutes of higher education.
Participating districts and colleges include: Adelanto Elementary; Apple Valley Unified; Barstow Unified; Chaffey Joint Union HSD; Colton Joint Unified; Etiwanda Elementary; Fontana Unified; Hesperia Unified; Morongo Unified; Ontario-Montclair; Oro Grande; Redlands Unified; Rialto Unified; Rim of the World Unified; San Bernardino City Unified; San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; Snowline Joint Unified; and Victor Elementary. Institutes of higher education expected to partcipate are Barstow Community College, California State University, San Bernardino, and University of Redlands.
To register online, go to https://sbcss.k12oms.org/66-163050
Nominations Needed For Classified School Employees Of Year
Staff for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools are encouraged to submit nominations for the annual Classified School Employee of the Year program, which is organized through the California Department of Education. The deadline for nominations to SBCSS is March 5.
The program, which features six categories for nominations, highlights the contributions of school employees who support public education for more than 403,000 students in the 33 county school districts.
The categories that employees can be nominated for include: child nutrition; maintenance, operations and facilities; office and technical; paraeducator and instructional assistant; support services and security; and transportation.
Eligible nominees need to be a current classified employee within a county public school district in grades K-12 (including charter schools, district office or county office). They also must be a rank-and-file employee (not in a supervisory or management position) and have five years of service for the category in which they are nominated.
Program information, including the nomination form, can be downloaded at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cl. Nominations should be emailed to Nancy Johnson, Human Resources manager for San Bernardino County Superintendent at Schools, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For more information, call Johnson at (909) 386-9570.