The Press-Enterprise has a story posted on San Bernardino County's employee tuition reimbursement program. Recently, the program has faced criticism following the reimbursement of Adam Aleman of more than $8,000 in tuition fees.

In the original story on the topic, which was published in the San Bernardino Sun, Aleman was reported to have been reimbursed 2.5 times more than any other County employee.

However, the Press-Enterprise has now discovered two instances where employees seem to have been reimbursed in an amount greater than Aleman was. Still, there's no disputing that the instances presented by the Press-Enterprise seem more relevant to those employees' county service than Aleman's ornithology class.

Here is the PE's story:

S.B. County flexible where employees' tuition aid is concerned

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
By DOUGLAS QUAN
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County employees often get help with tuition expenses that exceed by hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of dollars the amounts outlined in county policy, public records show.

County officials say department heads have the discretion to approve the additional money. However, critics say the county policy is vaguely worded and ought to be rewritten to rein in spending and prevent abuse.

Oversight of the county's tuition assistance program has come under scrutiny since a grand jury report criticized Assessor Bill Postmus for his handling of the reimbursements.

The grand jury took issue with the fact that former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman received $8,280 to help pay for undergraduate courses at the University of La Verne. Employees in the class that Aleman was in are eligible to receive $1,000 in tuition assistance each year.

Even if department heads can approve more than that, they should show more restraint, Gwenn Perez, the grand jury's forewoman, said in an interview.

"We're in difficult economic times," she said.

Aleman, who resigned after being accused of filing false documents and destroying public records, earned about $119,000 a year.

Postmus has said that future tuition reimbursement requests will be reviewed by staff outside his office.

The county is reviewing its tuition policy and examining other government agencies' tuition policies to "ensure that all of the county's educational expenditures are appropriate," Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane said in a written statement.

The county is considering requiring that all reimbursements be reviewed by its administrative office, Biane said. It is also considering requiring all employees who receive such reimbursements to commit to working for the county for a set period of time.

The county estimates that it spends $134,000 each year on tuition expenses, spokesman David Wert said Wednesday. However, he said it is difficult to get an exact number because departments use different accounting codes for education expenses.

Too Much Discretion?

San Bernardino County employees are entitled each year to a certain amount of money to cover job-related educational expenses. County officials say spending on continuing education is vital because employees gain skills that help them serve the county better.

The amounts employees are eligible to receive range from $400 to $3,000, depending on which occupational unit they belong to.

But there is disagreement over whether those amounts constitute maximums.

Wert said there is no cap.

Bob Blough, general manager of the San Bernardino County Public Employees Association, said Wednesday by e-mail that he considers the tuition reimbursement amounts negotiated with the county "maximum amounts."

In a subsequent e-mail, Blough said, "If some employees receive additional benefits, that is always good, as long as it isn't to the detriment of the other employees."

Blough said he was unaware of any employees who have said they were unfairly denied tuition reimbursements.

Perez, the county grand jury forewoman, said the county needs to develop more precise language in its tuition policy.

Other Examples

Aleman is one of dozens of county employees who have received tuition assistance that exceeded the amounts outlined in county policy.

Public Defender Doreen Boxer, who belongs to the same class of employees as Aleman did, was approved for $10,900 last year to enroll in Harvard University's three-week Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, records show.

Boxer did not respond to a call for comment. Wert, the county spokesman, said Chief Administrative Officer Mark Uffer approved the expense because he believed it would give Boxer additional management training.

Boxer's predecessors had not managed the department well, Wert said. The knowledge that Boxer gained from the Harvard program helped her improve such areas as budgeting and holding employees accountable, he said.

The county also reimbursed county Fire Chief Pat Dennen, who belongs to the same class of employees, nearly $10,000 from 2005 through 2007 for several online courses he took from Grand Canyon University to complete a master's degree.

In an e-mail, Dennen said the courses he took made him a "better-qualified fire chief."

The reimbursements were approved by then Chief Peter Hills when Dennen was assistant fire chief.

Dennen said he paid for half of the tuition costs out of his own pocket and eventually received a master's degree in executive fire service leadership from the school.

Keith Ricker, a systems analyst in public works, said he will be disappointed if the county restricts the tuition support program.

Records show that Ricker received $3,114 in tuition reimbursements from 2005 through 2007 for courses in management and critical thinking at the University of Phoenix. He belongs to a class of employees that is eligible to receive $400 a year.

He said he is working toward a bachelor of science degree in business and information systems.

The current program allows the county to "invest in its employees -- help them to be better educated and help them to be more productive and do a better job," he said.