Personnel Commission
Background:
Westminster School District adopted the Merit System on June 15, 1965. The Personnel Commission provides assistance to the Board of Trustees, Superintendent of Schools, District and Site Administration, and District staff to ensure that the practices and principles of the Merit System are upheld while simultaneously delivering quality services to support the District's schools.
The Merit System is founded on key principles: employment and promotion based on merit through competitive examination, career service, like pay for like service, impartial hearing of appeals from disciplinary actions, and a prohibition against discrimination.
Legal guidelines for the Merit System in California school districts are outlined in Education Codes Sections 45250, 45320, and 88000 to 88180.
Tom Connolly - Chairperson
Mr. Connolly has been a member of the Commission since 1996 and has served as the Treasurer of the Orange County Personnel Commissioners Association for over 10 years. He has had over 25 years of experience as the Chief Business Officer and Director of Audit, Budget and Finance at four other Southern California school districts. During all of these years of active service, he has also volunteered to serve on Hiring Committees for many other school districts in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, to assist these districts in selecting the best possible candidates for numerous classified positions. Mr. Connolly received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. Connolly is married and has two grown children.
Robin Jones
Mrs. Jones has been a member of the Commission since 2001. She is retired from her position as a parole agent for the State of California after 32 years of service. Mrs. Jones received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles and her Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Long Beach. Mrs. Jones is married and has one grown son.
Jackie Jenkins
Mrs. Jackie Jenkins joined the Westminster School District Personnel Commission in December 2025, bringing with her a lifelong connection to the Westminster community and a deep commitment to the District.
A longtime Westminster resident, Mrs. Jenkins attended schools in WSD. She and her husband, Mike, are the proud parents of six sons, all of whom attended Westminster SD schools, and several of their grandchildren have also attended schools within the District.
Mrs. Jenkins retired from WSD after more than 21 years as a classified employee, serving in several roles. A longtime advocate for classified employees, she served on the CSEA Executive Board, including six years as Chapter President. Her many years as a WSD student, parent, employee, and community member bring a valuable perspective to the Personnel Commission and reflect her continued dedication to the District.