County, school district and Beaumont agree to partner on paid work-experience program for high-school students with disabilities

The council authorized the city manager on Dec. 17 to enter an affiliation agreement with the Riverside County Office of Education and Beaumont Unified School District to host students from Beaumont High School under the Transition Partnership Program (TPP).

Eric Guzman of the Riverside County Office of Education described the federally funded program (U.S. Department of Rehabilitation) that provides workforce development and paid work experience — up to 300 hours per student — for juniors and seniors with disabilities. The program is intended to provide career exploration and on-the-job learning in city departments.

Council members asked about student selection, supervision and liability. Guzman and the school coordinator said students would be upperclassmen vetted by the school’s transition program, and that students are covered by workers’ compensation provided by the county. City staff said they are treating participants similar to interns and that city intern policies and handbook provisions will apply; staff also asked the county to remove a broad hold-harmless clause in the draft agreement because the students are covered by county workers’ compensation.

Council voted to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement; staff will coordinate placements with department supervisors and the school.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the affiliation agreement with any non-substantive edits, coordinate department placements and begin onboarding students per city procedures.