Staff Operations Portal
User Guide

System Overview

The HCCTS Staff Operations Portal is an internal staff resource for Highlands Community Charter & Technical Schools. It brings department information, approved digital tools, school-site information, calendars, search, staff updates, and internal request intake into one consistent experience.

Most employees use only the staff-facing pages in this guide. Content-management and administrative tools are restricted to authorized staff and are documented separately in the Admin Guide.

Accessing the Portal

Standard staff access begins at the Staff Portal Access screen. Google Workspace is the primary production sign-in method.

1. 1
   Open the Staff PortalIf your staff session is not active, the portal sends you to the Staff Portal Access screen.
2. 2
   Select Continue with GoogleUse your HCCTS staff Google Workspace account. The portal verifies the Google identity through Firebase Authentication.
3. 3
   Choose an authorized staff accountThe current staff boundary is the exact @hccts.org domain. Student accounts such as @student.hccts.org and personal Google accounts are not authorized for staff access.
4. 4
   Continue to the portalAfter verification, a signed staff session is created and you return to the page you were trying to open.

Navigation & Homepage

The homepage is the main staff landing page. It combines portal search, quick actions, Highlands Brain access, staff updates, department browsing, organization links, and emergency/staff resources.

/index.html — staff homepage

Department Pages

Department pages are the primary place to find a team’s current overview, contacts, staff resources, FAQs, links, and department-specific digital tools. Content varies by department, so use the page itself as the current published reference.

/department.html?dept=human-resources — example department

Digital Tools

The homepage intentionally shows up to four featured Digital Tools for a cleaner staff landing page. Select All Tools to open the Digital Tools page and browse the complete approved system catalog.

/tools.html — approved HCCTS digital tools

1. 1
   Open All Tools when neededThe homepage shows only the four featured cards. Use All Tools for the full catalog, then filter by department when helpful.
2. 2
   Review the cardThe system name, purpose, and department association help confirm that you are opening the right tool.
3. 3
   Open the systemSelect the tool action. External systems open in a separate destination and may have their own access requirements.

Sites & Calendars

Use Sites for location information and directions. Use Calendars for the published school and employee work calendars for the current school year.

/sites.html — site directory

Interface reference image. The production directory now contains 10 active locations; Folsom Boulevard is no longer included.

/calendars.html — 2026–2027 calendars

Calendar cards are grouped into School Calendars and Employee Work Calendars. Select View Calendar to open the published calendar. If a calendar link appears incomplete or does not open, use Help & Support to report it.

Search

Search is designed for staff who know what they need but not necessarily which department owns it. Enter a resource, task, policy, form, department, or topic such as benefits, enrollment, or purchasing.

/search.html?q=benefits — example search

Submit a Request

Use Submit a Request when you need a department to take action, provide support, review work, or follow up. The form supports multiple request types and may redirect certain request types to a specialized approved system.

/request.html — internal request form

1. 1
   Select the request typeIf the portal displays a routing panel for that request type, follow the approved system or internal-routing instructions shown on screen.
2. 2
   Complete the required informationProvide your name, HCCTS email, destination department, request title, and a clear description. Complete optional context fields when they help the receiving team act on the request.
3. 3
   Add an attachment only when available and necessaryIf portal attachments are unavailable, submit the request without a file and use an approved follow-up channel if the receiving team needs supporting material.
4. 4
   Submit and keep the reference numberThe confirmation screen provides a request reference. Confirmation and future status updates are delivered by email when email delivery succeeds.