The state of California has yet to appoint a permanent county administrator to lead Plumas Unified School District during the period of its emergency loan. To fill that position, the Plumas County Office of Education board voted Aug. 13 to extend the contract for Interim County Administrator Andrea White.
Three PCOE board members attended the meeting: Cindy Crim, Joleen Cline and Chelsea Harrison. Board member JoDee Johnson was absent. The fifth seat remains unfilled pending the Nov. 4 election.
Originally a one-month agreement for July, the interim post has now been extended to Sept. 30. The $305 hourly pay rate remains in place, per the contract. As administrator, White has full decision-making authority for PUSD. The school board continues to have authority over PCOE.
In spite of its fiscal status, the tone of the PUSD meeting was generally positive. “No need to preach tonight, I feel so good right now,” said Stuart Clark, vice president of the Plumas County Teachers Association and a frequent public commenter at school board meetings. “We are learning rules, procedures, and getting clear direction. If we have hiccups, we fix them. This is the setting of a good foundation, it will get us where we need to go, and we will get there. We are all in this together. Let’s go get them!” Clark said.
Harrison remained in the audience during the PUSD meeting, while the other board members departed. She addressed White to express her support. “I just want to share that, although I am not sitting up there anymore, I do appreciate you taking on what you are taking on. I am disappointed that I don’t get to be a part of items that are not fiscal issues, like policies and so on. I just wanted to thank you but also say this.”
