Plumas Unified School District is facing a financial crisis. In October, the district’s general fund had a $2 million deficit, Chief Business Officer Mallory Marin reported to the school board at its Dec. 11 meeting.
The regular PUSD and Plumas County Office of Education meeting, held in Quincy, included election of officers and the appointment of a new PCOE superintendent.
Interim financial reports
In the first PCOE and PUSD interim financial reports for the 2025 fiscal year, covering July 1 to October 31, Marin had good news to report. The county office of education will receive $1.2 million from a Dixie Fire insurance claim. Marin said she received an email confirmation that morning.
The PCOE financial report was informational only and approved by PCOE Superintendent Andrea White, who was sworn in at the Dec. 11 meeting. The report summary said, “Due to the change in funding, as well as staffing vacancies, the County’s 2024/25 General Fund is expected to have a positive cashflow.” The report projected that both cash flow and funding will be stable for the current year and the next two consecutive years.
The news was not so good on the PUSD side. Marin said that in October the PUSD general fund had a “negative balance” of $2 million. The district is still in “basic aid status,” she said. The shortfall must be reported to the state; Marin was due to meet with state officials Dec. 12. She said the governor will have his draft budget in January and there will be modifications that could affect PUSD.
Jim Frost, who shares the PUSD interim superintendent position with Melissa Leal, said he and Marin are reviewing all essential expenditures as well as essential positions. The past 9% and 4% wage increases had “a three-year implementation of sustainable staffing,” a reference to reducing staff to match revenues. That, however, never happened. Frost said this is all painful but must be done. He did not use the word “layoff.”
Board members Leslie Edlund and Joleen Cline asked Marin whether any local property tax increases would affect revenues. They referred to the 40% and more increases in some property taxes that have angered many county homeowners. Marin said the school district had not experienced an increase in revenues. Frost said that he and Marin will be meeting with the Plumas County auditor to go over the district’s revenues.
The fiscal report summary for PUSD said, “The current first interim and multiyear projections show that the district will be unable to meet its financial obligations for the current and subsequent years. Therefore, the Plumas Unified School District certifies that its financial condition is negative; a negative certification means the district is unable to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current fiscal year or for the subsequent fiscal years.”
White sworn in as PCOE superintendent
Andrea White was sworn in as the appointed interim Plumas County Office of Education superintendent at the Dec. 11 school board meeting. Board Chair Dave Keller read Resolution 2425-08 Appointment of PCOE Superintendent, which states the Education Code 1042(e)(1) authorizes county boards of education to “fill by appointment any vacancy that occurs during the term of office of the county superintendent of schools. In a county in which the superintendent is elected, the appointee shall hold office until the office is filled by election at the next gubernatorial election.”
The board voted to approve a resolution authorizing it to “fill by appointment any vacancy that occurs during the term of office of the county superintendent of schools.” White will hold the office until November 2026, the next general election. She will continue her current job as director of student services and will be given 10% of the superintendent salary in addition to her regular salary.
Recruitment of new PUSD superintendent
Human Resources Director Meagan Daun introduced Nicole Anderson and Bill Spalding, of McPherson & Jacobson LLC, who are working under a contract not to exceed $18,650. They shared the process for recruiting a new PUSD superintendent. Anderson said the plan was to have candidates by March 2025. She also said that there is “a revolving door of superintendents throughout the state.”
A member of the audience asked if consultants were used in the past to recruit the superintendent. The answer was yes. Anderson then asked the board what qualities they want in a new superintendent. Among the board’s responses were: ethical leader; someone who supports academics that focus on growth and understands fiscal operations; strategic problem solver; visionary who understands the challenges of being rural; community centered someone who is honest about who we are.
“Plumas County is a place you love and stay forever, or you leave it,” said Edlund. Joleen Cline added, “Mountain people are different.”
The district will advertise the position throughout the state starting with the upcoming state superintendent conference. The consultants will meet three times with the board.
Election of officers, calendars and safety plans
The board organization for 2025 was tabled for a special meeting, held Dec. 17, due to an education code requirement that states specific dates for holding board organizations. A proposed schedule for joint PCOE/PUSD 2025 board meetings was passed. JoDee Read was elected board president after being nominated by board member Egland, who noted Read’s experience as a CEO and her human resources knowledge. A proposed schedule for joint PCOE/PUSD 2025 board meetings was also passed.
Jessica Stone presented proposed instructional calendars for the next two academic years. A week off in February was proposed with a staff survey. The board opted to delay approving these calendars until a parent survey has been completed; the February week off was unpopular with parents in previous years.
Mandatory Comprehensive School Safety Plans for all Plumas public schools K-12 were approved after being presented to the board by White.
Public comment
Kristen Morrison, vice president of classified union 193, said that the 2.5% proposed wage increase was not enough for her union members, She likened it to a “tank of gas.” Morrison asked the board to meet at the table with an equitable wage proposal.
Farm-to-school partnership
White, Tracy Darue – PUSD Nutrition Services Supervisor and Vanessa Vasquez, director of Lost Sierra Food Project, presented information about the farm-to-school food partnership with White and Tracy Darue, PUSD nutrition services supervisor. They asked for support for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant proposal application due by Jan. 10, 2025. Bethany Rouse and Kate McCloskey also spoke on the successes of the program. The board approved the recommendation.
School Recognition Awards
The Principal’s Recognition awards were presented to Quincy Elementary School sixth-grader Aurora Churchill and Quincy Junior-Senior High School senior Jake Thackeray. Principal Jordan Blanton praised Churchill for her academics and artistic creativity. Quincy High Vice Principal Jason Hawkins introduced Thackeray as the associate student body vice President and a leader in sports He is also the Quincy student representative on the PCOE/PUSD board and was sworn in by Read.
In the Teacher Feature presentation, Hannah Wrenn gave an update on the Quincy High agriculture and natural resources program, which currently has 80 students. There are three pathways for the students to choose: sustainable agriculture, natural resources, and agriculture mechanics.
The next PCOE/PUSD board meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. Jan. 15, at the district office at 50 Church St. in Quincy.
