Dave Keller found himself serving a third term as Plumas Unified School District trustee for Indian Valley by accident: He didn’t file to run again in the November 2024 election. But neither did anyone else. When that happens, the election code calls for the incumbent to remain in place until a replacement can be found.
Now, two candidates have come forward: Cindy Crim and Tommy Miles. Both will interview before the Plumas Unified School District/Office of Education school board in open session at the March 12, 2025 regular meeting at Greenville Elementary at 4:00 p.m. Viewers can also watch on YouTube Live.
During the session, one candidate will be selected, appointed by the board and sworn in to replace Keller. The next election for this position will be in November 2028. The Plumas Sun interviewed both of the applicants. The following interviews were edited for length.
Cindy Crim
Tell us about yourself and where you live in District 2.
My name is Cindy Crim and I have resided in Greenville for 30 years. I am married and I have five adult children, and two grandchildren currently enrolled at Greenville Elementary School.
I am a retired registered nurse, and I have worked in the intensive care unit and the emergency room in my entire career.
These days, I spend my free time in my grandchildren’s classroom at Greenville Elementary School interacting with the teachers and students. My husband and I attend all field trips and help with transportation, to save the school district money.
I volunteer my time to help with school functions and activities.
I attend church regularly at Indian Valley Christian Fellowship and participate in all the church activities. You can find me at the baseball field for the next few months, cheering for my grandchildren. I advocate for my community to ensure that it can be the best it could possibly be, because together, we are strong.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for the school board for District 2 to represent the teachers, students and community in my district. Greenville residents have experienced so much tragedy in the past few years. Our entire town burned to the ground. Now is the time for me to step up and represent the teachers, students and community members. I want to give our teachers, students and community members a voice and I want their voices heard, respected and valued.
I want to work hard for the citizens in District 2 by paying attention to the financial disaster that our school district is in. I want to work with board members and district employees, to get our budget out of the red and into the black. I will advocate for the safety of all students. I want to advocate for our students and ensure they have classrooms and teachers for every grade, no combined classrooms.
I want to make sure that all employees are treated with respect, kindness and the security of knowing that their jobs are important and safe from being cut by the district.
I will do my best to provide the citizens, teachers and students a peace of mind knowing that they are the ones that we work for.
What skills and experience will you bring to the school board?
I bring my skills and knowledge of being a registered nurse. I am a team player with a strong sense of right and wrong. I look at the whole picture. There is always another way, it just may be more difficult.
There is always another way, it just may be more difficult.
Cindy Crim
In the intensive care unit, I was a part of the “Code Blue Team” for my unit and the entire hospital. We worked as a team, and every life depended on us working together. The process is the same for board members. Communication is the key to ensure the public is aware of what is taking place at the district level.
My knowledge of nursing will be an asset to the board as we discuss behavioral or emotional issues with children in the district and understanding it’s usually not just one issue. I am detail oriented and look for ways to solve problems. My experience as a mother and grandmother will be a great asset to our community as well. I have learned to show compassion while expecting the best that my children can offer. Sometimes, things are not always as they seem and need further investigation.
I will always be transparent, kind, honest and willing to fight for the rights of our most beloved human beings, our students.
Tommy Miles
Tell us about yourself and where you live in District 2.
I’m a 30-year resident of Plumas County and a lifelong learner and educator. I have 38 years of experience in public and private education as a teacher, teacher trainer, program evaluator, curriculum and assessment developer, vice principal, principal, supplemental service provider and graduate instructor in educational research design and statistics. My experience includes eight years as a site administrator at three PUSD schools.
In 2003, I founded Cornerstone Learning Center, which provides supplemental academic programs, skill reinforcement, and dyslexia therapy to K-12 and adult learners, along with music instruction, aviation ground school, educational consulting, advocacy and other services. I lead a self-defense school in the Quincy area, and I am a certified massage therapist with a part-time practice. I have been a semi-professional musician since 1986, and I continue to compose, record and perform locally.
Local media are also central to my life. I serve as general manager at KQNY 91.9 FM, and as executive director of Plumas Community Radio, the 501(c)3 nonprofit that owns the station. In 2023, I helped to organize The Plumas Sun, where I’m a board member and part-time reporter.
My wife Carol and I have lived in the Keddie area within District 2 for 21 years.
Why are you running for this position?
PUSD is at a critical turning point due to its current fiscal situation and impending, necessary budget cuts. Public trust in the district is at the lowest point I have seen since I joined PUSD in 1995, but I believe these realities can be addressed through effective, cooperative effort.
I believe these realities can be addressed through effective, cooperative effort.
Tommy Miles
We have an opportunity to select a new superintendent, and if we find the right person, with the right background and skills, who is in the role for the right reasons, we can put the district on a clear path to financial stability and increased public confidence. I’m interested in helping the district navigate through this difficult time and toward that brighter future.
In my work as a trustee, I will keep a particular focus on representing the residents of District 2, which includes the areas of our county that suffered the greatest devastation from the Dixie Fire. There are unique needs within District 2, and we need a knowledgeable representative who understands the community’s concerns and who can work to promote its interests. I will also remain conscious of the larger picture, keeping in mind the needs of all the district’s students, parents, taxpayers, employees and communities.
What skills and experience will you bring to the school board?
My service on the board will be built on active listening, perspective-taking, looking at issues from multiple angles, thinking critically, communicating clearly, and working with the board and others to develop practical solutions to the complex problems confronting the district.
I have a master of arts in educational administration and foundations, as well as extensive training and experience in curriculum design and implementation, instruction, supervision, education law, school finance, and many other areas. Student achievement gains were documented every year in every school in which I served as a lead teacher or administrator.
Over the years, I’ve developed some clear convictions regarding how education should be done to produce the best outcomes. I understand that it’s not the role of a school board member to micromanage educational practice, but I’m always willing to share my ideas if they may be helpful.
I’m confident that we can move PUSD forward to a place of financial stability and operational efficiency while rebuilding the trust of our communities. My approach begins with being the best listener I can be, and then working with others to bring ideas together and build them into practical improvements that benefit our students.
