Plough, currently the superintendent of the Romoland School District in Riverside County, was unanimously chosen by the Board of Trustees from a field of 25 candidates across the nation. Her three-year contract begins July 19.
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Board Meeting Info
July 14 , 2010
Board Workshops
re: Budget -- June 22, 2010
Closed Session: 6pm
Open Session: 6:30pm
NEW SUPERINTENDENT ADMIRES NATOMAS’ PASSION FOR YOUTH
Barbara “Bobbie” Plough, known for her strong communication skills, ability to lead in times of fiscal and instructional crisis, and compassion for at-risk students, tonight was appointed the new superintendent of the Natomas Unified School District.
Plough, currently the superintendent of the Romoland School District in Riverside County, was unanimously chosen by the Board of Trustees from a field of 25 candidates across the nation. Her three-year contract begins July 19.
She began her career in education as a school attendance clerk and campus supervisor, served as a classroom teacher for 11 years, and rose through the ranks to become superintendent three years ago of the Romoland School District, a K-8 district of 3,000 students with a 78 percent poverty rate and 55 percent English Learners.
“I wanted this position because Natomas is a diverse community involved in the education of their children,” Plough said. “I admire the community’s passion and commitment to their youth. I can hardly contain my excitement over my appointment.”
Plough, 56, comes from a Southern California school district that made strong advances in student achievement under her leadership, making triple-digit gains in district achievement scores and now poised to shed the federal designation as a failing school district.
“She stood out because of the work she has done in closing the achievement gap in a very diverse school district,” Board President B. Teri Burns said. “She also has a breadth of experience in serving in different classified, certificated and administrative positions in her school career, has experience with special populations including foster youth, and an enthusiasm for working with the community and staff.”
Plough, who will receive an annual salary of $175,000, is replacing Superintendent Steve Farrar who retired last November. Former NUSD Superintendent General Davie Jr. has been serving as interim superintendent since then.
She comes to NUSD in a time of fiscal and instructional crisis, with test scores declining and district finances in peril. The Board approved a Budget Recovery Plan in January for a balanced budget in 2009-10 and 2010-11, but the district still faces an estimated $15.3 million deficit through 2012-13.
On a personal note, Plough and her husband Dan have been frequent visitors to the area because their son is an assistant football coach for the UC Davis Aggies and lives in Natomas. Her husband recently retired after 33 years in education and was a high school principal.
Their daughter is a captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and her husband also is an Army captain currently deployed to Iraq. They have three young daughters.
Plough is planning outreach meetings with staff, parents and community members before starting her new job.
Please see the attachments for more information on the new superintendent:
Heidi Van Zant
Public Information Officer
Natomas Unified School District
916.561.5253
Message from Dr. Davie
Good Morning!
Please join me in congratulating the staff and students of Witter Ranch Elementary for being named a 2010 California Distinguished School. Witter Ranch Elementary is among just 17 elementary schools from Sacramento County and 484 across the state to receive this prestigious award from the California Department of Education. I know that preparation to receive the nomination is a lot of work. So congratulations to the Witter Ranch staff for doing what it takes to win the award. Above all, I appreciate the work and talent that is reflected in the performance of our students.
This honor is bringing such wonderful recognition to the Natomas Unified School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. General Davie, Jr., Superintendent
Dolly McClellan
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Natomas Unified School District
916.567.5401
dmcclellan@natomas.k12.ca.us
Heidi Van Zant
Public Information Officer
Natomas Unified School District
916.561.5253
After lengthy deliberations by the committee Wednesday evening, these schools are the top candidates being forwarded to the Board for closure consideration:
The Board has decided to close an elementary school in 2010-11 as part of its Budget Recovery Plan to save an estimated $330,000 in operating costs per year. The closure is expected to last 3-5 years.
No action on school closure will be taken at the Feb. 10 meeting. The agenda and supporting documents for the meeting will be posted on the district website at www.natomas.k12.ca.us by the close of business Friday, Feb. 5.
A Board workshop on school closure is set for Wednesday, Feb. 24. The Board decision on which school to close is set for the March 10 regular Board meeting.
Community information meetings will be held at Bannon Creek Elementary, Jefferson Elementary and Natomas Park Elementary prior to the Board vote on March 10.
Attached is the School Closure Criteria Rating Sheet compiled by the committee using the Board-approved criteria. The higher the score, the more likely that a school is a candidate for closure.
After completing the rating sheet and applying the weighted criteria, the committee was asked to identify three top schools for closure. There were 10 committee members present and the results were as follows:
Information on the School Closure Criteria Evaluation Committee including meeting agendas, minutes and supporting materials is available by accessing the district website at www.natomas.k12.ca.us, selecting the “Our District” tab at the top of the homepage, and clicking on the “School Closure” link.
Heidi Van Zant
Public Information Officer
Natomas Unified School District
916.561.5253
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The Natomas Unified District Update for May 2010 is here!
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The Sacramento County Grand Jury issued its report this afternoon on the Natomas Unified School District’s purchase of land for a new high school in the West Lakeside area of Natomas.
The report can be viewed at www.sacgrandjury.org. [For a PDF copy of the report, click here]
DISTRICT RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY 6-24-09
Following is a statement from NUSD Board of Trustees President B. Teri Burns in response to the report:
“The Board thanks the Grand Jury for its thorough and diligent investigation of this issue. The District was pleased to fully cooperate with the Grand Jury and appreciates its thoughtful recommendations, particularly those with regard to oversight of professional staff contracted to advise the district.
The District has been, and is in, sensitive ongoing negotiations with all parties involved in the purchase of the site to hopefully resolve and remedy the problems associated with having relied on an erroneous appraisal for the West Lakeside site. The District is not in a position to comment on those ongoing negotiations except to say that they continue to be ongoing, and may prove to be successful for the District and its taxpayers.
The District does not want to jeopardize those negotiations in any way when they could result in an equitable resolution outside of litigation. This would be consistent with the original understanding of the District that it was paying less than "fair market value" for the property, and therefore we cannot comment further.
Once the Board has had the opportunity to review the report, I anticipate that the District will prepare a response and action plan within the next 90 days to address the findings and recommendations.”
Heidi Van Zant
