School safety, cancelled election, pay raises in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

Several school-related topics deserve attention this week, as more than 25,000 students begin classes at 34 campuses in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District that include 17 sites in Placentia, 12 in Yorba Linda, four in Anaheim and one in Fullerton.

--Additional steps have been taken for school safety, with new fencing at several sites, implementation of new front office procedures and installation of camera systems costing some $335,000 at El Dorado, Esperanza, Valencia and Yorba Linda high schools.

School Resource Officers will continue to be placed at high schools, with trustees approving contracts with Placentia and Yorba Linda. The district and Placentia share the cost of officers at El Dorado and Valencia highs, while the district and Yorba Linda share the cost of a Yorba Linda High officer.

The officers are available to serve all schools in their respective jurisdictions. Costs to the district are about $221,000 for the two Placentia officers and $108,000 for the Yorba Linda officer.

--Instead of an election in two of the five new trustee areas implemented this year, the only candidates to file for the positions will be appointed to new four-year terms that start in December. Carrie Buck, in Area 5, will serve a third term, while Karin Freeman, in Area 4, will serve an eighth full term.

Freeman will be Yorba Linda's longest-serving official in the same elective office at the end of her new term, at 33 years, eclipsing Hank Wedaa's 30 years on the City Council. Paul Armstrong was a Yorba Linda School District trustee 12 years and Yorba Linda Water District director 28 years, for a record 40 years in public office.

One of the three trustee areas scheduled for the 2020 ballot doesn't have an incumbent now residing in the area. Carol Downey and Eric Padget reside in Area 1, while Judi Carmona lives in Area 3. The vacancy will be in Area 2, on the district's southwestern side.

--Contract extensions and 2.5 percent pay raises have been granted the district's top four administrators. Superintendent Greg Plutko's new contract will run through June 30, 2022, and he'll earn $309,499 annually beginning Jan. 1.

Deputy Superintendent Candy Plahy will earn $204,225, Assistant Superintendents David Giordano (business services) and newly named Rick Lopez (human resources) $185,660, all starting Jan.1 under pacts running through June 30, 2021.

In addition, Plutko, upon retirement, will receive health and welfare benefits until age 65, if he completes a minimum of four years of district employment. He was hired July 1, 2016.

--Under a $14,000 contract with ImPACT Applications, athletes will receive baseline and post-injury testing, if an injury occurs, to assist doctors in assessing readiness to return to competition and classroom (also available to non-athletes for a nominal fee).

--Caelyn Smith of El Dorado will serve as student trustee for the first semester, 2018-19.