Interesting timeline associated with resignation of Placentia-Yorba Linda schools superintendent

 

An interesting timeline underlies the unexpected resignation of Jim Elsasser as superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District after just 18 months at the helm.

Elsasser will return to the Claremont Unified School District following the resignation of his successor, Jeff Wilson, who served only one year. Wilson was hired May 6, 2021, on a 4-1 vote by Claremont Unified trustees with a four-year contract to begin July 1, 2021.

Wilson announced his resignation from Claremont Unified April 1, effective June 30. Elsasser was hired at an April 21 Claremont trustee meeting, under a four-year contract to begin July 1. Elsasser announced his departure from Placentia-Yorba Linda in an April 18 statement.

Elsasser served as Claremont's superintendent nine years before he began as Placentia-Yorba Linda superintendent Jan. 4, 2021, with a three and one-half year contract. He was hired on a 5-0 vote by the district's previous board, replacing Greg Plutko, hired in 2016.

At an April 26 meeting, Placentia-Yorba Linda trustees gave Elsasser a 3.5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2021, and a one-time 1.5% 2021-2022 increase, the same percentages awarded other employee groups.

Elsasser's total for 2021-2022 will be $352,745. Claremont trustees set Elsasser's 2022-23 salary at $335,000 at their April 21 meeting. Salary figures do not include benefits, such as health payments, pension contributions and various allowances, such as car and cell phone.

Claremont Unified has about 6,600 students attending 11 schools, while Placentia-Yorba Unified has some 24,000 students at 34 campuses. Claremont's general fund budget totals some $85 million, and Placentia-Yorba Linda's revenues total close to $251 million this year.

Former Manhatten Beach Unified School District Superintendent Mike Matthews will start as interim chief July 1. Consultants will help develop a long-term transition plan, instead of immediately beginning a superintendent search.

“In the long run, it is our belief that this approach will help insure a smooth transition and a strong foundation for our next permanent superintendent,” board president Carrie Buck said.

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A year-long elective Multicultural Studies class has been added to the district's high school curriculum beginning with the next school year, approved by trustees May 17 on a 5-0 vote.

The course, available to juniors and seniors, will allow students “to learn about the histories, cultures and contributions of diverse groups represented in the United States and their very own communities,” according to a report by Assistant Superintendent Linda Adamson.

“The course aims to empower student voices as they see themselves, and each other, as a part of the historical narrative and their present-day community,” Adamson noted. Teachers, administrators and staff created the class, with curriculum and textbooks on public display since April 6.

Yorba Linda officials begin work on new policing contract with Orange County Sheriffs Department

 

Yorba Linda's city officials have been given approval by the City Council to begin negotiations with the Orange County Sheriff's Department for a new five-year contract for law enforcement.

While the current pact doesn't end until June 30, 2023, Assistant City Manager Dave Christian told council members that it's “appropriate to consider entering into a new agreement in the coming months, since considering other options requires significant noticing requirements.”

The council also has approved a 4.4% cost increase for the final year of the current contract running from July 1 through June 30, 2023, for an estimated payment of $13.5 million, at the same service level as the past year.

Most of the $570,465 price increase – about $400,000 – will go toward the purchase, maintenance and data storage costs related to new body cameras to be worn by deputies, as well as in-car video in the patrol vehicles supplied for use in the city.

Councilman Gene Hernandez, who retired in 2006 after eight years as police chief in Chino, praised the addition of body cameras to the gear worn by deputies, labeling the change “proactive” and “impressive.”

Hernandez, whose 34-year law enforcement career included service in Fullerton and Orange, also said, “When there're complaints lodged, it goes a long way in cleaning that up for the deputies themselves.”

The contract calls for 42 full-time department employees costing some $12 million and 12.9regional and shared employees costing about $244,493. Patrol and motorcycle deputies account for 25 positions. Hours of service provided for the year are estimated at 2,088.

The county department serviced the city since incorporation in 1967 through 1970, before the city began a 42-year association with the Brea Police Department. The county again won the city contract in 2012 and began service in 2013.

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Councilwoman Peggy Huang is the city's second sitting council member to run for election as a Superior Court judge. She's one of five candidates for the court's Office 30. The position is one of nine judicial races on the June 7 ballot with no incumbent running for re-election.

Huang was the top vote-getter in her two elections to Yorba Linda's council in 2014 and 2018. She lost a bid for a seat in the House of Representatives, running fourth out of seven candidates in the March 2020 primary election in the 45^th District.

Her opponents in the judicial race are Michele Bell, Alma Hernandez, Andrea Mader and Benjamin Stauffer.

Among Huang's endorsements are the county Republican Party and the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. Others include Yorba Linda representatives in Congress (Young Kim), the state Senate (Josh Newman) and the county board of supervisors (Don Wagner).

In 2000, John Gullixson, who served three terms as a council member (1990-2002), lost a two-person race for judge for Office 1 of the Superior Court to Marc Kelly.