WPUSD superintendent changes started on Florida beach

The idea came to him in the most unusual way and place.During the Christmas holiday break last December, Western Placer Unified School District Superintendent Roger Yohe was lying on a beach in the Florida Keys. He had just finished reading the Miami Herald.As he basked in the sun, his mind wandered toward the Lincoln school district back home, and all of the new construction planned for the next few years."We're looking at a quarter billion dollars worth of projects," Yohe said. "And we only had one person" overseeing all of the construction and facilities in the district.He also began to worry about the status of his two assistant superintendents, fearful one or both might soon leave for vacant superintendent posts elsewhere."Both are too valuable to lose," Yohe said of Scott Leaman and Jay Stewart.When he returned from vacation in early January, Yohe approached the school board with an idea. That idea was to have him transferred to a new position - facilities superintendent. That way, he could focus his energies on the several construction projects already in the works.And, with his transfer, that would leave open the superintendent's position, which then could be filled by Leaman, currently assistant superintendent for educational services."I've been grooming the young man to be my replacement," Yohe said of Leaman.A year ago, when Yohe signed a four-year extension to his contract, he said it would be his last. Yohe, 62, plans to retire when his contract runs out in three years. He has been superintendent for 20 years.Since January, the school board has been working out the details of Yohe's proposal. Among other details, the board interviewed Leaman."It was not something that just happened," Yohe said. "For the past 13 weeks, we've been working out all of the little nuances." At the April 4 school board meeting, when the announcement was made, board President Dennis Sonnenburg noted Leaman is respected by site administrators and has provided outstanding leadership throughout his career in Western Placer."He understands the heart and soul of the district and he can keep us moving in the right direction," Sonnenburg said.The changes take effect July 3. And with it, Leaman will become Yohe's boss.A benefit of the changes, Yohe said, is the cost savings, which might be used to settle the impasse with teachers regarding salary negotiations.Yohe's new salary will be $155,000 while Leaman's salary will be $139,000. The changes will result in a net savings to the district's general fund, since Yohe's position will be funded by developer's fees and Leaman enters his new position at a reduced salary from what Yohe was making.Currently, Yohe makes $150,738, while Leaman's current salary is $116,212.Leaman, 46, has been with WPUSD for the past 13 years, serving as principal at Carlin C. Coppin Elementary for three years and assistant superintendent the past 10. He resides in Grass Valley with his wife, Lori, and their two children, James 13, and Becca 10.Leaman said one of his first goals is to reach an agreement with all of the district's employee conflicts, specifically teacher negotiations.Another challenge involves growth, and how to manage the projected influx of students into the district during the next several years.Managing that growth is where Yohe comes in, as he will oversee all of the new facilities. Among the projects is the joint learning center in Twelve Bridges, which includes a new high school, city library and Sierra College satellite campus.The new high school alone has a price tag of $70 million, which will be the largest project ever initiated in Western Placer.The district will participate in another joint project with the city, the new four-story City Hall/ WPUSD offices on Sixth Street.In addition, the district will build a new elementary school in Lincoln Crossing. Design plans for the Lincoln Crossing Middle School and a second elementary school in Twelve Bridges are in progress."Roger has provided outstanding leadership and management to the district as it has doubled in size" from when he took over 12 years ago, Trustee James McLeod said. "His visions for this school district have had a positive impact on the community at large."Yohe will have an office at the Twelve Bridges learning center site. He noted it is close enough that on nice days he can walk to the Lincoln Crossing school sites to check their progress.Yohe's position will be for only three years, until he retires. At that time, Leaman and the school board must decide whether or not to continue funding it."I'm sure Scott will provide the necessary leadership for this district to continue to raise the bar on educational services while keeping a balanced and well maintained budget," McLeod said of Leaman.