Former Plumas Unified School District Superintendent William Roderick started on Thursday in Truckee High School’s administration offices, filling in for Assistant Principal Jason Estabrook.
Just one month before, on Sept. 16 Superinternt Roderick was put on paid administrative leave, according to reporting by The Plumas Sun. The decision was made in sessions closed to the public, which is not uncommon for personnel topics in school districts and among board meetings. The vote to place Roderick on leave was made by a unanimous 4-0 vote by the PUSD School Board.
According to the Plumas Sun, “The PUSD board has not publicly disclosed the basis for suspending Roderick with pay Sept. 11. The government codes cited in the agenda for the closed session refer generally to labor negotiations and salaries and fringe benefits.”
Twenty five days later the PUSD Board again unanimously voted, during an Oct. 11 meeting, to accept Roderick’s resignation, according to the Plumas Sun. The Sierra Daily News said, “The PUSD board has not disclosed specific reasons for Roderick’s leave, but the decisions are related to ongoing labor negotiations and salary discussions.”
Truckee High’s home football game on Sept. 13th was stressful for Truckee High School Principal John Neuberger. He needed extra supervision at the game due to online threats of violence.
THS staff and Truckee PD pitched in to help, and Roderick, who is married to TTUSD Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Shaun Roderick, also stepped in to help.
“He knows what he is doing, he is very competent,” Neuberger said.
According to Neuberger, the district has well established background checks and the ‘vetting’ process is strict and follows exact protocols every time.
A month after the football game and, six days after the resignation was accepted, Roderick filled the position as the Truckee High substitute Assistant Principal.
“It is not uncommon for people at upper level district positions to come and go. And resign,” Neuberger said.
“Our district is way better than any other I have worked with at following laws and Ed Code, and following through on staff based discipline issues and doing a good job at treating people fairly,” Neuberger said.
Roderick had worked for Plumas Unified since July 2022. Before that he was an educator in Lake County. He has a long background of educational leadership positions and also a principal, as well as coaching and teaching positions.
This story is still under development.