Plumas Lake gets interim schools chief

A love for challenges helped bring the new interim superintendent to the Plumas Lake School District, once one of the fastest growing in California but recently hit by declining enrollment amid foreclosures in the Yuba County community.

"The best thing I can do is provide some stability," Paul Carras said.

Carras, 62, said he anticipates working for three to six months in the interim post until a permanent superintendent is selected.

The school board this year agreed to eliminate 12 teaching positions as enrollment in Plumas Lake dropped by nearly 200 students.

Carras said the district is not contemplating closing any schools.

He succeeds Dione Beilby, who announced in May her plans to depart the Plumas district.

Carras had been deputy superintendent for the Rocklin Unified School District until his retirement in June.

He said that his pay in the post would mean a salary of about $105,000 for an entire year but that he has no plans to serve after his interim superintendent work for up to six months.

Lincoln resident Carras is president of the board of trustees for the Western Placer Unified School District.

"It gives me a good perspective," he said of his school board role.

Kevin Brown, superintendent of Rocklin Unified, said Carras brings a range of skills to Plumas Lake.

"He has an ability to listen well to all points of view," said Brown, who also cited Carras' knowledge of educational issues that include personnel, curriculum and facilities.

He can talk API, AYP and NCLB, Brown said, referring to acronyms for the Academic Performance Index, Adequate Yearly Progress and No Child Left Behind.

Carras has great interpersonal skills as well and a strong commitment to education, Brown said.

Contact Appeal reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4707 or rmccarthy@appeal-democrat.com