Iowa City schools’ Plugge leaving for new job

Iowa City school board members would like to hire a successor to departing Superintendent Lane Plugge by the start of next school year.

Plugge Monday morning accepted a job as chief administrator of the new Green Hills Area Education Agency in the Council Bluffs area. He said his last day in Iowa City would be June 30.

The school board plans to meet early next month to discuss the search for a new superintendent. Some board members said that, with the district dealing with major challenges like budget cuts and boundary changes, they hope to hire someone by the time Plugge leaves.

“That would be, in my mind, the best outcome,” board President Patti Fields said.

The 57-year-old Plugge said his primary motivation for seeking the job was to be closer to family. His children, grandchildren, mother and siblings live in eastern Nebraska.

“At this time, it's more for family and personal reasons,” Plugge said of his decision.

Plugge has held his current position since 1999 and is the longest-tenured superintendent in Iowa's eight largest school districts.

He will be remembered in part for serving the district at a time of growth - enrollment was 11,906 this year, up by more than 1,200 students from a decade ago - with several schools and school additions built or planned for construction.

School board members cited as his accomplishments the passage of a $39 million bond referendum in 2003 and a 1 percent local-option sales tax in 2007, both of which were largely intended to fund construction projects.

Board member Toni Cilek said Plugge always put students first.

“He never had any ulterior motive ... even if individual constituents didn't always agree with his decisions,” she said.

Some of those decisions did upset people. Earlier this year he recommended Roosevelt Elementary be closed and replaced with another school a few miles away. This fall he asked that the district stop busing Iowa City Regina students. The board agreed with him on both.

Plugge's job switch comes at a time when the district is cutting its budget to deal with the recession and state cuts and also starting the major undertaking of possibly redrawing school boundaries. While Plugge will be around to finish work on both matters, he said he expects to be criticized by some for leaving.

“In this job I get criticized daily, so, sure, I won't be surprised if there are some people critical of the timing of the move,” he said. “I'd like to think during the past 11 years that I've provided a quality level of service.”

Board members said they were happy for Plugge but sad to see him go.

They said the next superintendent would need to be good with budgets and working with the community, among other qualities.

“We're going to look for a strong candidate, someone with experience,” said board member Tuyet Dorau. “I think someone who thinks outside the box, and an individual who's a strong leader.”

AEAs are regional agencies that provide services to local school systems. As the Green Hills chief administrator, Plugge will oversee 360 employees who serve a 15-county area in southwest Iowa that includes 51 school districts.

Plugge's new job will pay $180,000 in the first year of a three-year contract. His current salary is $174,021.