Plugge's contract unchanged

IOWA CITY - Superintendent Lane Plugge's status with the Iowa City school district is unchanged, at least for the time being.

The school board made no changes to Plugge's contract during a closed session this morning, Plugge and board President Patti Fields said.

Fields confirmed that the meeting was called because of Plugge's interest in another job. On Tuesday Plugge interviewed for the chief administrator position at the new Green Hills Area Education Agency, which is to be headquartered in Council Bluffs when it starts service next summer.

Fields said the board wanted to review Plugge's contract to clarify what the process would be in the event Plugge is offered and accepts that job. She said board members also told Plugge that they appreciated all he has done for the district since he started in 1999 and would like him to stay.

There is no clause in Plugge's contract requiring a buyout or any penalties against Plugge should he voluntarily leave during the term of the deal

The closed session lasted about an hour.

Meanwhile, the Daily Nonpareil newspaper out of Council Bluffs reported Thursday that a recommendation has been made to the Green Hills AEA board and a decision could come as soon as Friday.

Plugge said he has spoken to the search consultant since his interview but did not know when he may hear anything.

When asked whether he would be with the Iowa City school district next school year, he said: “I'm the superintendent now. I'll continue to serve as I have served for the last 10-plus years.”

Plugge has said his primary motivation for seeking the job was to be closer to family in Nebraska.

AEAs are regional agencies created by the state in the mid-1970s to provide services and support to local school systems. Green Hills will combine two existing AEAs, leaving nine in Iowa.

As its chief administrator, Plugge would oversee 360 employees who serve a 15-county area in southwest Iowa, according to the Web site for Ray and Associates Inc., which is conducting the search. The Green Hills AEA includes 51 school districts with about 44,000 students and 3,900 teachers and administrators.

The job would pay about $180,000 a year plus benefits and the person hired is to start July 1, according to the Web site. Plugge's current salary is $174,021 annually under a contract that runs through June 30, 2012.

Fields said the board has no more special meetings planned on Plugge's status, but that could change if Plugge hears anything on the other job.

“You never know what may come the next day,” she said.

If he were to leave the district, the board's next step would be to determine the process for finding his successor, including whether to appoint someone in the interim and hire a search firm, Fields said.

Fields said she has already been contacted by search firms interested in getting the district's business should Plugge leave.