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CUSD promotes Peterman, Viss
Amy Peterman and David Viss

The Ceres School Board unanimously approved three-year contract agreements last Thursday with current Ceres Unified School District administrators Amy Peterman and David Viss.

Peterman and Viss are both being promoted and will fill new roles, effective July 1, 2021.

“It’s indicative of a well-run district when the board and superintendent structure their team members and surround themselves with highly-qualified people,” said CUSD Deputy Superintendent of Personnel Services Denise Wickham, who will take over as District Superintendent following Scott Siegel’s retirement in June. “When you stay internal, it keeps the momentum going rather than it being put on pause while a new person learns the division and mission of the board.”

Dr. Peterman will serve as deputy superintendent of Educational Services.

Peterman, who is currently employed as the district’s assistant superintendent of Educational Services, will see a $10,000 boost in salary and will make an annual salary of $196,685.

Peterman was principal of Central Valley High School for 5-1/2 years (2010-15).

 “She’ll remain in her current position and will have additional responsibilities serving in my place should I become incapacitated by illness, accident or death and until the board made a decision on how they’d fill the superintendent position,” Wickham said. “She’ll also have other responsibilities. She’s very personable and well-connected in the district. And will be able to help me see all different angles of decision making.”

Dr. Viss will serve as assistant superintendent of Personnel Services for the district.

He’s been employed as CUSD’s director of Personnel Services for the last four years.

Viss’s annual salary will increase from $155,606 to $186,851.

“He’s very qualified to assume the role,” noted Wickham. “He just finished his doctorate degree. He’s very passionate about the work in personnel services. He’s very familiar with the practices, structures and policies of how things work. He’s basically going to oversee more than 2000 employees. It’s a big job. He’s up for the challenge and he’ll be fantastic.”

Higher pay for subs

In other CUSD action, the board approved a staff recommendation to increase certificated substitute teacher pay, effective Nov. 16.

“It’s a temporary pay rate increase,” said Wickham. “There’s a very serious substitute shortage (in Stanislaus County) due to COVID. Modesto City Schools recently increased their sub rate to $200 a day. As a result, we needed to match that to maintain our substitute pool.”

CUSD will pay long-term substitute teachers $225 a day.

“They’re responsible for everything for more than 30 days, including lesson planning.”

Regular substitutes will receive $200 a day.

“They’re responsible for implementing lessons that a teacher has developed,” Wickham said.