Ken Poulsen returns to roots at Placer Hills Union School District

Today is Ken Poulsen's first day of work. That might sound a little funny considering his history with the Placer Hills Union School District, where he served as a school vice principal and principal and held the position of district superintendent until he retired from education three years ago.Poulsen is coming back to work - temporarily, he stresses - to his old position as superintendent while district officials and board members hunt for a new superintendent to replace David Dominguez, whose last day with the district is Friday. Dominguez begins work as superintendent of the Galt Joint Elementary School District on Tuesday.It's an interesting flip-flop of jobs for the outgoing and interim superintendents - Dominguez joined the Placer Hills district three years ago as the then-retiring Poulsen's replacement."What he'll be doing is helping with the transition of my leaving," Dominguez said of Poulsen. "We're very fortunate because Ken's been at the district 12 years (as superintendent) so he knows the ins and outs, and a lot of what I did in my three years was built upon his foundation."Dominguez said he was attracted to the Galt district's growth."Career-wise, it was just a good opportunity for a good next step," he said.Not that the decision to leave Placer Hills was an easy one to come by-Dominguez said the choice came with mixed emotions. On one hand, Dominguez has seen the toll of declining enrollment and cuts in state funding, but on the other hand, he feels he's been surrounded by a wonderful educational community. "It's been a pleasure working in Placer County," Dominguez said of his tenure, which spans 19 years and four different school districts. "It's been a large part of my life."Dominguez said the district is currently accepting applications for the superintendent position and will conduct interviews Aug. 18 and 19 with hopes of choosing someone by the end of August. Poulsen feels pretty comfortable assuming his old position for a temporary time frame."I hope it's kind of like getting on a bicycle again," he said Wednesday. Poulsen's interim salary will be the same as Dominguez's departing salary - somewhere in the $110,000-to-$115,000 range, Gary Johnson, Placer Hills board president, previously told the Journal.Poulsen said his immediate charges are getting ready for the start of the school year and wrapping up the process of hiring new employees, as well as assisting the board of trustees with the superintendent search."Hopefully we can get some good candidates and get someone in place to put me back in retirement," Poulsen said. "I feel very comfortable coming back. I certainly don't mind coming back and doing what I can to help."The Journal's Loryll Nicolaisen can be reached at lorylln@goldcountrymedia.com.