In an effort to turn the page at the troubled Alisal Union School District, the interim superintendent and state-appointed interim trustee toured its schools Tuesday to get acquainted with the students and their needs.

"We're sharing with the principals what our plans are," said John Ramirez, the interim superintendent. "We're just being visible. If we want to build a team together, we have to be out here."

Last week, the California State Board of Education appointed Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Kotowski as interim trustee to the Alisal district, a move made at an emergency meeting in response to recent decisions by Alisal's three-member board of trustees. The local board was not supposed to be making major decisions after the state board voted March 11 to appoint a trustee.

Ramirez is confident the state won't reverse his appointment, and is moving ahead with plans to review improvement plans at each school, build consensus among principals, and offer a proposal on improving student achievement in a few weeks.

Ramirez and Kotowski plan to hold a retreat with principals Friday as part of his strategy.

He said he intends to visit the schools frequently to monitor progress.

"It's part of my goal, being very visible," Ramirez said.

Mary Magaña, principal at Oscar Loya Elementary School, led Ramirez and Kotowski in a tour of the campus, beginning with the administrative offices and following with Robert Aragon's third-grade class.

Aragon is still basking in his students' recent third place finish in a worldwide math competition.

"One school in Central America had 500 students" competing, Aragon told the visitors. "It lasted 48 hours, the