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Published on 08/12/1996 All articles from this issue

LASD hires 17 new teachers for additional classes

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By Kristina Allen / Town Crier Staff Writer

Since the state budget allows for elementary schools to reduce class sizes in the first three grades, the Los Altos School District has not wasted any time in hiring 17 of the 18 teachers needed to accommodate the new classes.

According to the state budget, each district has the funding to reduce the class size of its first and second grade classes to 20 students or less.

The district also had to make a choice whether to reduce the size of its kindergarten or third grade classes. LASD chose third grade.

"We have made an offer to the final candidate and are waiting for an answer," said Marge Gratiot, district superintendent. "There will be three new teachers at each school."

There are six elementary schools in the district. Portable classrooms are on order, but district officials are not sure that the new rooms will be available to use the first few weeks of school.

"The newly created classes will be put throughout the campus to accommodate the smaller class sizes." Gratiot said. "Some will go in science labs and the multi-purpose room."

Once the word got out the district was looking for new instructors, 500 applications came flowing in. Out of the 500, only 100 made it to the interview stage. A team of school principals and district administrators, including Gratiot, conducted the interviews.

"We wanted to get the right kind of teacher for the district, someone who's enthusiastic about children and the job of teaching," Gratiot said.

The week before the first day of school on Aug. 28, the new teachers will meet with district teacher trainers to learn the district curriculum and policies.

"Every new teacher will be assigned a mentor teacher who teaches the same grade level," Gratiot said.