MV-Whisman names new No. 2 MV-Whisman names new No. 2 (August 26, 2005)

By Katie Vaughn

Dr. Mary Lairon is the new assistant superintendent of the Mountain View-Whisman School District, the board announced at its Aug. 18 meeting.

She will report to Superintendent Maurice Ghysels, and oversee curriculum, instruction and teacher assessments, a position similar to the one she held at the Redwood City School District, where she worked for the last 19 years.

The two will begin their careers at Mountain View-Whisman virtually together, as Ghysels has only been on the job for a few weeks. He replaced Eleanor Yick, the former associate superintendent who served as the interim leader after Superintendent Jim Negri resigned in August 2004.

"It's a match made in heaven. There was an immediate comfort level between me and the superintendent," Lairon said. "It's really about ensuring that all children succeed."

At the same meeting, the board heard that the district has rehired 24 temporary teachers who worked in Mountain View-Whisman schools last year and added 33 new teachers for the 2005-06 school year. The additions fill the majority of the district's identified vacancies and fall within budget projections.

All of the district's nine elementary and middle schools received at least one new teacher, and five now have at least one rehired instructor. Graham Middle School has undergone the most faculty changes, receiving 10 new teachers and three rehires.

Also at the meeting, Rebecca Wright, chief financial officer, explained how changes in the new state budget's will effect the district. The district will receive $48,616 more in state funds budgeted for kindergarten to 12th grade education; and the state dropped a plan to hike the district contribution to the teachers' retirement system by 2 percent, which could have cost $300,000.

In other meeting news, the district announced that in response to increased kindergarten enrollment, it has added a class at both Monta Loma and Theuerkauf elementary schools, facilities that currently offer three or four such classes and have space for an additional one. As district officials are unsure whether the high number of students will last the entire school year, the two new classes may not be permanent. Retired and substitute teachers are likely to lead the classes.

Another change at Theuerkauf is a new playground built by Google. The company provides daycare for its employees in portable classrooms located on land leased from the school. A recent company expansion forced the removal of a Theuerkauf play structure. To compensate, Google is currently constructing a new playground, set to be completed by the end of September.

E-mail Katie Vaughn at kvaughn@mv-voice.com

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