Orland schools open with little problems

Three new principals greeted Orland Unified School District students Monday as the first day of classes began.

By most accounts, the day went smoothly and did not tax the youngsters and teens since it was a minimum day with school letting out at 12:30 p.m.

Fairview Elementary School is headed by Steve Hiscock who returns to the campus after a three—year absence. He last worked as principal there from 2004 to 2006, he said. He replaces Brain Sappenfield who moved to Indianapolis, Ind.

"We are just getting started," Hiscock said. "The big goal is establishing a professional learning community where teachers meet weekly in teams to look at learning assessments, data and instruction."

The school is working on a process in which students go home early one day a week so their teachers can collaborate on strategies and remedial techniques, he said.

This same program is being established at Orland High School and C.K. Price Middle School, officials said.

Hiscock said there were about 500 students expected with 22.5 teachers assigned to the school. The campus caters to grades three through five.

Two new teachers joined the staff, including Emily Mullins, who transferred from Mill Street School to teach fifth grade at Fairview. Kim Seymour is teaching a special education class in the mornings and working at C.K. Price in the afternoon, Hiscock said.

Mill Street School also has a new principal with the arrival of Kelly Haight from Chico. She replaces Annette Thole, who moved back to Southern California.

"It was amazingly calm," Haight said, after visiting every classroom at the kindergarten through second—grade school.

The children were comfortable and on task until being let out after noon, she said.

"We have an incredible staff who are patient and understanding."

She said 486 students were on the books Monday morning, but there were a lot of no shows — so attendance will likely go up throughout the week. Mill Street has 21 teachers and a new secretary Paula Sarmento, who transferred from the Orland Unified district office. There also are two new teachers.

At C.K. Price, Principal Theresa Johansen said the "first day was awesome. We have great teachers and we have great kids."

Johansen is from Oroville and has served as a principal at both the high school and elementary levels. She came on board in Orland in June and got to meet most of her staff during the summer, she said. She came to Orland because "I heard really good things about this district."

She said enrollment is estimated at about 550 students in the sixth through eighth grades. New teachers include Jayme Vue, who transferred from Mill Street to teach language arts and math at C.K. Price; Jeanine Wackerman who comes from Orland High to teach language arts, social studies and physical education to sixth graders; and Liz Wiseman who is teaching sixth grade reading, English and social studies. Al Gonzales is teaching sixth-grade language arts and science and Joanne Chapman is teaching an opportunity class for the Glenn County Office of Education.

Orland High School Principal Jeff Scheele said things went well Monday with a big group of freshmen coming into the school. Most were in their computer technology classes that morning, he said, since it is a requirement for ninth graders.

He mentioned the bell schedule will be modified in September to send students home an hour early on Wednesdays, so teachers can prepare common subject tests, examine data and identify how students are doing.

The goal is to intervene with tutoring at lunch, in class and after school for teens who need remediation in math, reading, English and other core subjects, Scheele said. The school also is implementing more math and writing assignments in classes like shop and fine arts.

Student enrollment is projected at 680, he said, and its new facilities are all up and functioning.

A new music instructor has taken over for Butch Peterson who is heading back to Chico State to pursue bilingual certification, Scheele said. Seth Snyder, who has close ties to Peterson, takes the reins.

Finally, Scheele said it is the school has not had to cut its music, art or sports programs because of budget cuts.

Contact Rick Longley at 934—6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.