DISTRICT HAILS NEW TEACHERS : HOPES REST ON SLASHED CLASS SIZES.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

Some have been teachers considering a switch to the Las Virgenes Unified School District for years, while others received the perfect opportunity for a first job.

On Monday, during a luncheon at Bay Laurel School, the district welcomed the 30 teachers hired to teach second and third grades starting Wednesday as part of the state's class-size reduction program.

District administrators said the lunch was an example of the changes forced by the program, which gave districts money to shrink classes to 20 students for the first years of elementary school. The district has never had an orientation for such a large group of new hirees halfway through the school year.

``This is a new tradition for us,'' Superintendent John Fitzpatrick told the group of teachers. ``Las Virgenes has a reputation of not only hiring the best - we've had the California teacher of the year twice in a row. We have high expectations for our teachers. We know you'll meet the expectations.''

Las Virgenes Unified administrators decided to begin the class-size reduction program in two phases so they would have time to come up with classroom space.

In the fall, less than two months after the state approved money for the program, the district hired 15 teachers to shrink class sizes for first-graders.

On Wednesday, second- and third-grade classes also will shrink. Workers still were putting the finishing touches on some trailers installed to make room for the new classes at the elementary schools, said Donald Zimring, assistant superintendent of business services.

The program came just in time for graduates completing their teaching programs. Instead of struggling to find a job, some said, they had to decide which offers to reject.

``People are getting four or five offers,'' said new teacher and recent graduate Amy de la Pena. ``The districts are calling, saying, `Want a job? Want a job?' ''

For many of the new teachers, their minds were made up as soon as they received an offer from Las Virgenes Unified.

``It's a really hard district to break into,'' said Melanie Kwasniewski, also starting her first job. ``It's a really good area and a really good district.''

Several of the new hires said they had applied to the district a couple years ago, but never got a call about a job until class-size reduction opened dozens of positions at the district.

Still, many were confident that the district made sure it hired the best. One said the district at one point interviewed 1,000 candidates and made only five offers.

Dianne Beck, a teacher for six years, said she came to Las Virgenes Unified after hearing about the encouragement educators receive.

``This district has a good reputation for supporting its teachers,'' Beck said. ``And 20 kids is an ideal situation. It really makes for a better environment.''

District board President Charlotte Meyer said she couldn't agree more.

``This school district isn't like a business organization,'' Meyer said. ``I feel like our district is a large family. People look out for one another.''

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Photo: (Ran in Conejo only) Newly hired elementary school teachers of the Las Virgenes Unified School District are served lunch in Calabasas on Monday.

Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News