STUDENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL; SAUGUS UNION CAMPUSES REPORT ATTENDANCE SPIKE.

Byline: Mary Schubert / Daily News Staff Writer

As of today, class will be back in session for all students in the Saugus Union School District - the valley's largest - which like many of its students had a growth spurt over the summer.

Monday was the first day of class for students at Bouquet Canyon, James Foster, Charles Helmers, Rosedell and Santa Clarita elementary schools. It also marked the last day of summer vacation for their counterparts at Emblem, Highlands and Mountainview.

The district's three other schools - Cedarcreek, Rio Vista and Skyblue Mesa - began July 28.

When school let out a few months back, district enrollment stood at about 7,550. Although figures for the new school year typically fluctuate the first few weeks of class, the enrollment Monday at the eight Saugus district schools under way was 5,430, Superintendent Gail Wickstrom said.

That number will swell considerably today when Emblem, Highlands and Mountainview add their totals.

One hint of district growth was the faculty hiring that took place over summer vacation.

``We added 53 new teachers this year. Sixteen of those were for class-size reduction,'' the superintendent said, noting the 37 others were needed to handle enrollment growth.

Districtwide, 32 portable classrooms were installed to handle the added students, she said.

The biggest change in store for Saugus district students is the reduction of class sizes in third grade, Wickstrom said. Last year, the program - one teacher for every 20 students - applied to first and second grades.

Depending on the fate of assorted ``trailer bills'' to the 1997-98 state budget, which Gov. Pete Wilson signed Monday, the school district might add kindergarten to its class-size reduction program if lawmakers approve extra funding, Wickstrom said.

But those bills have yet to be considered by the state Legislature.

The ongoing United Parcel Service strike also made life difficult for district maintenance crews, who were awaiting shipments of supplies and trying to set up the schools in time for students' arrival. Workers toiled all weekend, assembling new furniture for the classrooms added by enrollment growth.

``Crews were screwing the desks together,'' Wickstrom said. ``It was a Herculean effort.''

Nowhere is the growth more evident than at Emblem Elementary.

``We expect to be opening school with 1,000 students,'' said Principal Jay Caulfield. Last fall, about 845 students reported for the first day of class - and by year's end, that number had grown to 920, he said.

Caulfield attributed the growth to new housing tracts in the area. Emblem's faculty grew by four over the summer, to a staff of 52, he added. And there are now 26 portable classrooms on campus.

Over at Highlands, Principal Bob Moloznick is expecting 750 students - up from 690 last fall and 710 just a few months ago. Three new teachers will handle that addition.

And Mountainview Principal Kathy Wolfson said she will have 720 students - up from 650 last fall.

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PHOTO (color) Teacher Mairi McGee reads to kindergartners Monday at James Foster Elementary School in Saugus.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News