"We had a very exciting and smooth opening of school," said Lane Weiss, new superintendent of the Saratoga Union School District. "We are pleased to report it all went quite well."

Weiss replaces Mary Gardner, who served as district superintendent for 11 years. "She set the bar high for me," he said. "She set standards of excellence and expectations here, but I welcome the challenge."

Redwood Middle School also has another new addition aside from the classrooms and offices that are currently being remodeled. Alex Chapman, the school's new assistant principal, replaces Beth Polito, who was promoted as the school's principal.

"I am excited to try to use my leadership skills to work with this school that I am very familiar with, and put some of my current education administration knowledge into application," Chapman said.

Chapman worked as the district's science coordinator last year and a sixth- and seventh-grade science teacher for four years before that at Redwood Middle School.

Weiss and district staff spent the first day of school at Redwood Middle School monitoring traffic and meeting parents and children alike. Saratoga Elementary School held a welcome-back coffee, attended by about 250 parents.

Weiss said he was holding his breath waiting for enrollment numbers to come in, but it turns out enrollment hasn't changed much from last year. The district's enrollment is about 2,420, according to superintendent's administrative assistant Kathleen Devich, as opposed to last year's 2,440.

Director of Human Resources Margie Singleton said the district is only short eight teachers, who either didn't return to the district because they moved out of the area or took teaching positions elsewhere. At a district board meeting on Aug. 19, Board President John Waite proposed the district track more closely why staff is leaving the district.

As for the district's budget deficit, Chief Business Official Ellen Tipton said she is still finalizing final figures to bring to the board's Sept. 23 meeting. But at the board's Aug. 26 meeting, Tipton said estimates from the county controller's office say the district will be receiving more money than they anticipated from property tax revenue. But the district could still face mid-year cuts, so Tipton said it will be very important to educate the community, parents and staff about the budget challenges.

"We need to find ways to compromise but still place students first," she said.

A reception will be held to introduce Weiss as the new superintendent to Saratoga city officials from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the Saratoga City Hall.