By Lori Eppstein

Laguna School yesterday began fall classes one week late after the school's principal and only fulltime teacher resigned in early August.

After scrambling for a month to find a replacement for Mary Ann Diaz-Romero, Laguna District trustees last week hired Jim Scullion, 41, of Novato.

Scullion is the first male teacher in the one-room schoolhouse's 89-year history, school board President Ken Joseph said.

During Wednesday's lunchtime recess, Scullion described his first day on the job as "a little rough, but fun."

He said the one-roomer is different from what he is used to, but "there is a real caring atmosphere with the other teachers. The kids are here and want to learn, which isn't always the case."

Scullion brings 18 years of teaching and administrative experience to the job. He most recently taught at Bayside Martin Luther School in Sausalito.

He is also experienced in multi-ethnic classrooms, having taught summer school in San Rafael's Canal District. Although he is not bilingual, Scullion said he is learning Spanish.

Half of Laguna's 29 students are Spanish-speaking.

Scullion said he has not developed a year-long education plan yet, but he calls his overall theme "partners in education."

The idea behind "partners in education" is that both the students and teachers have come to learn and help each other. Scullion plans to put the slogan on the school's letterhead.

Scullion told The Light he wants to make sure Laguna School is appy and peaceful place" where people can come to visit and volunteer.

Besides having a fulltime principal/teacher, Laguna has two parttime teachers, Susan Bloom and Monica Gutting. The Light failed to mention them in an article last week and apologizes for the oversight.

Last week's article also referred to Linda Moreda as a "former board secretary" when in fact she has been secretary on and off for many years.

The Light twice asked Diaz-Romero about events that preceded her resignation, but she declined to respond.