At the Mountain View Los Altos school district board meeting on Monday, December 8, Superintendent Barry Groves announced his retirement after eight years in the position, effective June 30, 2015.

Groves joined MVLA as a superintendent in 2006, following the retirement of his predecessor Rich Fisher. Before coming to MVLA, he worked from 1992 to 2006 as the superintendent for Cambrian school district in San Jose.

Groves was originally a history and English teacher, and worked as the assistant principal of Crittenden Middle School and the principal of Sunnyvale High School. He later earned a doctorate in education from Stanford University, before coming to work at Cambrian.

Under Groves, MVLA has seen its academic performance and test scores continue to improve. Teacher salaries have also grown and the district’s finances are sound, after being strained during the 2008 recession.

The December 8 meeting was also the first of the new term, and hence the first for Fiona Walter, who was elected to replace Judy Hannemann. The board elected Susan Sweeley as board president, Phil Faillace as vice president, and Debbie Torok as clerk.