As students arrived at Los Altos High on Wednesday, Aug. 9, the scene in many ways looked like a classic first day of school, with friends reuniting on the quad, a line forming to pick up textbooks and students rushing to get to class when the bell rang.

In other ways, the start of the 2023-24 school year was visibly different, including a new principal greeting students and an active construction site covering part of the quad as a crew worked to finish the new administration building.

Classes began on Wednesday in both the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District and Mountain View Whisman School District.

At Los Altos High School, Tracey Runeare began her first year as principal, taking over for Wynne Satterwhite who retired this summer after nearly two decades leading the school.

"I am thrilled. Honestly, I've been waiting for this day," Runeare said. "You do all this preparation and then finally the students come – it makes it feel real.

Runeare said that she is looking forward to getting to know the students and staff, adding that the school community has been warm and welcoming. As for the ongoing construction, Runeare said that she's found people to be flexible in adjusting to the delays. On Wednesday, administrators had temporary work stations set up in the school's college and career center.

New administration buildings at both Mountain View and Los Altos high schools were supposed to open at the start of the year, but the Los Altos project wasn't finished in time. The plan is to open it on Monday, Aug. 14, Superintendent Nellie Meyer said.

Mountain View's new administration building was in use on the first day, though there were still some remaining items to complete, including landscaping, paint touch-ups and interior signage, said Mike Mathiesen, the associate superintendent of business services.

The administration building on each campus includes offices for administrators, academic counselors and therapists, as well as a student union space. Mountain View's also has a cafeteria and kitchen. The new buildings are part of a series of major construction projects funded by the Measure E bond that voters approved in 2018. Classrooms are also being renovated on both campuses.

As Los Altos High senior Evelyn Aguilar stood on the quad with her friends, waiting for classes to start on Wednesday morning, she said that this year feels different, both because of a new bell schedule and the construction.

"Other than that, it's nice to be back, especially since it's our last year. I'm pretty excited," Aguilar said.

In terms of curriculum, freshmen have a new class this year. Ethnic studies is now being taught as the ninth grade social studies course, a change the district made ahead of a state requirement that takes effect in two years. Ethnic studies was offered as an elective last year, but will now be a graduation requirement.

"(It's) something that took a lot of work last year and we're very proud of," Meyer said. "We really look forward to seeing our ninth graders in this course."

This is also the second year that Los Altos High School will have a formal program for students learning English. Previously, the district's English learner program was only available at Mountain View High.