Two additional teachers - one full time and another part-time - were hired this week by the Glen Lake Board of Education.

The board hired Sarah Maurer, a 2001 Glen Lake graduate, to fill a newly-created position necessitated by high numbers at the second grade level. Superintendent Joan Groening said that there had been two sections of second grade with 28 students each. The class sizes are larger than board policy recommends for early elementary grade levels.

Creation of a third section, to be taught by Maurer, will bring student numbers down to about 18 per class, Groening said.

Maurer majored in English language and literature and minored in elementary education at Grand Valley State University. She is the daughter of 5th grade teacher Tami Maurer.

In related business Monday night, the board hired Cedar resident Ellen Pin˜a to teach Spanish in kindergarten through 6th grade. Pin˜a was in the school preparing her classroom and is expected to begin working with students next week.

This spring, the board approved a proposal to introduce foreign language instruction in primary grades. Students will receive from 20 to 40 minutes of Spanish instruction per week — similar to other “specials” programming such as music, art and physical education.

Pina’s hiring brings Spanish instruction to all levels of the K-12 district. Middle school teacher Heidi Barber teaches Spanish as an exploratory class for 7th and 8th graders. Jonathan Nelson teaches Spanish to grades 9-12.

In other business during the 2-hour meeting, the board:

• Reviewed itineraries and requests for travel for the annual 5th grade trip to Chicago and the Memorial weekend band trip to Mackinaw.

• Heard a favorable audit report for the 2006-2007 year from Laura Dell’Eva of Lewis & Knopf, P.C. of Flint.