diff --git a/utility-scripts/create_groups.py b/utility-scripts/create_groups.py
index 0e3245bb4d..8108498cb8 100644
--- a/utility-scripts/create_groups.py
+++ b/utility-scripts/create_groups.py
@@ -9,17 +9,20 @@ import os, sys, string, re
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('.'))
 os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = 'lms.envs.dev'
 
-try:
-    from lms.envs.dev import *
-except Exception as err:
-    print "Run this script from the top-level mitx directory (mitx_all/mitx), not a subdirectory."
-    sys.exit(-1)
+#try:
+#    from lms.envs.dev import *
+#except Exception as err:
+#    print "Run this script from the top-level mitx directory (mitx_all/mitx), not a subdirectory."
+#    sys.exit(-1)
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
 from path import path
 from lxml import etree
 
+print "configured=",settings.configured
+print settings.SETTINGS_MODULE
+
 data_dir = settings.DATA_DIR
 print "data_dir = %s" % data_dir
 
diff --git a/utility-scripts/create_user.py b/utility-scripts/create_user.py
index 3ce9ce0ecf..5a52baff34 100644
--- a/utility-scripts/create_user.py
+++ b/utility-scripts/create_user.py
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@ import readline
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('.'))
 os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = 'lms.envs.dev'
 
-try:
-    from lms.envs.dev import *
-except Exception as err:
-    print "Run this script from the top-level mitx directory (mitx_all/mitx), not a subdirectory."
-    sys.exit(-1)
+#try:
+#    from lms.envs.dev import *
+#except Exception as err:
+#    print "Run this script from the top-level mitx directory (mitx_all/mitx), not a subdirectory."
+#    sys.exit(-1)
+
+sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('common/djangoapps'))
 
 from student.models import UserProfile, Registration
 from external_auth.models import ExternalAuthMap
diff --git a/utility-scripts/manage_class_groups.py b/utility-scripts/manage_class_groups.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a21ec9151e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utility-scripts/manage_class_groups.py
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+#
+# File:   manage_class_groups
+#
+# list and edit membership in class staff group
+
+import os, sys, string, re
+import datetime
+from getpass import getpass
+import json
+import readline
+
+sys.path.append(os.path.abspath('.'))
+os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = 'lms.envs.dev'
+
+#try:
+#    from lms.envs.dev import *
+#except Exception as err:
+#    print "Run this script from the top-level mitx directory (mitx_all/mitx), not a subdirectory."
+#    sys.exit(-1)
+
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# get all staff groups
+
+gset = Group.objects.all()
+
+print "Groups:"
+for cnt,g in zip(range(len(gset)), gset):
+    print "%d. %s" % (cnt,g)
+
+gnum = int(raw_input('Choose group to manage (enter #): '))
+
+group = gset[gnum]
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# users in group
+
+uall = User.objects.all()
+print "----"
+print "List of All Users: %s" % [str(x.username) for x in uall]
+print "----"
+
+while True:
+
+    print "Users in the group:"
+    
+    uset = group.user_set.all()
+    for cnt, u in zip(range(len(uset)), uset):
+        print "%d. %s" % (cnt, u)
+
+    action = raw_input('Choose user to delete (enter #) or enter usernames (comma delim) to add: ')
+
+    m = re.match('^[0-9]+$',action)
+    if m:
+        unum = int(action)
+        u = uset[unum]
+        print "Deleting user %s" % u
+        u.groups.remove(group)
+    
+    else:
+        for uname in action.split(','):
+            try:
+                user = User.objects.get(username=action)
+            except Exception as err:
+                print "Error %s" % err
+                continue
+            print "adding %s to group %s" % (user, group)
+            user.groups.add(group)
+        
+    
+