Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington
December 20, 2007

Superintendent's Message
FROM AWARDS TO EXCELLENCE IN BURLINGTON SCHOOLS

From teacher awards to congressional visits, parent surveys and show-stopping performances, Burlington schools, teachers and students are having a jam-packed fall.

Several of our teachers and staff received statewide, regional and national recognition for their work. For 27 years, the University of Vermont's College of Education and Social Services and the Vermont Supervisory Unions and School Districts have joined to honor outstanding teachers. In 2007, three Burlington teachers, Janet Bellavance at Edmunds Elementary; Leesa Guay-Timpson at Burlington High School and Colleen Murphy at Burlington Technical Center, received this honor. Regional and national awards were also awarded to Kim Hunt at Hunt Middle School and Doug Davis, Burlington's Food Service Director. Kim was recognized for her work to contribute to the academic success of English language learners by the Northern New England Teachers of English as a second language. Doug received the National Food Service Special Achievement Award. Please join me in congratulating each of the recipients of these much-deserved honors.

I am also pleased to report that we have settled a contract to phase in a livable wage for paraeducators over four years. Thomas Fleury, chair of the Burlington School Board, and I view this contract is a reasonable way to provide appropriate compensation to our employees while being fiscally prudent. This agreement balances the needs of Burlington students, employees and taxpayers. For more information about the contract, visit our website at www.bsdvt.org.

Burlington schools were honored to host Representative Peter Welch at Hunt Middle School for a roundtable on No Child Left Behind with Burlington educators. We shared concerns and suggestions regarding the bill, many of which have been expressed to me by a number of Burlington parents and residents. I am pleased to begin this important dialogue with the Congressman. At the end of the November, I participated in a Town Meeting on the same topic with Senator Bernie Sanders at the high school.

As a district, we continue to move forward in our Excellence and Equity Planning Process. In November, a phone survey of parents was conducted by Fifth Element, an independent research group, to learn more about how parents define excellence in our schools and to better understand the potential for magnet, or theme-based, elementary schools in the Old North End. The phone survey reached a random selection of one third of all elementary school parents. Parents who did not participate in the phone survey are invited to take the same survey online. A link to the survey is available at www.bsdvt.org through December 12th.

At this point, magnet schools are a concept that the board is evaluating. No decisions have been made to move forward, and the research phase will help to develop a community plan for excellence for all students. The research report is expected to be presented to the board at an open meeting in early to mid January. The district and board will continue work together to provide information to all Burlington residents and to seek further input.

I hope that you had an opportunity to enjoy one of the not-to-be-missed performances at our schools this fall. Taking center stage, BHS produced a hugely successful run of "Wonderful Town." In partnership with Very Merry Theatre Company, Robin Hood was staged at Edmunds Middle School. And Wheeler Elementary students took part in the production of Mary Poppins at the Boys & Girl's Club. Again this year, Edmunds Middle School will serve as a site for the 25th Annual First Night festivities, where you can see dozens of performances for young and old alike.

In closing, I wish you all a joyous start to the New Year. As always, please contact me with your questions or suggestions at superintendent@bsdvt.org or 865-5332.