Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington
July 8, 2008

Superintendent's Message

The official school year may be over, but our schools are full of activity, and our planning for Excellence and Equity continues. This month, I want to review some of the budget issues we've faced in closing out the year, and to share some important information about the future of Burlington's schools.

BUDGET

For the first time many years, we are facing a deficit as we close out our year on June 30th. At this point, we expect the ultimate shortfall to be about $450,000 or just under 1.5% of our annual budget, after reimbursement by the Federal government for part of our special education costs. We are in the process of a line-by-line expense analysis to cover the deficit.

There are three major areas that we are over budget:

  • 1) unanticipated special education expenses that are mandated, but not fully reimbursed, by the Federal government;
  • 2) energy increases that were not anticipated when the budget was completed in January 2007; and
  • 3) failing infrastructure beyond maintenance projections.

The two areas where we have some control are directly related to our facilities - energy expenses and failing building systems.

Due to rising energy costs, were over budget by $135,000. Without the new wood chip boiler at BHS and replacement windows at Edmunds Middle School our energy overage would have been nearly twice that amount. Alternative energy sources like the wood chip boiler and energy efficiency measures are a necessity as we plan for our future.

Our maintenance expenses for repair and replacement are budgeted based upon a facilities audit conducted in 1997. This year, we had to replace an elevator that failed at the high school and a failed fire alarm system at Hunt. Without consistent preventative maintenance, our buildings are increasingly requiring urgent, expensive repairs to address infrastructure failures. For the safety and health of our students and staff, we are conducting a full facilities audit this summer.

I am committed to ensuring that our schools provide a high-quality education to all of our students and to fiscally-responsible management. Recommendations, and budgets, that look forward at the future of our schools, will achieve cost savings through energy efficiency and more cost-effective routine maintenance.

FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS

In March, we began a visioning process to develop recommendations for the future of our schools. The visioning process has helped to identify the ways that our schools must advance our schools to prepare all students for the 21st century. I'd like to share with the key issues for Burlington schools, as well as our process moving forward.

Our schools are at a crossroads. Like most school districts throughout the United States, we face a new reality rooted in factors beyond our control. How we conduct business, how we communicate, who we interact with, how we live - it has all changed. Since our current school system was developed much has changed. Fifty years ago, as many of our schools were being designed, globalization was in its infancy. Few communities were multicultural. People expected to have one job throughout their working years. Natural resources seemed abundant and inexpensive. Technology did not impact our daily lives - there were no computers, internet or mobile devices. Fifty years ago, ours was a different world. Society has evolved significantly since then, and this evolution will continue at an accelerated pace.

The world has changed in many ways and our education system needs to change with it. Preparing our students to engage and excel in today's world is a materially different undertaking than it was 50 years ago. The tools they will use, the strategies they will employ, the skill sets they will require have all shifted dramatically. The education they receive needs to be adapted accordingly. Every one of our children must have equal opportunities to develop their abilities and contribute in the 21st century.

Burlington's school system was largely developed in the industrial age to fit requirements of the day. Our schools have served this community well over this 50 years, but the reality is that they are no longer tooled to meet the demands of the 21st century. It is true that we have numerous innovative, nationally recognized programs that deliver leading-edge education, but these are typically the work of dedicated teachers finding ways to create excellence despite outdated resources. How much more could we be doing with an education system designed specifically to fit today's environment?

The workplace, government, the academic community, individuals - are all adapting. Education must adapt as well. Communities across the nation are beginning the process of change, and Burlington is no different. We must address the challenges we face now, enhance our curriculum to meet today's demands, repair our inefficient buildings, and ensure that every child has equal access. Curriculum, infrastructure and delivery mechanisms in our school system need refitting to embrace 21st century instruction and true equity for all students.

MOVING FORWARD IN BURLINGTON

The Burlington School Board has directed the District administration to proceed with a comprehensive assessment and visioning process to determine how Burlington schools can best evolve to a 21st Century learning environment. That visioning process is now underway, utilizing findings from research and community conversations conducted over the past three years and gathering fresh inputs from a range of community members, stakeholders and professional resources.

The visioning process includes a comprehensive facilities audit now being conducted by Burlington architect Colin Lindbergh, working collaboratively with community representatives, administrators, and Board commissioners to make recommendations for Board decisions. The work of the visioning and assessment process will be submitted to the School Board with recommendations for their consideration and action in late August 2008. Presentation of findings and recommendations will be presented to the public in early Fall 2008.

I wish each of you a safe and healthy summer. School re-opens for students on August 27. Until then, stay up to date on our progress at www.bsdvt.org. As always, I welcome your feedback. You can contact me at superintendent@bsdvt.org or 865-5332.