Current Year News Archive

STATE ASSESSMENTS: WHAT ARE WE LEARNING?

May 1, 2008
Individual student test performance information indicates we are on the right track with the interventions we are putting in place in Burlington schools to address achievement gaps. The majority of our students, in every school, met the academic standard set under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2008. Read More

SISTER SCHOOLS and VARIANCES

The Burlington school board and administration have made a commitment to keep class sizes low, with an emphasis on smaller primary class sizes. To do this, we have created a "sister school" model designed to give us flexibility. Sister schools are two Burlington schools who "share" a region of the city and work together to balance class sizes.Read More

DeJONG LOCKER to Develop Master Plan

February 21, 2008
DeJONG.LOCKER was selected by the Burlington School Board Finance Committee to develop the Excellence & Equity Master Plan. DeJONG LOCKER was chosen to lead this process because of their unique combination of educational and facilities planning expertise, community engagement experience, and depth of understanding of the work completed to date.Read More

Lawrence Barnes Elementary School in National Publication

February 21, 2008
Lawrence Barnes Elementary Schools was recently written up in a national publication for its sustainable schools work.Read the article

Information on Excellence and Equity

The Board is engaged in a process to transform the district to one of excellence with equitable opportunities for all students.Read More

Annual Report for 2006-2007 School Year

February 6, 2008
This year's annual report is available as a pdf file for download here:
DOWNLOAD REPORT -(warning - large file)!
Past reports are available as well at the Board Annual Report Page.

Burlington Fire Department seeks information on Feb. 6 fire at BHS

Feb. 6, 2008
At approximately 10:20 on Feb. 6, a student discovered smoke in a bathroom. The school was evacuated as a staff member entered the room and put the fire out with a portable extinguisher.Read More

Snow Days

December 27, 2007
Each year, when a snow day is called, there is confusion and consternation, either because it was called too late or not called at all. Here is background on how snow day closure decisions are made and how the days are made up.Read More

School Board and Superintendent Plan for Vermont's First "Magnet" School

January 30, 2008
With the results of parent, teacher and community surveys in hand, the Burlington School Board adopted a plan for Excellence & Equity that moves forward on magnet school options.Read More

School Board Budget Information

January 30, 2008
Information on the 08-09 budget is available on the School Board web page. Information from previous budgets is also available for your review. Click Here

Facility Tours

January 17, 2008
The public is invited to join in a tour of the school facilities with representatives of the Board and Property Services. The schedule for these tours is posted on the Board Calendar page

Market Research Survey on Dream School in Burlington

Updated January 15, 2008
At last week's school board meeting, Fifth Element presented the results of the parent and community surveys. The powerpoint report is available in two formats:

In addition, there are two executive summaries available in PDF format.

Finally, there are copies of the online survey web page questions in PDF format.

If you have comments, contact the superintendent at 865-5332 or send us your E-Mail Comments

BUDGET TIME IS HERE!

January 8, 2008
The Board is interested in soliciting community input into the budget decisions for the 08-09 school year. The baseline budget is up by 1.4% new money. There are additional considerations to be decided by the Board at their meeting on Jan. 15, at Hunt Middle School Library, 7 P.M. Input may be offered through email or letter prior to Jan. 15, or by public comment at the Jan 8 or Jan 15 Board meetings. For the budget information to date, please CLICK HERE

Community Survey Report Presentation

January 7, 2008
Dear Burlington Parents and Community Members:
Happy New Year! I hope that you will join me for the presentation of your feedback, "What Parents Want in Burlington Schools", Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at Burlington High School. This research study marks a major milestone in the Burlington Schools' Excellence and Equity planning.Read More

Community Survey - Thanks for your input!

December 21, 2007
You are invited to take this survey about our schools, particularly elementary schools, to share your opinion about what you think all students need to succeed. The independent research firm Fifth Element produced this online survey. All answers are anonymous and confidential. The results of this survey will be used by the School Board and Superintendent to help make decisions as the Excellence and Equity initiative moves forward.Read More

Budget Hearing at BHS

December 19, 2007
Preliminary information on the 2008-2009 budget was presented to the public at a hearing at BHS last evening. The next public hearing is scheduled for January 7 at BHS at 7:00 P.M.
To download a pdf of the powerpoint presentation click here.

PARENTS, Thanks for your input!

December 12, 2007
Thank you for sharing your opinion about what makes an elementary school excellent. The independent research firm Fifth Element produced this online survey for parents. All answers are anonymous and confidential. The results of this survey will be used by the School Board and Superintendent to help make decisions as the Excellence and Equity initiative moves forward.Read More

ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PARENT SCHOOL SURVEY

November 9, 2007
We continue to move forward in our Excellence & Equity Planning Process. Over the next three weeks, parents of elementary students and pre-schoolers are being surveyed by phone to learn more about how they define excellence in our schools and to better understand the potential for magnet schools. This survey is being conducted by Fifth Element, an independent research group based in Colchester, Vermont. Approximately one-third of our elementary school parents will be surveyed. The survey will be representative of parents across the district. All information collected by Fifth Element is anonymous and confidential. Individual contact information is not collected.Read More

School News

November 8, 2007
This weekend, RETN Channel 16 will air programs featuring elementary classes at Flynn, Edmunds Middle, Champlain, Barnes and Edmunds Elementary Schools. In partnership the Flynn Center for Performing Arts "Words Come Alive" teaching artists, students in kindergaren through 6th grade use drama and movement to learn about the rainforest, lifecycles, ecosystems and the American Revolution. Click here to see the full schedule. Words Come Alive

This Sunday, November 11th, American Flatbread Burlington Hearth will donate $8 from every flatbread (dining room or takeout) to the Burlington School Food Project. The Burlington School Food Project's work to increase high-quality, locally grown foods, provide nutrition education and connect farms to schools has been in the local and national news. Several articles are listed below.

In case you missed it, Burlington Afterschool at Wheeler was featured in a Channel 3 WCAX newscast on kids health, and how after school programs help to get kids moving. Read More

Burlington Schools settles paraeducator contract;
Phases in livable wage over four years

October 31, 2007

The Burlington Schools and the Burlington Education Association have settled a contract that phases in a livable wage over four years.Read More

Representative Peter Welch visits Hunt Middle School

October 26, 2007
Representative Peter Welch visited Hunt Middle School on Friday, October 26, 2007, to enjoy a Farm to School lunch and to host a Roundtable on No Child Left Behind with Burlington educators.Read More

Burlington Schools Celebrates Give Kids Good Schools Week October 15-19

October 22, 2007
As part of Give Kids Good Schools Week, Burlington Schools celebrates our outstanding community partnerships and invites community members to learn more about Burlington's high-quality schools at several events this week.Read More

Burlington Schools Food Programs in the News

Burlington Schools Lead the Way with Healthy Food and Nutrition Programs,
October 22, 2007
Read More

Food for thought at a Vermont elementary school, Center for Public Education,
October 20, 2007
Read This Story

Burlington School Food Project: A recipe for school and community partnership., Center for Public Education,
October 20, 2007
Read This Story

Burlington School's Excellence and Equity Discussion Moves Forward
Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington

October 8, 2007

I am pleased to report the major decision-points that will shape the direction of the Burlington School Excellence and Equity plans. At the Tuesday, October 9th board meeting, important recommendations will be brought to the full board for their approval. These recommendations include maintaining 6 elementary schools, approving a community survey on the concept of magnet schools in Burlington, and considering a proposal for infrastructure financial support.Read More

Burlington's Diversity Actions Expand
Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington

September 27, 2007
The recent story and editorial about diversity was helpful in drawing attention to a community problem related to recruiting and retaining teachers who are African-American. I want to thank these area residents for recognizing the value of and investing their energy in Burlington's diversity.Read More

PRESS RELEASE FROM JEANNE COLLINS, SUPERINTENDENT

September 20, 2007
On Thursday 9/20 at 7:00 AM C.P. Smith Elementary School received word that a water main had broken. We are asking that parents who are able to, please keep their children at home. There will be no water available for the day at Smith.
The school will be open for those children who have no other option.
The school will reopen on September 21, 2007.
Smith Curriculum Night on Sept. 20 is also cancelled.

Burlington board consensus exercise indicates early, though non-binding, consensus of priorities

August 24, 2007
Four points emerged as an emerging, though non-binding, consensus on how to achieve excellence and equity in the Burlington Schools during a four-hour School Board work session Thursday. Read More

Web Server Changes

August 8, 2007
We are upgrading the web server and are in the process of moving the school pages and other organizational pages. You may not be able to use previously set favorites, and there may be link errors during this transition. Please bear with us during these changes.