Excellence and Equity

FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS

July 31, 2008

Important Article Demonstrates Effectiveness of Socio-Economic Integration, and Supports Burlington School District Plans for Equity and Excellence.

Building on the work of the past several years, we began the Excellence and Equity visioning process in March. The visioning process has helped to identify the ways that our schools must advance to prepare all students for the 21st century.Read More

Community Update Held on May 7th

To keep the community up-to-date on the progress and the process, a community update meeting was held at Burlington High School.

Click here to view the Community Update Powerpoint Presentation

Vision and Master Plan

The Burlington Schools'  vision and master plan is moving full-speed ahead. Recognizing that Excellence and Equity is a goal for all students, the master plan will include:

1) A compelling district-wide vision for the future of Burlington Schools,

2) A facilities review complete with drawings and cost estimates to help prioritize necessary maintenance and improvements to our school buildings,

3) Feasibility plans for two innovative community-based elementary magnet schools. Read More

Educational planner, Frank Locker of DeJONG-LOCKER is leading the vision and master planning. Read More

The process is being guided by an 18-person community steering committee, which includes parents, teachers, community partners and representatives from the school board, administration, city council and the city administration.Committee Members

BURLINGTON SCHOOLS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
April 30, 2008

BURLINGTON SCHOOLS' MASTER PLAN

Building upon our core academic strengths and the values and priorities expressed through community-wide research, our vision features deep community connections, enhancements in arts, music and environmental sustainability, and increased hands-on learning.

STEERING COMMITTEE KICKS-OFF BURLINGTON SCHOOLS' MASTER PLAN: Magnet School Pre-Development Begins

March 27, 2008
The next phase of the Burlington School District Excellence & Equity process kicked off with a steering committee meeting on March 19th. On March 31st and April 1st vision workshops will be conducted.Schedule Link

The steering committee is comprised of students, parents, teachers, community and city leaders, educators, school board commissioners and district administration who have been appointed to help guide the feasibility and master planning.Committee Members Link

Frank Locker, of DeJONG.LOCKER, is working with the district to lead this process, which will include refining the vision and developing the Excellence & Equity plan.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

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

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

Superintendent's Message
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
Burlington High School
7pm

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

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

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 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

Summer Update

August 14, 2007
The School Board will hold a retreat on August 23, from 3-8 pm at the Ira Allen building, to continue discussion on Excellence and Equity in the Burlington Schools. More information and notes from the June meeting will be shared shortly.

Burlington school board takes major step forward

June 28, 2007
The Burlington School Board on Tuesday made substantial progress toward the goal of excellence and equity for all Burlington children. In response to community input, the board explicitly defined the goals, challenges, stakeholders, and decision-making criteria for reviewing proposals.Read More

Magnet School Presentations at Curriculum Committee Meeting

June 19, 2007
The curriculum committee of the Burlington School Board will meet from 1-4 p.m. on Monday, June 25th at Wheeler Elementary School, to hear presentations about the three magnet school ideas suggested by Superintendent Collins as part of her proposed methods of achieving excellence for all children and socio-economic balance in the city's elementary schools.Read More

RETN Broadcasts of Arts Magnet Presentation

June 19, 2007
See www.retn.orgfor additional information

  • Sunday June 24, 10 AM and 5 PM
  • Thursday June 28, 3 PM
  • Saturday, July 7, 10 AM and 5 PM

Academic Excellence and Equity Update

June 11, 2007
The Burlington School District has completed its round of hearings and visits with NPAs, PTOs and other community hearings on the topic of Excellence and Equity in the schools.
This week, June 12, the Board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 pm at H.O. Wheeler School. Public Comment is on the agenda and residents are welcome to speak to the Board at that time.
Later this month, the Board will hold a retreat to go through the input gathered on the proposals submitted by the Superintendent, and to define the next steps in the process.
We wish to thank everyone who has become involved in this process, giving feedback, creative proposals and suggestions, and helping to frame the discussion.
We invite you to keep watching this page for updated information.

SUPERINTENDENT & BOARD CHAIR LAY OUT THE GAME PLAN

May 21, 2007
In a joint statement released today, the Superintendent of the Burlington School District, Jeanne Collins, and the Chair of the Burlington Board of School Commissioners, Thom Fleury outlined the next steps in the process for consideration of the Equity and Excellence Report presented by Superintendent Jeanne Collins to the board at its meeting on May 8, 2007.

Collins and Fleury clarified that there are no plans in place for a vote. A number of conceptual maps and proposals have been advanced, including those in the Superintendent's May 8th report. These are purely conceptual and for the purpose of conversation. Superintendent Collins expressed "regret for any misunderstanding or confusion resulting from the presentation of maps" and shared that it is "time to put the maps aside and come together as a community to respectfully come up with ideas that retain what Burlington parents value the most and embrace as a community a plan for excellence for all."

Praising Superintendent Collins, School Commission Chair Thomas Fleury called her report, "A great work in progress that helps further the public discussion on Equity and Excellence for all of Burlington's children." Fleury added that the Board is committed to the public process. All input received through the forums, NPA meetings and written comments will be carefully considered. "The work of creating equity and excellence for all our students is the overarching and ongoing goal of the administration and the board, and we want to conduct this very important task as cautiously, thoroughly, and thoughtfully as possible," he said.

Fleury and Collins laid out the next steps, acknowledging the need for a clear and predictable process. On June 12th, the Board will meet to discuss the public input received on the conceptual proposals. At the June 26th Board retreat, a comprehensive timeline including presentation dates of any formal proposals for adoption, as well as notification of dates for any scheduled votes will be developed. Fleury ensured that "the public will know if and when any votes are scheduled." After the June 26th retreat, the timeline will be presented to the city of Burlington. No vote will take place in advance of that.

Fleury also suggested that it is highly unlikely that any vote on a specific proposal for adoption would take place in advance of October 2007.

Informational opportunities:
Sustainable Schools Info Session May 21 6:30 - 7:30 pm Wheeler Elementary
Flynn Center for Performing Arts session 6 pm May 30 at Wheeler Elementary School
Proposal Q and A May 22 Ward 5 NPA
Proposal Q and A June 5 Ward 6 NPA

Public Hearings:
8 am May 22 Champlain Elem Learning Center
7 pm May 29 Flynn Elementary Learning Center
7 pm May 31 Edmunds Elementary School
8:30 am June 4 Barnes Elementary Learning Center
7 pm June 4 Wheeler Elementary Learning Center

Additional input may be provided through email to superintendent@bsdvt.org or through letters sent to Superintendent, Burlington School District, 150 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401.
For further information, call 802.865.5332 or visit the Excellence and Equity Home Page.