Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington
April 7, 2008

Superintendent's Message

I wish to thank the Burlington community for your strong support of our school budget and for providing high-quality educational opportunities for all students. The approved budget helps maintain our after school programs, provides livable wages for support staff, and continues our community-service outreach program in both middle schools. We will also introduce foreign language instruction in elementary school and expand a preschool class at Flynn Elementary in the coming academic year. As we plan for Burlington's future, our work on Excellence & Equity continues. A community meeting will be scheduled for the evening of May 7th to report our progress.

BUILDING HEALTH REPORT
The safety and health of all students, staff and faculty is of critical importance to me and the Board. We monitor air quality and environmental health in all of our buildings. There have been a few, isolated skin conditions reported at Burlington High School. We have, and will continue to, investigate and respond swiftly and aggressively to any reported concern. No air quality health concerns have been found to exist based upon multiple tests conducted by external consultants this year. More information on steps taken is available at http://www.bsdvt.org. If you have any concerns, please email me at superintendent@bsdvt.org or call me at 865-5332.

1st ANNUAL JUNIOR IRON CHEF COMPETITION - Saturday, April 12, 2008
Join Vermont FEED and the Burlington School Food project for the 1st annual Jr. Iron Chef VT Competition on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. The competition will feature teams of middle and high school students from all across Vermont creating delicious dishes using seasonal, local foods, which can be easily prepared for school food service menus.

SCHOOL CALENDAR
As of now, the last day of school is scheduled as a half-day on June 13th. If we need another snow day, we may have to spill into the next week. Stay tuned and think sunshine. Also, the 2008-09 calendar has been approved and is posted on the district web page.

SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Performances abounded with BHS One Acts, The Lost Prince at Edmunds Elementary, Annie Jr. at Champlain Elementary, and Rock-a-Palooza at EMS. A sampling of school-community events in March included Barnes Elementary's Community Science Night at ECHO, Flynn Elementary's Family Skate Night at Leddy and Wheeler Elementary's Contra Dance. HMS students enjoyed their Kaleidoscope Dance and Ed Gerety spoke at BHS about "Raising Our Teens."
We all shared in the excitement of the BHS Seahorses outstanding, undefeated basketball season.
While this month brought much to celebrate in our schools, it was also marked by sadness. It is with heartfelt sympathy to family and friends of BHS student Hunter Dandridge, for their tragic loss and to the family and friends of CP Smith custodian, Brad Trayah. We will remember each of them for the unique gifts and talents they brought to all who knew them.

I continue to be interested in your thoughts and suggestions for Burlington schools. Please feel free to contact me at superintendent@bsdvt.org, or at 865-5332.