Burlington Schools in the news

This was in the paper today - it's a pretty hot-button issue. They are still referencing the closing of Adams all those years ago. It's kind of a mess, because the bottom line is the yuppies don't want to send their kids to HO Wheeler, period. Take from that what you will.

Parents leave meeting with many questions
By Jill Fahy Free Press Staff Writer October 5, 2006

A public meeting held Wednesday on recommendations that would change the complexion of Burlington's six elementary schools drew a capacity crowd of more than 100 people. Most were wary parents from across the district with a slew of questions. The Burlington School Board chose Edmunds Middle School/Elementary School cafeteria as the site for the first of several forums to gather comments on three proposals aimed at better mixing low-income students with middle-income students from other districts: Consolidate into two types of elementary schools: kindergarten through second grade, and third through fifth grades.Redraw district neighborhoods. Create magnet schools, where some elementary schools would shift to specialized curricula.The recommendations are part of a report generated in the spring by the all-volunteer, board-appointed task force. The report argues that the district configuration of elementary schools is a barrier to student success, and that socioeconomic integration would dissolve that barrier. The School Board in September agreed with the task force's overall assertion. Meeting moderators, including district Superintendent Jeanne Collins, laid out the proposals and cited academic and social challenges faced by students who attend schools mainly in the Old North End, where poverty is the highest. Those in attendance were then invited to write their questions on slips of paper. Task force members attempted to address a few questions, such as how busing will fit into the scenarios and why change the complexion of some schools that are already fully socio-economically integrated, such as Champlain Elementary. The meeting grew tense when moderators said there would be no opportunity for an open dialogue. Most questions of the task force and board will be addressed at a later date. "Right now I feel mad," said Russell Beste, a Champlain parent. "I feel this is a big spin, where they say they want dialogue, but we've had no chance to express an opinion." Some parents said they are on board with the idea of socio-economic integration, but that the recommendations are only skeletons of ideas in need of fleshing out with cost estimates and impact scenarios. Karen Newman, an Edmunds Elementary School parent, said she agrees with the task force premise, but doubts the current slate of forums will help enlighten the public. "Whatever solution we come up with needs to be a solution by people who are well-informed and involved," Newman said. "People need more information to feel they're learning, not that they're being threatened." Kiernan Flynn, a parent of two Champlain students, echoed the sentiment of a number of parents who, while understanding the idea of socio-economic integration, are worried about how any of the recommendations could affect their own children. "The problem is that I also have to be the strongest advocate for my child," Flynn said. "How can I be sure my daughters are getting the best educations they can get?" Bruce MacDonald, another Champlain parent, said he is strongly opposed to sending his children somewhere other than his neighborhood school."I bike and walk my kids to school every day," MacDonald said. "The last thing I want to do is somehow be fragmenting my family." Superintendent Collins said all the questions and comments gathered from each forum will be reviewed by the School Board and incorporated into its final report, a date for which has not been decided. The rest of the public meetings are scheduled for this month.