January 23, 2011

Dear neighbors,

With our budget moving forward to the ballot, the Board’s attention now is turned to a variety of other matters.  One that has been a hot button for a while behind-the-scenes is tracking at the high school.  Today’s big article on that subject in the Free Press by Molly Walsh was a balanced look at the complexities posed by the nature of what the high school is trying to do.  As Molly wrote, we have a huge range of students compared with other Vermont high schools.  Some kids have great skills, talents, and resources, and are headed for prestigious colleges and universities, and we are proud of them.  Some move here from refugee camps as teenagers, having never experienced formal education.  Their difficult job is to learn English and catch up to their peers, and we are incredibly proud of the amazing progress they make as well.  Others are hands-on learners who are steered to great careers through a stint at the on-site technical center– my son is one of those, and of course I am incredibly proud of him.  All the kids in Burlington deserve an education that nurtures them to reach their potential. The persistent question is  how best to do that without creating segregated schools within the school? 

Well, the first answer is that we have been working to eliminate as many of the gaps as we can before kids get to the high school – hence full-day kindergarten, academically-oriented afterschool, and socioeconomic integration of our K-5 schools. Demographic balance at all our schools ensures a much more level playing field than we ever have had before in Burlington.  Given that there are nine long years from kindergarten to the high school, it will take a while for us to fully see the results of the changes we have made.   Nevertheless, early indications that the magnet academies are boosting achievement are solid.  Already, as the article pointed out, the middle schools have made great strides to support more students to be ready for college-prep courses. 

The second answer is that the high school community, under the leadership of Principal Amy Mellencamp , is undergoing a monumental process of looking at every facet of the program, with an eye to making smart changes from a student-centered perspective.  This process has been significantly enhanced by the award of a very prestigious two-hundred-thousand dollar grant from the Nellie Mae Foundation.  Should we get rid of tracking altogether?  Postpone it to the third and fourth years?  Have each student develop an individual plan for graduation based on interests and talents?  Renovate the building to incorporate more spaces for flexible learning situations that better integrate our diverse students?  These questions and many, many more will get a lot of attention in the coming year. 

I am very excited about the opportunity given to us by the Nellie Mae Foundation to re-think what we are doing.  I believe it is time to change, and that there is total willingness to do so from every corner of our schools including the Board, administration, teachers, and students.  The important thing will be not to forget the needs of any of our students in the process.  They all deserve a fantastic preparation for their best future. 

Stay warm and keep in touch, Amy