The State of Burlingame Schools

While Burlingame School District students have robust curriculum and programs to look forward to, budget cuts are still looming.

That was the message Superintendent Maggie MacIsaac, Assistant Superintendent Jud Kempson and members of the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation and PTA Council presented to about 70 parents at  during a meeting Tuesday night.

During the town hall-style meeting, officials discussed curriculum, the , the , BCE and PTA before taking questions from those in attendance.

MacIsaac began with explaining new national common core standards of curriculum that will soon kick in and the opportunity they provide the district to reanalyze its programs focusing on 21^st century skills.

“[New curriculum] provides us [an opportunity] to look at our instruction differently for our students in a way that’s going to help them…adapt to a world for their future, “ she said.

Burlingame officials are planning for an integrated curriculum model, in which students will use critical thinking, speaking and writing in all subject areas, from English to math to science.

Additionally, these new standards include more frequent assessments, rather than one large test at the end of the year.

MacIsaac said the district plans on beginning adopting some of the new programs, like an English Language Arts program, on its own to best prepare students ahead of the state’s 2016 date. She also pointed to the transition to full-day kindergarten next year as an example of Burlingame bolstering its curriculum.

The district’s student distribution is also set to change with the opening of the former Hoover school site as a neighborhood school during the 2014-2015 school year. District officials are considering opening the school initially for kindergarten through third graders, so older children can finish at their original elementary schools.

A bond measure is expected for Hoover and the completion of other district school modernization projects. A Hoover update meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6.

In terms of the budget, MacIsaac said that although the district has 17 percent in reserves, more cuts from the state are likely coming. District officials will know more in January once the state announces any trigger cuts, which could cut school transportation and up to $730,000 in per student funding.

These cuts could also harm the , mandated by State Senate Bill 1381. That bill requires children turn 5 before Nov. 1 to enter kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year and eventually Sept. 1 for the 2014-2015 school year. Tranisitional kindergarten is for those students who normally would start kindergarten, but no longer make the birthday cut-off.

“The challenge is to look towards the future and not just hunker down,” she said. “We have a very, very committed school district…everyone here wants the best for our children.”

BCE provided six percent of the district’s budget this year, and BCE President Jen Slaboda said the organization’s funds are necessary for maintaining small class sizes, quality instruction and enriched curriculum, including music, library and arts education. Unlike state funds, BCE’s money is flexible, and the organization can work with the district to fill its financial needs, while considering the concerns of donors and parents.

“With the state of education funding decreasing at alarming rates, education foundations have become more essential,” she said. “The moral is the more money we raise, the more enhanced our curriculum becomes, and there’s less uncertainty where the funding’s coming from.”

BCE hopes to raise parent participation in fundraising this year, with an ask of $750 per student, or an overall goal of $1 million.

Jen Beswick of the Burlingame PTA Council noted the importance of working together with the foundation and district to maximize funds for the needs of the schools and the students.