Burlingame School District Logo
March 2, 2015

Superintendent Update   

 

Hoover School Update

Good news! Hoover Elementary School is back on track to open in the Fall of 2016!  

 

Beginning in 2011 the District embarked on a thorough CEQA review of the new Hoover Elementary School project, culminating in the Board adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) which found no significant environmental impacts arising from the project. A group of neighbors formed a group called Alliance for Responsible Neighborhood Planning (ARNP) and sued the District, claiming that the CEQA investigation was incomplete. In May 2014 the San Mateo Superior Court issued a judgment finding that certain questions remained to be answered, and directed the District to do further investigation. The District engaged ARNP in intensive discussions designed to address and accommodate all parties' concerns. The District performed further traffic and parking studies, and agreed to workable modifications to the project. As a result, the parties reached a comprehensive settlement agreement. On February 3, 2015, the San Mateo Superior Court approved the settlement, and modified the earlier judgment to permit the District to comply with CEQA by amending the MND rather than preparing a costly and time-consuming EIR.   On February 17, 2015, the Court lifted the injunction on construction and the project can now proceed.   The settlement has saved the District at least a year of time until the school can open, and avoids millions of dollars in construction cost increases.  

 

The Burlingame School District looks forward to completing Hoover School. The District will continue to work with the community in the spirit of being a good neighbor. A timeline for the process of determining Student Attendance areas will be discussed at the March 10, 2015 Board Meeting.    

 

Art Program News

The District is currently in the process of developing an Art Program that is aligned with the Visual and Performing Arts Standards.   This will be the first time the District will adopt a formalized Art Program that includes the Visual and Performing Arts Standards and identifies where the standards are being met across the curriculum. In addition, the District will work toward an integration of the arts that is described on the California Department of Education (CDE) Website as "Creativity at the Core."  

 

"Creativity at the Core will place discrete arts education and arts integration at the forefront during the implementation of the Common Core for all California K-12 schools - specifically through the creation of professional development modules that incorporate dance, music, theater, visual arts, and other art forms into Common Core instruction. These professional development offerings will help deepen arts teaching and learning in K-12 classrooms during this opportune moment of education reform."

 

Currently, PTA groups in 4 of our elementary schools pay for various art instructors to provide lessons for students ranging from
twice a year to fifteen times a year per grade level or school site. The one remaining elementary school has tackled art education in a different fashion. They have a volunteer "Art in Action" program with parents serving as volunteers but with specific program and licensing costs.   The need for equitable art education across the district has been in discussion for almost two years.  

 

The conversation began last year when the District Fundraising Policy was revisited by the District and PTA Council at the annual review of the policy. The policy was discussed, input was gathered, edits were made and the new policy was approved by the Board on June 10, 2014. In an effort to have "equitable programming" across the district and to clarify the role of PTA and BCE in our community, the opening statement in the policy highlights the philosophy of the Board, District and Community:

 

The district will inform the community about the district's expected needs in the spring prior to the next fiscal year. The district will solicit input from site-specific organizations (PTA), Burlingame Community Education Foundation (BCE), and administrators in making its annual plans. The Board of Trustees and Superintendent will meet with the BCE President and Executive Board twice a year to discuss needs and goals for the next fiscal year. BCE funds will be used, at the district's discretion, for programs available throughout the district.  

 

In the interest of equity among the schools, no funds raised by any organization in the district may be used for programs unique to a school site, which modify district curriculum and/or require new classroom personnel.

 

We are very excited to work with art consultants, the San Mateo County Office Art Committee, local museums, and our very own talented teachers who will be members of the Visual and Performing Arts Committee (VAPA). Assistant Superintendent Dennis Hills will lead the committee. A program document outlining the standards, goals and role of VAPA at every grade level will be ready for Fall of 2015.   The District looks forward to learning about the professional learning modules the state has developed for us in April 2015 and we hope to offer professional development this summer to all of our teachers.

 

BCE Dinner Dance Tickets on Sale

On Saturday April 18, BCE Foundation will hold its annual BCE Dinner Dance and Auction fundraiser, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame.  This is an extremely important and very fun foundation event and BSD encourages everyone to attend and/or participate in the online auction. We are able to offer a rich and varied program for all of our students due to all of your effort and generosity. Thank you and see you there!

 

 
Sincerely, 
Maggie MacIsaac 

Burlingame Superintendent