OUR SCHOOLS: OUR FUTURE
Information about Burlington Schools' Facilities Master Plan.
Click here to link to the Burlington School District website.
VISION
In July, the Board adopted a vision statement based upon the work over the past several years and the visioning process with hundreds of teachers, parents, students and community leaders led by educational planner Frank Locker. The visioning process, conducted between March and July 2008, identified the ways that our schools must advance to prepare all students for the 21st century.
Approved by the Board of School Commissioners July 15, 2008
Education in the 21st Century: The Case for Change
Information about Burlington Schools' Facilities Master Plan.
Click here to link to the Burlington School District website.
VISION
In July, the Board adopted a vision statement based upon the work over the past several years and the visioning process with hundreds of teachers, parents, students and community leaders led by educational planner Frank Locker. The visioning process, conducted between March and July 2008, identified the ways that our schools must advance to prepare all students for the 21st century.
The Future is Now:
Burlington Schools' Vision for the 21st Century
Burlington Schools' Vision for the 21st Century
Approved by the Board of School Commissioners July 15, 2008Areas of Focus
Focus for the 21st Century Education initiative is centered on three primary areas:
21st Century Learning -Developing
an education curriculum, structure and model that drives excellence in
core subjects (reading, writing, math, science) and critical skills to
prepare students to excel in 21st Century society, featuring:
- Hands-on, real-life projects that strengthen collaboration and organizational skills
- Global awareness and leadership skills
- Curriculum enhancements in sustainability and arts to foster creativity and critical thinking
- Information, economic, and technology literacy
21st Century Infrastructure -Developing facilities and physical resources conducive to a 21st Century learning environment encompassing:
- Improved energy efficiency and cost-savings
- Improved safety and addressing deferred maintenance issues
- Technology & flexible learning spaces that support 21st century instruction
- Increased handicap accessibility
21st Century Equity -With
more than 40 different nationalities represented, Burlington schools
reflect the diversity of 21st Century society more effectively than any
community in the state. We are uniquely positioned to attain true
equity for all our students in a model system that provides:
- A community that values and respects all cultures, families, and students
- Socio-economic balance in all Burlington classrooms
- Equal access to learning opportunities for all Burlington students
- Learning situations that prepare students for multi-cultural environments
Education in the 21st Century: The Case for Change
- Burlington schools are at a crossroads.Like most school districts throughout the United States Burlington schools face a new reality rooted in factors beyond our control. Since our school system was developed and designed, how we conduct business, how we communicate, who we interact with, how we live - has all changed. Fifty years ago globalization was in its infancy. Few communities were multicultural. People expected to have one job throughout their working years. Natural resources seemed abundant and inexpensive. Technology did not impact our daily lives - there were no computers, internet or mobile devices. Fifty years ago, ours was a different world. Society has evolved significantly since then, and there is every reason to believe this evolution will continue
- The world has changed in many ways and our education system needs to change with it. Preparing our students to engage and excel in today's world is a materially different undertaking than it was 50 years ago. The tools they will use, the strategies they will employ, the skill sets they will require have all shifted dramatically. The education they receive needs to be adapted accordingly. Every one of our children must have equal opportunities to develop their abilities and contribute in the 21st Century.
- Burlington's school system was largely developed in the industrial age to fit requirements of the day. Our schools have served this community well over the century, but the reality is that they areno longer tooled to meet new demands of the 21st Century.It is true that we have numerous innovative, nationally recognized programs that deliver leading-edge education, but these are typically the work of dedicated teachers finding ways to create excellence despite outdated resources. How much more could we be doing with an education system designed specifically to fit today's environment?
- The workplace, government, the academic community, individuals - are all adapting.Education must adapt as well. Communities across the nation are beginning the process of change, and Burlington is no different. We must address the challenges we face now, repair our inefficient buildings, enhance our curriculum to meet today's demands, and ensure that every child has equal access. Curriculum, infrastructure and delivery mechanisms in our school system need refitting to embrace 21st Century instruction and true equity for all students. The process is starting in 2008.
Moving Forward in Burlington
- The Burlington School Board has directed the District administration to proceed with a comprehensive assessment and visioning process to determine how Burlington schools can best evolve to a 21st Century learning environment.
- That visioning process is now underway, utilizing findings from research and community conversations conducted over the past three years and gathering fresh inputs from a range of community members, stakeholders and professional resources.
- The visioning process includes a comprehensive facilities audit now being conducted by Burlington architect Colin Lindbergh, working collaboratively with community representatives, administrators, and Board commissioners to make recommendations for Board decisions.
- The work of the visioning and assessment will be submitted to the School Board with recommendations for their consideration and action in late August 2008. Presentation of findings and recommendations will be presented to the public in early Fall 2008.
To support the vision a 10-year, comprehensive facilities master plan, detailed throughout this website, was proposed in August 2008. The goals of the facilities plan are to:
•ensure the safety and health of students, staff, and community members by performing critical repairs to the city's schools
•realize energy savings and long-term sustainability resulting from implementation of cost-effective and environmentally-responsible facilities improvements
•provide comprehensive ADA access
•prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future by upgrading their learning environments and enriching math, arts, technology, and science curriculum;
•ensure every child has an equal opportunity to succeed, and;
• connect multiple generations, strengthen the social fabric of our city by maintaining our schools as vibrant neighborhood community centers.
•realize energy savings and long-term sustainability resulting from implementation of cost-effective and environmentally-responsible facilities improvements
•provide comprehensive ADA access
•prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future by upgrading their learning environments and enriching math, arts, technology, and science curriculum;
•ensure every child has an equal opportunity to succeed, and;
• connect multiple generations, strengthen the social fabric of our city by maintaining our schools as vibrant neighborhood community centers.
