Jeanné Collins
Superintendent of Schools, Burlington
December 5, 2008

Superintendent's Message
Excellence and Equity Update

As we move into the winter months, it is a good time to reflect on the fall progress in our schools. I have included some highlights here.Read More

Budget Hearings

The Board is deep within its budget process for the 2009-10 school year. Hearings will be held for public input on Dec. 16 and Jan. 6 at 7pm at BHS. Watch here for updates on the budget details prior to these hearings.

Snow Days

Winter is here! I would like to remind you what leads to a school closure decision, so you can be prepared as winter is moving in on us.

Each year, when a snow day is called, there is confusion and consternation, either because it was called too late or not called at all. Here is background on how snow day closure decisions are made and how the days are made up.

It is important to note that in the Burlington calendar, there is really only one day, June 12, that is built in for snow days. June 17 and 18 are also on the calendar to be used if snow days go beyond 1 or 2.

Each year, when a snow day is called, there is confusion and consternation, either because it was called too late or not called at all. Here is background on how snow day closure decisions are made and how the days are made up.

If the storm occurs during the night, Chris Giard, Director of Facilities, and his crew are up by 2 am watching conditions and weather. If the roads are bad, the grounds crew may come in as early as midnight and work through the night to try to stay ahead of the snow. We are responsible for our parking lots and access to building entrances; the city does the streets.

Once plowing begins by our grounds crew, the Director checks in with our crews throughout the night, and also with the Department of Public Works to see how the city is doing with keeping the roads and sidewalks clear. As many of our students walk to school, we have to consider the road conditions, whether the sidewalks are cleared, roads are passable, and CCTA is running, along with the conditions of our parking lots.

Unlike rural districts, where transportation is provided on rural roads that may not be plowed, we tend to stay open unless ice is involved or roads cannot be plowed. We consult with DPW on the decision to close when it is weather generated. We focus our decisions on the needs of the students and families of Burlington primarily and whether they can access the schools, as for many of our students, school means food and warmth.

Timing is a big part of the equation. We have canceled due to snow turning into freezing rain after dawn and we were unable to salt fast enough. If this happens late in the process, we may call school off too late for the snow tree calls to reach all staff. We cannot control this timing- mother nature does that. Last year, this occurred often and we had difficulty calling it correctly (esp. on Wednesdays, it seemed!) As a result, we have identified a number of people in various parts of town to help with providing current condition information. However, it remains a bit of a mystery. Obviously, in the best of situations, we prefer to know early and to start the notification process, if at all possible.

This year, we will be able to use the AlertNow calling system. If you have provided us with a phone number, you will receive a call before the postings on TV and radio. However we will continue to use the TV and radio and sover.net (http://corp.sover.net/schoolclosings/) to list our closings. Be aware that when a big storm occurs, such as the Valentine's Day storm 2 years ago, the broadcast network gets so many calls that there may be a delay before the names get posted on the screen.

Please drive and walk safely this winter season!