Burlington School Board Agrees to Move Forward on Land Purchase and Renovation Projects

The Burlington School Board met Monday to approve new uses for old buildings and to fix old problems on new sites.

The Head Start Program now has a home thanks to the school board. They will rent the James Madison Building and although the Fire Marshall has given Head Start a “thumps up” on the building, there is much renovation work ahead. Discussions will continue on how much money the district will put forth into the renovation project. The School Board may have to purchase a new boiler for the building but the estimates for that have not come back yet.

The school board approved a real estate contract for $65,000 for a lot West of Johanson Dr. Superintendent Pat Coen, stated that the reason for this purchase is because the district is responsible for the leaky sewer pipes that run underground through that lot and, the only way to get permission to make those repairs is to own the lot. Later on the lot might be used for school bus parking.

Discussed at the meeting was the Innovative Learning Academy. Currently, 133 students are enrolled in this alternative school. This program offers students that have dropped out of high-school, for various reasons, to come back and finish their education and receive a high-school diploma. The students have their own space in the high school building. Thirty students from the program are taking vocational classes with the regular students. The school board intents to look into providing these students with child-care options.

The School board also agreed to discuss, at upcoming board meetings, the feasibility of implementing a more generous bus transportation policy to appease the students in need, that live within one to three miles of the school.

The next Burlington School Board will is set for September 4th.

A quick reminder, the Burlington School Board Election Debate will be held at the Administration Building on Monday, August 31st, at 5:30 PM; the public is welcome.