58 responses to “B’game Real Estate “Reemerges””

1. KRN

   November 3, 2010

   An ongoing Problem with schools is that parents cannot participate in the PTA because the organization meets when many (most) families are at work.
   “Please join us for a special PTA meeting 8:45am on Wednesday November 10″
   How many parents are able to attend a PTA meeting at 8:45 am on a work day? How many families with two working parents can take off time to go to a PTA meeting during the workday?
   ” the BIS PTA is going to be able to take a vote to allocate funds to the new cafeteria tables at our November 10 meeting.”
   How can the PTA represent the families of the school if a vote is to be taken when most families cannot attend the meeting?
   If you want to improve the schools and get the families involved, then hold a meeting when all families can attend and get input from everyone, not just the folks who can afford not to work.

2. KRN

   November 14, 2010

   If there is nothing wrong at BIS then why were my tour guides at the Crystal Springs – Uplands Open House a Parent from Washington and a parent from Lincoln?

3. KRN

   November 16, 2010

   The following statements were taken from the BIS PTA Minutes- 9/8/10
   Challenges: (BIS)
   •Students entering BIS performing at higher levels
   •Increase in numbers of students whose primary language is something other than English
   •Increase in numbers of students from Disadvantaged backgrounds
   Meeting the needs of students identified with specific learning disabilities in the least restrictive environment.
   Solutions: (BIS)
   •Providing additional classes that meet the needs of our wide range of learners.
   6th grade Pre-Algebra, 7th grade Algebra, 8th grade Geometry
   Accelerated LA/SS cores for 7th and 8th graders
   What should be the NEXT steps in the process:
   Math
   The addition of 3 Pre-Algebra sections in the 6th grade is finally a step in the right direction. This initial class will allow these students to complete Geometry in middle school and advance to high school well prepared for advanced math opportunities.
   BIS should continue to allow ALL qualified students to engage in an advanced Math Curriculum.
   Language Arts/Social Science
   (follow the path of the changes in math!)
   Solutions:
   1.Offer Advanced rather than Accelerated courses.
   2.Implement an Advanced LA/SS course for 6th grade students.
   The term Advanced should replace the term Accelerated in the course offering for Language Arts and Social Science.
   The Accelerated course offers the same curriculum at a faster pace. (coloring faster?) An accelerated curriculum does not offer stimulation to a student performing at a higher level… it only causes stress.
   An Advanced course offers a more in depth and different curriculum. An advanced curriculum utilizes more creative, analytical, and stimulating assignments as well as more in depth texts offered at a higher reading level.
   The 7th and 8th Grade Advanced Language Arts/Social Science classes should offer a more in depth Pre-AP curriculum to prepare students to enter advanced courses in high school.
   BIS should extend the Advanced Language Arts/ Advanced Language Arts/Social Science option to 6th grade students. Currently, all 6th grade students receive the same level of challenge despite the fact that the school has identified exceptional differences in student ability. How can the school state that these differences exist, yet not offer an appropriate level of challenge to students performing at a higher level? This is why many advanced students are BORED in their sixth grade classes.
   According to BIS PTA Minutes:
   •Students entering BIS performing at higher levels
   •Increase in numbers of students whose primary language is something other than English
   •Increase in numbers of students from Disadvantaged backgrounds
   The school leadership’s disclosure of its academic challenges should lead to the immediate implementation of solutions to remedy these challenges in the classroom. Students who perform on the higher end of the academic scale have a right to be stimulated and challenged in the classroom. This challenge needs to begin in the 6th grade.

4. KRN

   December 6, 2010

   BCE… The support is essential.
   Note To Self: In a feature video presentation to raise funds from local parents, remember NOT to feature two families who have LEFT the Burlingame Schools because of the inferior education at BIS.
   This is not a negative comment, yet another reason why BIS needs to change direction. BCE receives fewer donations from BIS families than any other school. Why? BIS families lose faith in the system because the school fails to meet the needs of the students.
   Its time for change. While I may be speaking the truth, others are voting with their feet. (and $$$)

5. KRN

   December 13, 2010

   Taking Credit Where No Credit is Due
   The First Trimester Accolades at BIS was just sent to parents with the administration giving itself credit for things it did not accomplish..
   “BIS API for 2009-2010 was 880, far exceeding the State’s goal of 800.”
   The current Administration inherited a school with a score of 890 and has not been able to bring it back up.
   “We have increased the number of student enrolled in our advanced math classes for all grade levels.”
   These advanced math classes are the courses that the administration and department fought against implementing and then limited admission to a single section of 30. Of course they went up, the student and parents have been asking for them for years!
   Classes
   6th Pre Alg 30 students to 90 students
   7th Algebra 26 students to 60 students
   8th Geometry 0 student to 25 students
   Here is a questions…
   Did students in math all-of-a-sudden become so smart that enrollment in Pre-Algebra jumped from 30 to 90 in one year or have we just been keeping the Best and the Brightest in classes below their ability.
   If you’re going to take credit for the work then you should at least do the work.
   Its time to add an Advanced Language Art/Social Science strand that flows from grades 6-8. This would give our advanced students the opportunity to learn the challenging environment that they deserve.
   As far as the $10,000 for the behavior management consultant… a waste of money.
   There is a much cheaper solution.

6. alittlebird

   December 13, 2010

   Totally agree, KRN. Why does the board approve of misconceptions being sent out to the community? $10,000 for a behavioral consultant when the school can’t even provide paper and pencils to the students? Holy cow; something is really wrong. Is the board on board with all the goings on at BIS and with the present administration?

7. KRN

   January 8, 2011

   Burlingame Elementary School Board Action Item
   On Tuesday January 11, 2011 the Burlingame School Board will be presented with a proposal for the creation of a sixth grade language arts class for advanced learners. The proposal will ask that BIS design and implement a sixth grade advanced language arts/social studies course to meet the academic needs of advanced students. This course would offer a challenging level of reading, writing, and engagement in a stimulating academic environment. The curriculum should differ from the current program in both breadth and depth. The sixth grade advanced class should be vertically integrated with the seventh and eighth grade accelerated language arts/social studies courses. All three years of the program should consistently offer a level of instruction appropriate for advanced learners and effectively prepare students for participation in high school honors and Advanced Placement courses in English and the social sciences as recommended by The College Board’s Pre-AP program. This proposal is supported by a growing group of parents who are concerned about the academic stimulation and progress of their students.
   It is hopeful that the Board will schedule this issue for a study session at the January 25, 2011 meeting to consider implementation for the 2011-2012 school year.
   Below are the Advanced Language Arts CST scores of the current 5th grade students in our district.
   Franklin has 83 students at Advanced
   Lincoln has 61 students at Advanced
   McKinley has 15 students at Advanced
   Roosevelt has 15 students at Advanced
   Washington has 23 students at Advanced
   These students represent 67% of the current fifth grade students in the Burlingame Elementary School District.

8. KRN

   May 8, 2011

   The agenda for Tuesday Nights Burlingame Elementary School Board Meeting.
   “It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the recommendation from the District Advisory Committee (DAC) to implement a two-period Advanced Language Arts program for the Sixth Grade at Burlingame Intermediate School beginning in the fall of 2011.”
   This approval is the completion of a movement started by a group of concerned and motivated parents who are interested in the well being and education of their children. This has been a successful change process that will result in a better educational opportunity for all students.
   May 10, 2011 : REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES : XXVI. EDUCATION
   1. Advanced Sixth Grade English Language Arts at BIS
   Time Certain : 08:15 PM
   Requested Action
   It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the recommendation from the District Advisory Committee (DAC) to implement a two-period Advanced Language Arts program for the Sixth Grade at Burlingame Intermediate School beginning in the fall of 2011.
   Description/ Details
   At the January 11 Board Meeting, the Board directed staff to bring a proposal for an advanced sixth-grade Language Arts class at BIS to the District Advisory Committee for consideration and a recommendation. The DAC discussed the proposal at several meetings and gave input for the BIS School Site Council to consider in its discussion of the proposal. On March 22, the BIS SSC voted to recommend the implementation of the course, with one member abstaining. The DAC voted on April 19 to present the recommendation to the Board.