The Burlington School District is trying to improve the educational opportunities for its students through more personal interaction and additional offerings. That starts with the restructuring of the day-to-day schedule for high school students.
Superintendent Pat Coen said high school students have had 55 minutes for lunch, which gave them enough time to leave campus if they wanted. That's coming to an end as Coen said the lunch period will only last 30 minutes and only seniors in good standing will be able to leave. He said the change will allow for the creation of a 25-minute period that will be similar to a homeroom.
"The teacher can now talk to (students) on a personal level about 'where's your late work?', 'why haven't you taken this test?," said Coen, "build that personal connection."
Teachers and administrators will work with up to 14 students at a time. Coen said some could work on advanced courses while others could use the time to get caught up. He said the session will be held during the middle of the day to avoid missing too many students due to being tardy or extra-curricular activities.
The Burlington School Board has also agreed to create a "sectors coordinator." The person hired will meet with local businesses, industries and labor unions to talk about what they want in job applicants. Coen said that information will then be used to prepare students to enter the workforce directly after high school.
"We will bring that knowledge back to our career center and then we will begin the process of aligning students with those skill sets so they can become a more viable candidate for employment," said Coen.
Several local businesses and organizations have agreed to help fund the position, which has a starting salary of $40,000.
