- I wanted to share with everyone the school board took action and approved the certified staff 2024-2025 contract. An adjustment that is within the contract (as an FYI) is that there has been an increase in the dollar amount if, once signed, a staff member decides to break their contract with BASD. The increase approved will go into affect starting on or after July 1, 2024 through July 31 for $500 and then $1,000 on or after August 1. Just an FYI that this adjustment has been added to contracts.
- Ruth Schenning will be sending an email to staff with additional information regarding teacher contracts. So, be on the lookout for an email from Ruth.
- Our team is continuing to work on ensuring we build the appropriate and correct staffing levels for next school year while also needing to reduce staffing due to budgetary constraints. All non-certified staff will be given a letter, either a return to work notice and/or a letter informing you that your employment status would be ending at the end of this school year. Our intent is to get all letters to staff prior to Memorial Day Weekend.
- All parents/families have been sent School Guides for the buildings in which their students will be attending next school year. Below are the links to all school guides:
- The school board approved our fee adjustments that the district has to engage in due to the failure of the operational referendum. The following adjustments will be the fees for student and community groups that start on or after July 1, 2024.
- Student Clubs & Activity Fees
- This document outlines how much students will be paying to participate in BASD clubs, intramurals, fine arts, and/or athletics that are run by BASD.
- If you have any follow up questions please first reach out to your building principal.
- Youth Athletic Organization Fees
- This document outlines how much organizations will need to pay based on the number of hours a group utilizes BASD facilities and the number of participants within the group.
- Facility Use Fee Schedule
- This document outlines how much any group wanting to rent our space will pay (per hour or item) if they fall under 25 hours of time within our facilities.
- Information will be shared with user groups in the coming days to ensure people are informed of these changes.
- Again, if you have questions please reach out to your building principals and/or the activities office.
- Additionally, we will be taking some fee adjustments to the board in relation to a few classroom fee adjustments along with registration fee adjustments in June.
- The board accepted the donation of $185,000 from the Sullivan Family Charitable Fund (Rhonda Sullivan) for the remodeling of Cooper Elementary School. This remodel will take place over the summer and will include carpet, moving walls, and adjusting cabinetry.
- We are so thankful for amazing community members like Rhonda Sullivan and her family for their continued generosity and support for BASD schools! After the referendum failed Rhonda approached me a said, I want to help. Let me know how I can help, especially with your Montessori Program. Truly an amazing contribution to BASD!!!
- What is VERY important to remind people about is that this entire project is taking place through a donation! The school district does not have dollars (due to the failure of the referendum) to engage in a project of this type without a donation.
- If you see Rhonda or members of the Sullivan Family please thank them for their generous donation to BASD!!!
- The district has minimal money within our capital improvement budget as we move into the 2024-2025 school year. Therefore, we have to be very selective and intentional about the projects that we take on as we move forward.
- One project the district has decided is a necessity is to put in a fence around the playground area at Dyer Elementary School. With the closing of Lyons, we have decided to have all of our traditional 4K sections at Dyer Elementary School. Therefore, we want to increase the safety of the playground area and will be adding a fence this summer. The image below shows where the fence will be located at Dyer (in red).
- Additionally, the high school will have some cement work done around the student entrance. Also part of our capital improvement budget for next year. What will be done is what is noted in YELLOW in the image below. This is necessary as the cement is pitching (in some spots) towards the building and there are spots where we are having multiple people tripping and/or falling due to the cracks that are present in the area.
DRIVEN hosts "A Night to Remember"- Tuesday April 30th
The DRIVEN Student Leadership Team hosted the fourth annual "A Night to Remember," a Prom-like evening for students with special needs from Burlington High School on Tuesday April 30 from 4-8pm at The Landing barn wedding venue in Burlington, WI. A ceremonial grand march began the evening with family, friends, and BASD staff members cheering on attendees. The night was full of games, music, food, and dancing on a special evening that put BHS special education students in the spotlight. Donations in the venue, food, and decorations were generously provided by area businesses. It was indeed "A Night to Remember."
Special Needs Resource Fair - Tuesday, May 7th
Over 60+ agencies were in attendance to share information about their organization and what they do to support students and families. It was a great event with a fantastic turn out!
BHS has been awarded with "Excellence in Speech" at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech & Dramatic Arts Association (WISDAA) State Speech Festival. Out of over 300 schools and over 3,000 students, Burlington High School ranked among the top 5% of all schools participating. Congrats to our talented students and dedicated coaches.
The first ever Job Fair with a partnership between BASD and Experience Burlington took place last week Thursday. There were over 45 employers in attendance with an estimated 100+ high school students and about 50-75 college students or adults who came seeking potential job opportunities. It was such an awesome first every job fair for the greater Burlington area!
This past Wednesday was Freshmen Career Day at BHS within our Freshmen Connections course. Students were able to attend one of the following based on their chosen career path of interest:
From visiting construction sites with Scherrer to experiencing the dynamic worlds of our local Police & Fire departments. Students also got to explore WBSD, LDV, and attend insightful sessions with speakers from Aurora's rehab, imaging, respiratory, and surgical departments. Such a great experience for our students to continue to explore and work towards a career pathway!
- Ardagh offered an internship to Jon Cowan who was among several high quality candidates from BHS. Feedback to our team was that Ardagh was very impressed with the skill sets and disposition of our BHS seniors!
Additionally, Juliette Bosquet, a senior, is our first student ever to have a youth apprenticeship at Aurora in Burlington for CNA. Thank you as well to Aurora for their partnership!
I wanted to give a little shout out to Ms. Shannon Sonnenberg, one of our teachers for Project WIN. She has, on her own time, published a children’s book that is available for pre-order! It is simply awesome to celebrate with and for our staff who are doing some amazing things outside of BASD!
Don't miss the BHS Spring Play, "The Last of School." The play will be taking place this Friday and Saturday night starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $5 at the door!
BHS Wall of Inspiration 2025 - Nominations Now Open
Burlington High School solicits nominations to identify alumni who have made noteworthy achievements and contributions to their chosen field or humanitarian causes since graduating. Every day students walk past the Wall of Inspiration. It serves as a reminder to current students, teachers, and the community to be an inspiration to others.
People inside and outside of the Burlington community may nominate a successful candidate. In order to be nominated for Burlington High School’s Wall of Inspiration, a person must meet three qualifications:
The nominee must have attended Burlington High School.
The nominee must have attended Burlington High School at least 25
years earlier than the date of first application.
The nominee must have made noteworthy achievements and /or
contributions to his/her chosen field or to humanitarian causes.
Nominations are due Friday, September 27th, 2024
