BCAT News

A review of goals and progress for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Eric Conti showed the multiple ongoing projects aiming to improve Burlington schools, as laid out during an October 8 School Committee meeting. 

The goals are presented annually, but, Conti said, it’s rare that any project begins one July and ends the following June. Rather, most projects or benchmarks are multi-year efforts where progress is incremental. 

The district remains focused on reviewing math and literacy curricula, expanding STEM accelerator and career pathways programs, and offering dual enrollment college courses for high school students. 

Conti is also continuing efforts to diversity hiring and celebrating the diversity of the student body; he’s created and shared reports on student and staff demographic data with the School Committee and with school principals. Conti added he’d shared the student demographic data with Town Administrator Paul Sagarino, because, he said, “Sometimes I find that our classrooms look very different than some of the town events I attend,” he said.  

“We are actively trying to expand female enrollment in computer science,” Conti continued. “It’s not for lack of role models – many of our teachers are very talented women engineers – we just need to make sure we’re getting the right role models and mentors in.” 

Additionally, a recently hired Family and Community Liaison is working to make sure all families feel connected and welcome in the schools. 

Conti also said he’s continuing evaluation of the district’s food services; the district switched to a contractor, Whitsons Culinary Group, in early 2023, and saved a significant amount of money, but some families have complained about declining menu options and not enough time to eat. 

“It takes so long to get through the line, you barely have time to eat,” said School Committee Member Katherine Bond. “I know you can’t lengthen the day, but it wasn’t an issue when I was growing up and I’ve been contacted again about it. The kids need that time outside or just to get the energy out.” 

Committee Chair Christine Monaco echoed what she’s heard from community members: “The menus have changed in order to make it something the workers can manage. The fancy stuff has gone away and it’s not as appealing as it was,” she said. 

Conti said it was a good reminder that everything is connected: It’s hard to lengthen lunchtimes without sacrificing time on learning or extending the school day, and alternatives to Whitsons would need to be evaluated for their own food choices, staffing and efficiency. 

Additionally, Conti said he’s speaking with other superintendents about the costs and benefits of cell phones in school, and, to be proactive, AI. 

It’s a long and incomplete list of ongoing projects and goals within the school administration, but it speaks to the many areas in which the School Committee evaluates the district’s – and the superintendent’s – performance, and the evaluation will continue as the “Planning for Success” timeline proceeds.