BURRILLVILLE – When Burrillville students started a fresh year of school on Thursday, Aug. 29, they found several improvements and changes to staffing, facilities and curriculum that were implemented over the summer months.
“We will start this school year with several new faces,” explained Supt. Michael Sollitto, noting that six teachers who are new to Burrillville greeted this year’s crop of young scholars.
The district also hired one new teacher assistant, and two new members of support staff, and reorganized other members of staff, with 10 teachers in different positions than they were last school year, and seven teacher assistants that have switched assignments.
Bus routes have also changed to create more efficiency.
“One bus was eliminated from last year, which necessitated a new bus route analysis and assignment,” explained Solitto.
New routes can be found on transportation provider DATTCO’s website here.
Enrollment, Sollitto said, appears to have remained relatively stable.
At the elementary and middle school levels, the roll-out of the new Eureka math curriculum that began last fall will continue in the 2019/2020 school year.
Sollitto said the new school year also comes with several new opportunities for professional development for Burrillville staff. They include workshops on topics such as Culturally Responsive Practices; CPR/AED/First Aid; Math Assessment & Grading; Legal Issues for educators; using Google Suite in the classroom; online coursework for educators; Accountable Writing; Running Records; Advanced Placement Course updates; utilizing Twitter for professional practice; and the use of Skyward support features.
In terms of facilities, security improvements were put in place, with upgrades to district wide access controls and security door locksets in all five Burrillville buildings.
“It has been a busy summer,” Sollitto said.
At William L. Callahan Elementary School, a major repair project was completed on the boiler.
But arguably the most noticeable improvement to take place over the summer was to the high school gymnasium, where the dome floor was refinished, and a new Burrillville “B” logo was added at half-court.
“It looks amazing,” Sollitto said.
