Irma Lemus
BURBANK -- Calling the district's dearth of honors in the California
Distinguished Schools program this year disheartening, school officials
said they want to find out what went wrong.
Three of the five schools nominated by the district were given
honorable mentions when the award results were released by the California
Department of Education on Feb. 17. All five of the schools were previous
distinguished schools award winners.
"We're extremely disappointed," said Andrea Canady, director of
elementary education for Burbank Unified School District. "A lot of work
went into filling out the applications, it was a rigorous process."
Bret Harte, George Washington and Robert Louis Stevenson elementary
schools scored well enough to receive honorable mentions in the program,
but Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson elementary schools were not
recognized.
"All five schools have distinguished school status, we were just
reapplying. That's why it's so hard to believe that they didn't get it,"
said Canady.
Evaluation criteria included instructional practices, use of
technology, family participation, professional development and the
schools' partnerships with business and community organizations.
Carol Kennedy, coordinator of the California Schools Recognition
Program, said 681 elementary schools from throughout the state submitted
applications. Judging the awards, which alternate every year between
elementary and secondary schools, was especially difficult this year
because so many schools applied, she said. In past years, the program has
received fewer than 400 applications.
Kennedy said judges will visit nominated schools during the next
month. Winning schools can display the Distinguished School banner on
their campuses and are eligible for the U.S. Department of Education's
National Blue Ribbon program.
Last year, Burbank's David Starr Jordan and John Muir middle schools
were recognized as California Distinguished School.
The three elementary schools awarded honorable mentions will receive
certificates, but the district will not be represented at the May 5
awards ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
Canady said she didn't think the five Burbank schools would have to
remove the banners they won in the past.
"As far as I know, the schools will keep the signs up," she said.
