Burbank Unified School District Meeting Wrap-up

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION

The board of education and staff honored teachers from the district's 11 elementary schools.

WHAT IT MEANS

The following teachers were selected by their peers for the 2006-07 Teacher of the Year awards.

The teachers were chosen for their excellence in teaching and dedication to children and the profession.

They are:

Lisa Loscos Marichelle Matic; Sandra Engel; Linda Young; Kim Anderson; Cathy Marcy; Jennifer Culbertson; Tiffany Kaloustian; Helaine Shraga; Theresa Landin White; Jennifer Almer.

ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAMS

The board approved a grant from ProLiteracy America, the U.S. division of ProLiteracy Worldwide, a nonprofit international literacy organization that sponsors education programs that help adults acquire literacy skills.

WHAT IT MEANS

The grant, in the amount of $20,000, will be used to help fund an 18-month project that will measure the effect volunteers and mentors have on lower-level English learners at the Burbank Adult School. The project will determine whether volunteers can help improve learner retention.

It will also determine if the presence of volunteers in numbers can allow the adult school to potentially serve more students.

VOTE: 5-0

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The board approved an agreement with the California Department of Education for funding instructional materials and supplies for the district's child-development program.

WHAT IT MEANS

The one-time funding of $3,719 must be used for the purchase of curriculum-based instructional materials for the 2006-07 school year.

VOTE: 5-0

CONSULTANT AGREEMENT

Trustees approved an agreement with Advisory Publishing and Consulting LLC, to provide evaluation training to classified management employees.

WHAT IT MEANS

Consultants will provide the district's administrators and supervisors with evaluation training seminars that will help management-level employees acquire effective evaluation tips and techniques.

Participants will also benefit from learning to write performance evaluations.

The consultant's services will cost the district $750 for a one-day training session.

VOTE: 5-0

FYI

WHAT: Next School Board Meeting

WHEN: Nov. 2, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave., Burbank

CONTACT: (818) 729-4422