Superintendent’s Message for New School Year

^{First published in the Aug. 20 print issue of the Burbank Leader.}

By Matt Hill
BUSD Superintendent

We are excited to welcome back our students and staff for the 2022-23 school year. At the Burbank Unified School District, we are focused on providing quality education to more than 14,000 students via our infant program all the way through our Adult School. If you live and/or work in Burbank we look forward to you enrolling in our schools burbankusd.org.
Our amazing and dedicated employees have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of our students and families by staying focused on our core mission of teaching and learning. Burbank Unified will not be satisfied until 100% of our students graduate from high school. A high school diploma is just the beginning for our students.
Looking ahead, we will build on our foundation and will focus on continuous improvement in order to ensure all students become lifelong learners in a safe and healthy environment.
For the 2022-23 school year the Board of Education has adopted the following goals.

1. Students will be career/college ready via high-quality instruction
2. Students will be physically, emotionally and mentally healthy
3. Recruit and retain highly qualified employees
4. Maintain efficient and effective operations
   There are many things to celebrate at BUSD, but some of the highlights that you will see this school year are:
   • Transitional Kindergarten: 4-year-olds can now enroll in our schools via transitional kindergarten.
   • Strong Academic Growth: Preliminary academic data is showing strong growth based on the interventions and supports that we implemented last year. We will continue to expand these supports this year.
   • Summer School and After School: Expanded summer school and after-school learning opportunities.
   • Innovations: Grants by the Burbank Arts and Education Foundation (BAEF) are allowing our schools to implement innovative programs in our schools – Save the date for the Virtual State of the Schools on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. burbankartsanded.org/
   • STEM Education: Via another generous donation by the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, we are expanding STEM education in all schools.
   • Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health: Expanded social-emotional learning and mental health resources at each of our schools.
   • Partnerships: A new partnership with West Coast Customs and the Burbank Adult School to launch a hands-on automotive academy.
   By continuing to work together, we will build a stronger BUSD. Here’s to a great year!