Important Message

Dear BIS Community,

I am writing to address and apologize for the inaccurate information presented during last night's PE department presentation. It has come to my attention that some of the data shared was incorrect, and I want to take this opportunity to provide you with the correct information and clarify our current situation.

Firstly, I want to assure you that no PE class at BIS has over 60 students. In fact, our current class average across all PE sections is 41 students. It's important to note that our contract stipulates a maximum ratio of 45 students to 1 teacher for PE classes. This ratio is considered very safe for our students and allows for effective instruction and supervision. We strive to maintain manageable class sizes in our PE program to ensure a quality learning environment for all our students.

Secondly, there was some misinformation shared regarding the number of teachers we have for our students. I want to clarify that we are adequately staffed for our current student population. We were staffed for 1,132 students, and our current enrollment is 1,119. While we are experiencing growth, which is a positive sign for our school, we are presently well-equipped to handle our student body.

For reference, our total student population in the 2023/24 school year was 1,059. To accommodate our growth, we have added two new teachers this year. This increase in staffing demonstrates our commitment to maintaining appropriate class sizes as our school community expands.

I also want to address the recent teacher changes. We had two late adjustments to our staff: one due to a retirement announced just five days before the start of school, and another resulting from a teacher who accepted a position but then withdrew in August. While these situations are not ideal, I want to assure you that we have worked diligently to fill both positions and are close to completing this process.

I deeply regret the confusion and concern that this misinformation may have caused. We are committed to transparency and accuracy in our communications with the BIS community. We are actively working on balancing our classrooms and ensuring that we provide the best possible learning environment for all our students.

Despite these hurdles, I want to assure you that we are set up for a great year at BIS. We have a dedicated team of educators and staff who are committed to providing an excellent educational experience for your children.

Once again, I sincerely apologize for the inaccuracies in last night's presentation. We value your trust and support, and we will continue to work hard to maintain open and honest communication with our school community.

If you have any questions or concerns about the information presented in this letter or any further concerns regarding the PE teachers’ comments from last night's presentation, please direct them to me. As principal, I am committed to addressing your concerns and ensuring clear, accurate communication.

Sincerely,

Greg Land

Principal, Burlingame Intermediate School