Burbank Unified kicks off new school year, teacher training

School is back in session for Burbank Unified.

At Burroughs High School on Monday morning, teachers prepared to welcome roughly 2,650 students.

In the quad, where posters advertised the Back to School Picnic on Aug. 24 and the Sept. 15 talent show, hundreds of students huddled with friends and stood in line for their new class schedules.

With a coffee in hand, Principal John Paramo overlooked the students and said the morning, although hectic, was exciting.

“It’s a lot of energy,” he said. “It feels like energy when you’re at a concert.”

Across the district, enrollment this year was estimated at 15,400 students, keeping the population relatively flat, according to Student Services Director Tom Steele.

“We’re not really shrinking, which is good news,” he said.

Freshman Evelynn Diaz and Sabrina Khalkhogian were dressed in cheer uniforms, looking forward to their upcoming practices.

“We haven’t even started yet and I’m lost,” Diaz said.

Junior Eddie Quintanar was looking forward to his world history class.

“I have the best teacher ever — Mr. Clark,” he said. “It’s just school again. After ninth grade, you get really used to it.”

Freshman Eric Arias was looking forward to Spanish class.

“I just want to get good grades, it’s pretty much all I want,” he said.

This September, every teacher in the district will undergo bullying prevention training with the California Teachers Assn.

The Burbank teachers union originally approached the district about signing up for the training.

“We thought this was a great thing to get all of our teachers to,” Steele said.

Each teacher will receive four hours of training across eight days at no cost to the district, Steele said.

Also this year, Burbank Unified is expected to enter into campaign mode after the school board decides when to put a $110-million bond measure to voters.

The dates under consideration include Feb. 26, March 5 and April 9.

If approved by 55% of voters, the bond would upgrade classrooms district-wide and help improve technology, plumbing and roofs.

-- Kelly Corrigan, Times Community News

Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan