Burgard Vocational High School
Encyclopedia
Burgard Vocational High School is a vocational
high school
located in Buffalo, New York, USA. It holds about 800 students from Grades 9 - 12
and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current Principal is Mr. Brian Wiesinger, and the current Assistant Principals are Mr. Andre Thomas and Ms. Lorenda Williams.
* For students with 1st Lunch
& For students with 2nd Lunch
^ For students with 3rd Lunch
New state requirements state that schools on the list that do not show improvement must either convert to a charter school, replace the building principal and at least 50% of its staff, create incentive pay for high-performing staff and implement staff development for teachers that do not, or close entirely. Superintendent James Williams initially announced that he would keep Principal Florence Schmiert-Krieter in place at Burgard despite the fact that doing so would cost the school and district federal funds, approximately two million dollars per year for three years. Following a visit by the state education department, Williams announced that he would remove Krieter as well as the principals at two other Buffalo high schools, with the changes taking effect October 15, 2010. Around that time, it was announced that Burgard had failed to meet the requirements for those grants, and would not receive that funding.
In 2009, a renovation was completed on the school that expanded the main office and created new science and computer labs, technology shops, and renovation to the automobile shops. Locker rooms were also expanded.
* Denotes interim appointment
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Buffalo, New York, USA. It holds about 800 students from Grades 9 - 12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current Principal is Mr. Brian Wiesinger, and the current Assistant Principals are Mr. Andre Thomas and Ms. Lorenda Williams.
Academics
Burgard offers Regents level courses as required by New York State. Burgard's curriculum includes a career and technical component in classes such as Automotive Repair Technology, Virtual Enterprise, Welding, Computer-aided design (CAD) & CAM Robotics, and Building Management.Schedule
| Period Number/Activity | Beginning Bell | End Bell |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:35 | 7:47 |
| Period 1 | 7:55 | 8:55 |
| Period 2 | 8:58 | 9:58 |
| Period 3 | 10:01 | 11:01 |
| 1st Lunch | 11:04 | 11:32 |
| Period 4A* | 11:37 | 12:38 |
| Period 4B-1& | 11:04 | 11:32 |
| 2nd Lunch | 11:37 | 12:05 |
| Period 4B-2& | 12:10 | 12:38 |
| Period 4C^ | 11:04 | 12:05 |
| 3rd Lunch | 12:10 | 12:38 |
| Period 5 | 12:41 | 1:41 |
| Period 6 | 12:44 | 1:44 |
& For students with 2nd Lunch
^ For students with 3rd Lunch
2010 controversy
In 2010, Burgard was placed on New York State's list of consistently low-achieving high schools in the state. The school's current graduation rate is 44%, below state standards, and saw a drop in on test scores on Regents exams in all subject areas except Earth scienceEarth science
Earth science is an all-embracing term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. It is arguably a special case in planetary science, the Earth being the only known life-bearing planet. There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences...
New state requirements state that schools on the list that do not show improvement must either convert to a charter school, replace the building principal and at least 50% of its staff, create incentive pay for high-performing staff and implement staff development for teachers that do not, or close entirely. Superintendent James Williams initially announced that he would keep Principal Florence Schmiert-Krieter in place at Burgard despite the fact that doing so would cost the school and district federal funds, approximately two million dollars per year for three years. Following a visit by the state education department, Williams announced that he would remove Krieter as well as the principals at two other Buffalo high schools, with the changes taking effect October 15, 2010. Around that time, it was announced that Burgard had failed to meet the requirements for those grants, and would not receive that funding.
History
The school was founded in 1910 as a combined printing class between Public School #5 and Public School #44 on Elm Street. In 1914, it became known as the Elm Technical School. A $1,000,000 construction project was begun to construct a new facility for the school, with the land being donated by Henry P. Burgard.In 2009, a renovation was completed on the school that expanded the main office and created new science and computer labs, technology shops, and renovation to the automobile shops. Locker rooms were also expanded.
Selected former principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses- Mr. William B. Kamprath–1929-1956?.
- Mr. Joseph F. Crotty
- Mr. J. Patrick Curry–1970-1984 (Vice Principal - Seneca Vocational High SchoolSeneca Vocational High SchoolSeneca Vocational High School is a former vocational high school located in Buffalo, New York. It was one of the first vocational schools built in Western New York. The building, located at 666 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo, currently serves home to The Math, Science, and Technology Preparatory...
, retired) - Mr. Rocco A. Lamparelli
- Mr. John J. Mattimore–1986-1988 (Principal - South Park High SchoolSouth Park High School (Buffalo, New York)South Park High School is a high school located in Buffalo, New York. It serves Grades 9 - 12 and teaches according to the Board of Regents. The current principal is Mrs. Theresa Schuta, and the current assistant principals are Ms. Denise Denz, Ms. Orneice Hill, and Mr. Michael Morris.- History...
, retired) - Mr. Thomas P. Kopera–1988?-2002 (unknown, retired)
- Mr. James J. Pautler–2002-2006 (Vice Principal - Kensington High SchoolKensington High SchoolKensington High School is a former high school located in Buffalo, New York. The building, located at 319 Suffolk Streetin Buffalo, currently serves home to Frederick Law Olmstead Academy.- History :...
, assigned to Buffalo Public Schools' Office of Shared Accountability) - Mr. Carlos J. Villarroel [interim]–2006-2007 (Vice Principal - Burgard High School, named Assistant Principal of Frank A. Sedita Academy)
- Mrs. Florence S. Krieter–2007-2010 (Interim Assistant Principal - Burgard High School, assigned to Buffalo Schools' Department of School Turnarounds)
- Ms. Genelle E. Morris-Adams–2010 [interim] (Director of Data Analysis - Buffalo Public Schools, returned to District Office)
Selected former assistant principals
Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses- Mr. Joseph M. Crotty
- Mr. Jack L. Miligore (Guidance Counselor - Burgard High School, unknown)
- Mr. Joseph T. Schmidle (unknown, named Director of Manpower Development for Buffalo Public Schools Board of Education)
- Mr. Archie Rouselle
- Mr. Leonard J. Carfley–?-1993
- Mrs. Aloma D. Johnson
- Mrs. Mary A. Craig–?-2003(Unknown,named Assistant Principal of Grover Cleveland High SchoolGrover Cleveland High SchoolGrover Cleveland High School or Cleveland High School is the name of several public high schools in the United States, named—except as noted—for President Grover Cleveland:* Grover Cleveland High School , Buffalo, New York...
) - Mr. Carlos Villarroel–2003-2006 (Assistant Principal - Kensington High SchoolKensington High SchoolKensington High School is a former high school located in Buffalo, New York. The building, located at 319 Suffolk Streetin Buffalo, currently serves home to Frederick Law Olmstead Academy.- History :...
, named Interim Principal of Burgard High School) - Mrs. Denise E. Clarke–2003-2005 (ESL Teacher - Burgard High School, named Assistant Principal of Frederick Law Olmstead Academy)
- Mrs. Florence Schmiert Krieter [interim]–2006-2007 (Social Studies Teacher - Burgard High School, named Interim Principal of Burgard High School)
- Mr. Bert L. Stevenson–2007-2008 (Director of Special Services - Buffalo Public Schools, named Assistant Principal of Bennett High School)
- Dr. Barbara J. Carson-Jones–2008-2010 (Assistant Principal - Seneca Vocational High SchoolSeneca Vocational High SchoolSeneca Vocational High School is a former vocational high school located in Buffalo, New York. It was one of the first vocational schools built in Western New York. The building, located at 666 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo, currently serves home to The Math, Science, and Technology Preparatory...
, retired)
Selected former administrators
| Year | Superintendent | Principal | Asst. Principal | Asst. Principal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-1971 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1971-1972 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1972-1973 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1973-1974 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1974-1975 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1975-1976 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1976-1977 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1977-1978 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1978-1979 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1979-1980 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1980-1981 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1981-1982 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1982-1983 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1983-1984 | Pat Curry | |||
| 1990-1991 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | ||
| 1991-1992 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Leo Carfley | |
| 1992-1993 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Leo Carfley | |
| 1993-1994 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1994-1995 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1995-1996 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1996-1997 | Albert Thompson | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1997-1998 | Jim Harris | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1998-1999 | Jim Harris | Tom Kopera | Aloma Johnson | |
| 1999-2000 | Marion Canedo | Tom Kopera | Mary Craig | |
| 2000-2001 | Marion Canedo | Tom Kopera | Mary Craig | |
| 2001-2002 | Marion Canedo | Tom Kopera | Mary Craig | |
| 2002-2003 | Marion Canedo | Jim Pautler | Mary Craig | |
| 2003-2004 | Marion Canedo | Jim Pautler | Carlos Villarroel | Denise Clarke* |
| 2004-2005 | Yvonne Hargrave | Jim Pautler | Carlos Villarroel | Denise Clarke |
| 2005-2006 | James Williams | Jim Pautler | Carlos Villarroel | |
| 2006-2007 | James Williams | Carlos Villarroel* | Florence Krieter* | |
| 2007-2008 | James Williams | Florence Krieter | Bert Stevenson | |
| 2008-2009 | James Williams | Florence Krieter | Barb Jones | |
| 2009-2010 | James Williams | Florence Krieter | Barb Jones | |
| 2010-2011 | James Williams | Morris*/Wiesinger | Andre Thomas | Lorenda Williams |
| 2011-2012 | Amber Dixon* | Brian Wiesinger | Andre Thomas | Lorenda Williams |
Notable alumni
- Andre ColemanAndre Coleman (defensive end)Andre Coleman is an American football and a Canadian football defensive end who is currently playing with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
–former professional football player with the San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
(Class of 2002) - Brian C. Davis–Member of Buffalo, NY City Council
- Demone Smith; Member of Buffalo, NY Common Council
- James Stockman; Chief Administrator, COVA Ambulance Inc.