Once a symbol of decline, Burke HS to reopen after renovation

September 2, 2008 04:23 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

(Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

Mayor Thomas M. Menino presided over a news conference today showcasing the newly renovated school.

By James Vaznis, Globe Staff

Once a symbol of decline for the city's school system, the Jeremiah E. Burke High School is poised to reopen Thursday after a $49.5-million renovation.

The overhaul includes a new gymnasium, library, performing arts center, cafeteria, and kitchen, along with improvements to classrooms, science and computer labs, and a family center. The project also includes plans for a yet-to-be-completed community center and a public library.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, school Superintendent Carol R. Johnson, and other city leaders showed off the new building this afternoon. They welcomed back staff and students, who had been temporarily located in another building for the last two years while the Burke was renovated.

"Today we are here because we want to make a difference in a young person's life," said Menino, later adding, "Over the years, I have visited this school several times, and I have always been impressed with the spirit and heart."

The Burke lost its accreditation in 1995, a low point for the school system. A piece of the auditorium ceiling fell and brushed Menino's shoulder during a visit to the school that year. The following winter, Menino delivered a state of the city address from Burke, vowing to make the school system stronger and challenging residents to "judge me harshly" if the schools did not improve.

In 1998, Burke regained accreditation after an infusion of money for programs and building improvements, turning it into what city leaders considered a new symbol of hope for the school system.

But the school's MCAS scores continue to trail state averages. While more than 90 percent of students statewide passed the English and math tests in spring 2007, only 79 percent of Burke sophomores passed English and only 77 percent passed math, according to the most recent data available.

Still, the gap in performance between Burke students and the state has narrowed considerably when the MCAS was first given in 1998. At that time, Burke students had passing rates of only 10 percent for English -- compared to a statewide average of 72 percent -- and only 7 percent of students passed the math test, compared to 64 percent of students statewide.