PBºN Episode - 6

Summary

The Palm Beach North podcast interviews Mike Burke, Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools. Burke discusses his 30-year career in education, with 20+ years in Palm Beach County, highlighting his untraditional background in administration and finance rather than teaching. He leads the 10th largest, A-rated school district in the country, which is also the largest employer in Palm Beach County.

The conversation covers the upcoming school year, new facilities, the strategic plan, and new initiatives like "community experiences" (field trips) and the Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee. Challenges discussed include new state legislation, particularly universal school vouchers, and staffing shortages, especially for teachers and bus drivers. Burke outlines proactive recruitment and retention strategies, emphasizing the district's commitment to competitive salaries and "grow your own" programs.

Innovation is addressed through the growing Esports program and new AI integration in the curriculum. The importance of business partnerships for career and technical education programs is highlighted. Burke expresses appreciation for the supportive school board and Palm Beach County voters, who have supplemented education funding. The key takeaway message for the community is to get involved with schools and encourage students to engage in both academics and extracurricular activities to foster self-motivated learning.

Key topics

• Leadership and Background: Mike Burke, Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools, 30+ years in education, 20+ years in Palm Beach County. Untraditional background in administration/finance, not teaching. Leads 10th largest, A-rated school district, largest employer in Palm Beach County.

• New School Year Initiatives:

  • New Facilities: Two new schools opening: Dr. Wilkin Garcia High School (first new high school in 19 years, state-of-the-art with unique sports facilities) and West Point Middle School.

  • Strategic Plan: Entering year two, focused on "educate, affirm, and Inspire each student."

  • Community Experiences: Expansion of field trips (e.g., every 5th grader to Kravis Center, 7th/10th graders to various cultural, career, science sites) to enhance hands-on learning.

  • Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee: High school students (sophomore to senior) providing feedback on K-12 experience, including topics like field trips and vaping.

• Challenges and Responses:

  • State Legislation: Education increasingly politicized, with new laws and rules. District's approach: understand the letter of the law, avoid knee-jerk reactions (e.g., not banning books after inventory review), and uphold mission to "affirm all students."

  • Universal School Vouchers (House Bill One): Provides vouchers for private school tuition regardless of income.

    • Impact: Potential enrollment decline in public schools; district marketing efforts to highlight vast services (athletics, clubs, facilities) of public schools.

    • Enrollment: Stable so far, but long-term impact unknown; charter school growth cited as a parallel.

  • Staffing Shortages: Major challenge, particularly for teachers and bus drivers.

    • Recruitment/Retention: Improved salaries, recruiting overseas (150 teachers from Spain, Caribbean), social media, targeting non-traditional candidates for second careers, "grow your own" programs (partnering with FAU/Nova Southeastern for two-year degree holders to become teachers, high school teacher academies).

    • Bus Drivers: Increased starting pay (20/hour),20/hour), 20/hour),5,000 signing bonus for CDL holders, $2,500 for trainees.

• Innovation:

  • Esports: Growing program (e.g., Palm Beach Lakes High School, West Point Middle School) offering competition, camaraderie, and a gateway to STEM careers (coding, math).

  • Artificial Intelligence: Integration into curriculum at the new high school.

  • Career and Choice Academies (300+ programs): Stem, medical, IT, cyber security, construction, aeronautics.

  • Business Partnerships: Emphasis on matching every high school-level CTE program with a business partner to keep curriculum current and provide real-world expertise (e.g., White's Construction Academy, Jupiter Medical Center, FPL). Externships for teachers.

• School Board Relations: Supportive, diverse board focused on student best interests. Communication is key to collaboration.

• Funding: Florida ranks 44th nationally for education funding. Local Palm Beach County voters have consistently approved referendums to supplement revenue, aiding teacher pay and program offerings.

• Key Message to Community: Encourage parental and community involvement in schools (PTO, volunteering, communication with teachers), and motivate students to engage beyond academics in clubs, sports, or career pathways to find inspiration and self-motivation.