First week at Burr Oak: Coverage plan, bus routes, and what’s next

Burr Oak Community Schools opened its doors to students Monday, marking the beginning of a new school year and tenure for first-year superintendent Dr. Kelvin Butts.

Watershed Voice spoke with Dr. Butts about the state Burr Oak is in, his goals for the year, and new initiatives he hopes to bring to the district.

A key concern going into the school year was filling teacher vacancies.

“On day one, everything is filled, with the exception of high school ELA and math,” Butts said. “We are actively searching for, of course, math. Although there may not be a tangible person, there will be a certified person in front of the class.”

Butts outlined a hybrid model similar to how the district did science last year where there is staff in the room with a teacher streamed in, occasionally coming into the classroom for “labs.”

Citing no other key vacancies, Butts said he and the district feel comfortable with their staffing to start the school year.

“We’re feeling comfortable. We are doing a first time salary study, so that we can make sure we are on par with our surrounding counties and being competitive so that we can attract more applicants, because at the end of the day, people have to pay their bills, right? There’s a passion for the field, but you have to pay the bills.”

Butts also discussed the school’s bus route, noting they are fully staffed going into the school year, however, always looking for more drivers.

Burr Oak staffs its bus drivers in-house, a choice district leaders say gives them more control and stability on routes. “We’re always in need of drivers, but our routes are short and we still employ our own,” Butts said. He adds that those operational decisions point to a larger priority: students.

“My why is for those kids that do not have a voice, that do not have an advocate or feel that they do not have a voice,” Butts said. “You can’t explain that feeling when you’re teaching a child and you see the light bulb goes on — that has been my inspiration to get to this seat.”

Butts went on to build a career in administration, eventually serving as superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools before arriving in Burr Oak this summer. He describes each stop in his career as being “for a season and a reason.”

“I think the time that I spent in Benton Harbor was a time that was needed there to put the things that I put in place, we had a lot of success there,” he said. “Here in Burr Oak — it seemed to be a fit. It’s very small, rural, family oriented, very different from what I’ve been accustomed to, very different, but the same.”

The move to Burr Oak, he added, also allows him to broaden his skill set. “This also adds to my repertoire of tools that I can add, not only to my resume, but to my experience,” he said.

Butts noted the difficulties with finding staff — whether it’s teachers, bus drivers, or administrators — are not simply a Burr Oak issue, rather a national trend in the wake of COVID.

“Across the United States — teachers are hard to find, especially in the subjects of math and science,” Butts said. “Teachers are a commodity now.”

The district is focusing primarily on providing stability to its students and their families. 

“Whenever you have leadership changes, there are staff changes. I think now the biggest thing is stability.”

Butts said this school year will serve as an “evaluative year” to see what’s running smoothly and what may need adjustment. He plans to bring back Oak Openings, a community newsletter that highlights calendars, athletic schedules, and updates. 

“We want to meet the needs of the diverse culture that we have here,” he said.

The district has hired a full-time social worker and is exploring grant funding to expand student support. In addition, Burr Oak will transition from Synergy to PowerSchool, its new student information system. 

Butts confirmed his five-year contract and annual salary of $145,000 was approved by the school board in June. He also addressed criticism from his team leading Benton Harbor schools, where some community members pushed back against staffing and budget reductions. 

“There was a structural imbalance — expenditures outweighed the revenues,” Butts said. “You have to make sure revenues continuously exceed expenditures so the district can remain sound. That’s the same philosophy I bring here.”

He added that he welcomes constructive criticism from families and community members. 

“I think everyone deserves an explanation,” he said. “As long as no one is being harmed physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, psychologically, we have time to get it fixed.”

Despite the challenges, Butts said he is optimistic about the year ahead. “Looking forward to a great school year,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the students, working with faculty and staff, and getting to know the new community.”

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice