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Burlington High showcases expanded adaptive electives for students with disabilities
Summary
Burlington High School presented an overview of expanded adaptive elective courses — art, industrial technology and culinary — highlighting hands‑on projects and life skills for students with disabilities. Teachers described collaborative projects and plans to expand offerings; students spoke about favorite activities.
Burlington High School presented an overview of expanded adaptive electives during the Burlington Community School District meeting on April 29, with teachers and students describing hands‑on projects in art, industrial technology and culinary designed for students with disabilities.
Teachers said the classes focus on foundational skills and practical life experiences. "I teach art at the high school," Steph Coyle said, describing guided‑drawing exercises, a collaborative ceramic bowl project, plaster mask work and a tie‑dye day that combined adaptive classes. Coyle said students also made tissue‑paper flowers that were delivered to staff on Valentine’s Day.
Culinary instructor Lynette Mullen and another culinary staff member described a curriculum centered on kitchen safety, sanitation, measuring and use of ovens. "We've covered a lot — kitchen safety, how to be clean, washing your hands, washing dishes," Mullen said, and noted students practiced measuring, used professional ovens to bake pizza and cookies, and learned basic food‑safety and fire‑safety procedures.
Industrial technology teacher Eric Gard said he introduced shop tools and basic machining tasks in a controlled environment, then moved to projects such as pencil holders, sheet‑metal toolboxes and birdhouses. "Josh came in and asked, 'Why can't we make pencil holders?' — so that's exactly what we made," Gard said, describing how students learned measurement, drilling and spot‑welding with close supervision.
Students who attended the presentation identified favorite projects. One student, Jojo, said, "I like doing cooking." Others named toolboxes, a jellyfish art project and cookies among favorites.
Board members and district leaders praised the teachers and noted the district recently added staff at the high school to provide scheduling flexibility so more integrated and separate adaptive classes can run. Superintendent remarks said the district approved some teacher overages this year to allow teachers willing to take additional periods to offer adaptive coursework.
The teachers and principal emphasized these were school‑based initiatives intended to provide hands‑on, skill‑building experiences and stronger day‑to‑day inclusion in school life, not changes to individualized education program (IEP) requirements. Parents in attendance spoke in support of the program, calling the opportunities "life skills" that benefited students.
The presentation closed with an invitation for the board and public to take a photo with the students and staff in the hallway.
