Superintendent Burke seeks formal recognition after U.S. Department of Education ends Blue Ribbon program

Superintendent Burke told the Rhinebeck Board of Education that the United States Department of Education has "formally discontinued the National Blue Ribbon Schools program effective immediately," a decision he said came without consultation with state education officials and deprived local schools of deserved recognition.

Burke said Rhinebeck High School ‘‘would have, in fact, received the Blue Ribbon acknowledgement this year for the first time since 1996’’ and described the cancellation as an "academic injustice." He said he will seek a formal recognition from the New York State Education Department and plans to raise the matter with State Senator Shelley Mayer.

The superintendent also reviewed operational matters including summer capital projects, which he said were "projected to finish under budget by in excess of $100,000," and thanked district staff for their work on security, technology, and communications tools.

Why it matters: Blue Ribbon recognition is a national program that, when awarded, is a public affirmation of school performance and effective practices. Burke said the district completed the required submissions and received confirmation from the Blue Ribbon committee before the national program was discontinued. He characterized the timing as unfair to districts that had completed the application and review process.

Board reaction and next steps: Burke said he will collaborate with state officials to secure formal recognition; the board did not take formal policy action on the Blue Ribbon item during the meeting. The superintendent’s remarks were part of his opening report to the board at the start of the school year.