Burgard Vocational High School

400 Kensington Ave.

Florence S. Krieter, principal

Burgard Vocational High School has a long history of attracting students who might not fit the mold at other schools, and providing them with practical skills that readily translate into the job market.

Burgard's reputation in that area continues today. Many students say it's the vocational training that keeps them engaged.

In fact, if it weren't for that, many say, they would transfer to another school.

Three years ago, Florence Krieter became the principal of Burgard, after a brief stint as interim principal. During her tenure at the helm, certain changes have become evident.

The school seems more orderly now, students and teachers say. Hall sweeps have been effective in helping to bring the building under control.

But many complain that Krieter is taking too many things into her own hands -- with poor results.

"Parents report that the principal 'talks a good game,' but can't deliver on improving academics or the school," the Joint Intervention Team wrote. "According to the teachers, the students and the parents interviewed, the school organization is too punitive and there is a lack of respect by the principal for all groups."

The implementation of a school uniform policy didn't work, so Krieter reframed it as a dress code -- and that has been inconsistently enforced, many complain, according to the Joint Intervention Team's report. Some students get up to 10 detentions -- one for each class period -- in a single day for violating dress code, while others get no punishment, parents complain.

The school district says students must have a 70 average to play on sports teams; Krieter has set the requirement at 80 for Burgard, saying it will make students work harder. Students and teachers call foul, saying all it does is deprive students of playing sports -- for some, one of the few things that makes school worthwhile, according to the report.

The reviewers concluded: "The principal needs to broaden her understanding of working with urban students and families."

To qualify for federal funds of up to $2 million a year for three years to help turn the school around, Buffalo needs to replace Krieter, because she has been at Burgard more than two years. The superintendent has announced he plans to keep her there, even if it means forfeiting the money.

Academic results at Burgard have been declining, too. In the last two years for which Regents exam scores are available -- 2007-08 and 2008-09 -- the passing rate in English fell from 67 percent to 43 percent. On the Math A exam, the passing rate fell from 45 percent to 15 percent.

Student support team members are covering lunch periods and doing hall sweeps instead of working with students and teachers -- something the Joint Intervention Team says needs to change.

Burgard has an extended school day, from 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. -- but many students do not have classes for the full day, even though they would benefit from doing so, the review team found.

As at most of Buffalo's persistently lowest-achieving schools, the team found little evidence of teachers teaching. Instead, teachers relied heavily on worksheets.

"Teachers do not engage students in the teaching and learning process," the team wrote.

mpasciak@buffnews.com