Do you have a question for our Superintendent or the Central Services team? Welcome to Ask GPS, a blog style page created by Superintendent Cheri Burke to answer questions submitted by students, parents and community members. Please submit questions via email to: askgps@granbyschools.org
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Please note:
Questions will be posted anonymously. Neither the questioner's name nor their email address will be published. Questions may be edited or condensed before posting. All questions will receive a reply. Not all questions will be chosen for publication to this site.
April, 2025
Q: What are the goals and benefits of the secondary schedule changes?
A: Over the past year, Granby Public Schools has engaged in a collaborative and thoughtful process to align the schedules of Granby Memorial Middle and High Schools. First, input was gathered from students, staff and administrators. Then a guiding coalition of educators from both schools was formed to work with a consultant to create a uniformed schedule. This work has focused on two primary goals: maximizing instructional learning time and opportunities for students, and embedding meaningful collaboration for teachers during the school day.
We are proud to announce that the newly aligned schedule will increase instructional time by 72 hours over the course of the school year—time that will directly benefit students through enhanced learning, additional practice, and expanded access to support from teachers. This shift not only strengthens our academic program but also creates a foundation for growing electives and unique learning experiences for students, even as enrollment declines in the future.
Highlights of our new schedule include: a unified 8-period day across both middle and high school, extended instructional blocks at the high school several times each semester to support science labs and other in-depth learning opportunities, study halls and advisory periods remain, with additional chances for academic support, and teacher collaboration embedded throughout the school day rather than through delayed openings.
September 17, 2024
Q: I know this is a much bigger conversation to be had within the town, but has there ever been discussion of a permanent position of a police officer assigned to each school?
A: The Superintendent meets regularly with the Granby Chief of Police and the district and has a very close working relationship with the Granby PD. We collaborate on items large and small to keep our school community as safe as possible. Superintendent Burke and Chief Sansom have explored the addition of a School Resource Officer (SRO) and are currently in conversations with the Board of Education Chair and the Town Manager to determine next steps. It is our hope that a SRO will be considered as a part of the upcoming budget process for the 2025 school year.
June 4, 2024
Graduation Date Decision Explained
A question was recently asked how the graduation date for Granby Public Schools is chosen. This is a valid question regarding a topic that has been subject to recent legislative change. Prior to the 2020-2021 school year, in accordance with Public Act 10-16l, Connecticut Law stated that schools could not graduate before the 180th school day. However, this law was repealed giving local and regional boards of education the authority to set the twelfth grade graduation date prior to the 180th day by Public Act No. 19-195.
December 14, 2023
Q: As I am sure you are aware, there is a new apartment complex being built right near the center of town (Station 280, which I believe will house ~230 apartments). My question is, how does the district plan to accommodate a potential influx of new students into the Granby school system? I have several concerns, but want to understand the districts plan around school infrastructure, staffing levels, and class sizes.
A: Thank you for this question. We pay close attention when new homes and developments are built in the town of Granby. The district engages with an enrollment consultant who provides an enrollment projection report which goes out 10 years. This report examines births and their relationship to kindergarten enrollment as well as several other factors that influence school enrollment - town population, employment, housing, non-public enrollment, resident enrollment in other public schools, and non-resident enrollment in Granby Public Schools. The most recent enrollment report provided to the district was performed last year.
We reached out to our consultant at the start of this school year upon learning the full scope of the apartment complex being built near the middle school. The majority of the apartments at The Station are one bed-room. We are also watching Murtha’s Way and the new homes at Harness Way very carefully for enrollment impact.
We believe the most recent projection is valid for the upcoming school year; however, the district plans to receive a new enrollment projection for the following school year (2025-2026) to be sure everything is taken into consideration. Our class guidelines by Board policy are as follows:
Pre-School 12-14
Kindergarten 15-18
Grades 1-3 18-22
Grade 4-8 22-24
Grades 9-12 12-25
Thank you
November 27, 2023
Q: Thank you for your recent communication regarding the change in Kindergarten age requirements. Its was helpful to receive the information in such a well thought out manner with clear links to the supporting state documentation. I would like to know more about the application process to have my child exempt, in particular who will be responsible for the screening?
A: Thank you for your question. The Kindergarten screening assessment is still in development. Further communication will be sent to you from Kelly Lane School as soon as it is available.
November 27, 2023
Q: What are the factors you consider when making a decision to cancel school in inclement weather?
A: The safety of our students and staff will serve as my number one priority when making these most difficult decisions. We have students that attend our schools from Hartland, Hartford and Granby and as you are aware, depending on where you live in Granby, conditions can be drastically different and this will factor into my decision making. I take this decision very seriously, and will not make it alone.
Some of the factors which will be considered when making the decision to cancel, delay. or dismiss school early are as follows:
Timing of the storm or weather event;
Amount of snow and ice accumulated;
Air and surface temperature;
Weather conditions throughout the day;
Power outages;
Information from the Public Works Department and Police Department regarding the present and future travel conditions;
Information from area Superintendents;
Information from the Director of Facilities regarding building conditions, such as, electricity or heating/parking lot conditions/sidewalk conditions; and,
Information from the Transportation Department regarding status of drivers and bus/van conditions.
If there is going to be a school cancellation or delay, the decision will be made no later than 5:45 a.m. in the morning. In the event school will be dismissed early, notification to our community will be made in a timely manner for proper supervision at home.
The public will be notified of any cancellation, delay, or early dismissal via several ways:
SchoolMessenger text alerts (More information regarding signing up for this service can be found at this link)
Local television and radio stations
School website
@Superintendent-Burke on Facebook and Instagram
Thank you
January 24, 2024
Q: AskGPS was recently asked where reading lists can be found, and to clarify how books are chosen.
There is no set book list for any grade. Teachers work with administration and instructional coaches to find the most suitable books that match the standards being taught with the students' needs in their classes. The table shown below, presented to parents at curriculum night this fall gives a little more information on that selection process:
We were also asked to provide some samples of the 'Whole Class Novels' that are currently being read.
In grades kindergarten through 8, we do not study whole class novels.
This semester, the ninth graders are reading Romeo and Juliet, and AP Language students are reading The Great Gatsby.
Thank you
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