175 James St
Burlington, IL 60109

In my opinion, the principal had cared more about what the girls were wearing than their academic capabilities. She would deliberately point out a girl and humiliate her if a bra strap had been out, a back was showing, or if an inch of stomach was revealed. She also very inappropriately would tell the girls that there were 3-4 b’s in which were not to be shown. Back, belly, behinds, and cleavage. Yet would tell the boys a very minimal amount and rules. This is only a problem if you see it as a problem in which what the girls are wearing are not at all supposed to be deemed as a violation unless they are genuinely wearing clothing that may be harmful at they’re 13-14 selves. It is unacceptable and I do not find it appropriate at all. Besides the principal I find the teachers to be delightful in which they happen to induce joy into my child due to their teaching methods and wonderful attitude. My child was wonderfully happy with all of her teachers and was able to create a bond with each of them. My kid was able to break out of her shell and participate in each class comfortably. Hoping that the new principal is more open minded this year and doesn’t immediately undermine the young girls for the upcoming school year.

I had two kids through the district from Kindergarten though high school and they thrived and are well prepared for college and life. They participated in the many opportunities and had many very caring teachers and coaching. Overall we are very happy with the district and will miss it as last one is graduating.

I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience HBT both as a student teacher and as a parent of multiple children. I can confidently say this school sets a high standard for what elementary education should look like: supportive, inclusive, and genuinely student-centered.What stands out most is the deep level of care the majority of the teachers and support staff show for their students. As a student teacher, I observed educators who were not just focused on academics, but also on the emotional and social growth of their students. Now, as a parent, I see that same dedication in the way they know my children's strengths, needs, and their individual potential. The relationships teachers build with students and families here are evident in everything from classroom culture to communication home.Academically, HBT offers a well-rounded and thoughtfully differentiated program that truly supports a wide variety of learning needs. Whether your child is advanced, needs extra support, or learns differently, the instructional staff works hard to provide targeted strategies and meaningful learning experiences. I’ve seen firsthand how teachers and support staff collaborate to support students. There is a genuine commitment to meeting each child where they are and helping them make progress. Another area we have been happy with is in the way the administration handles student behavior concerns. Over the years, we’ve had a few situations come up, and each time, the response has been fast, thoughtful, and constructive. In our experience, the leadership team takes proactive steps to prevent issues from escalating, while also holding students accountable in ways that are fair, respectful, and focused on learning from mistakes. There is a clear emphasis on supporting students emotionally and socially.Seven years in, while we have seen administration and some staff turnover, I still feel confident every day that my children are in a place where they are not only learning but also being seen, heard, and cared for. I'm grateful to be part of this school community.

My opinion. Both my kids have been or are at PKMS. My older child had a tough time there but she is not one to speak up. The environment is cold. The older front desk lady is super rude to students and sometimes parents for no reason the younger one is really nice. My child recently got detention for speaking up when another child was physically disruptive towards her during learning in her 6th grade social studies. The the teacher saw it told the child to stop rather than intervening and pulling that child away she continued to teach. My child out of frustration, facetiously said a phrase that goes against the handbook. My kiddo never gets in trouble, is a straight A student. In the spur of the moment out of frustration she blurted out the phrase. The teacher admitted it it was provoked and out of frustration yet instead of being a normal adult and giving her a verbal warning on choosing her words wisely in these moments and mentoring her she wrote her up. The principal who deals with discipline messaged me that she is lucky that worse action wasn’t taken towards my child (cops being called) for speaking up and defending herself. Further us as parents were never given a notice of her detention or otherwise. The principal said whatever kids say or bring forth that is of concern is “hearsay” they are mean and manipulative so they can’t be trusted. This has been one of the many experiences that we’ve had at PKMS Bullying is rampant nothing will be done but those who stand up to bullies or disruptive kids will be sent to detention or worse suspension or expulsion.