George A. Buljan Middle School

We thankfully were able to do a transfer out of Buljan to another school. My son was bored academically and I felt the culture of the school has changed for the worse.

As a parent of three children that attended this school, I can say they each had a good experience and gained the tools needed for high school. The teachers were supportive and communicated often, mostly through e-mail updates. I appreciate the role models my children had in them. My children speak fondly of their experiences and their teachers.

I have had two children go through Buljan and my second child is just about to graduate 8th grade. I have had nothing but a caring and approachable experience throughout my 6 consecutively years here. My younger child is one who I needed to have a strong line of communication with her teachers to assure her success and I feel I had that all three years. I see there are bad reviews about how kids dress, drugs, bullying and I too was alarmed of stories I heard when my kids were in grammar school. The reality is this is true for middle schools and high schools and kids are going to start hearing about things and the first line of defense is in the home and having an open line of communication with your kids. You cannot keep them from seeing and hearing things but you can educate them to make good choices in their decisions and their friendships. I know we would all like to protect our kids and keep them innocent for as long as possible but when they enter high school and college they will need to be equipped with the harsh reality of what is out there. Neither of my kids are the fast paced kids at school and neither of them ever had any bad experiences that scarred them while attending Buljan. In fact, they both loved their years at Buljan. From what my kids have told me, bullying is very much handled and taken seriously at Buljan and when kids get in fights they are suspended from school. There is a dress code and kids are definitely talked to when they break it. If you use your cell phone and you are caught the phone goes to the front office. Academically I have been very happy with Buljan but I also think you have to be very involved to get the most out of any school and sometimes that is being the squeaky wheel. I would like to thank all the teachers who have mentored both my kids and both achieved a 4.0 for all three years at Buljan. My older child has still maintained over a 4.0 in high school thus far. Where I think the school lacks is the level of parent volunteers. No one wants to volunteer their time or donate an item for a teacher luncheon or even their child's 8th grade graduation. Parent involvement benefits the kids and making a school better.

Buljan has been a real disappoint since Mr. Gunn retired. The school has no concrete system to solve bullying/threatening. It has been a continuous problem........administration has no clue on how to mange or resolve this horrible issue. My advice, have your child go to Cooley! Oldest child attended Cooley.......great school! Moved into Buljan boundaries. Really wish I did an inter district transfer. Teacher are not bad. Mr Fry is the best!!