December 1, 2023
Dear BSD Community,
In the wake of this weekend’s hateful attacks in Burlington on three college students of Palestinian descent, there is much pain, anger, and confusion in our community. At a time like this, it is easy to become divided. Fortunately, I have once again seen our community come together. At least two candlelight vigils for Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad were held this week, a launch-good campaign has raised more than $200,000, and local Rabbis joined together to condemn this violence. In our schools, BHS teachers led conversations with their students, middle schools built time into the day for all students, and elementary teachers worked with students in age-appropriate ways. I cannot tell you how grateful I was to learn that all three of my children came home and told me that they were part of deep, meaningful conversations this week.
Incidents of Islamophobia and Antisemitism are on the rise and there is much fear and pain in the Muslim and Jewish communities in our city and world. Our ability to come together in this time of tragedy gives me hope that we can build peace and empathy, even if the conversations we have are messy or we make mistakes in our dialogue. Our willingness to work together shows the rest of the world what a true community can look like. In many ways, our students are leading the way in BSD by asking us to hold conversations with them and holding their own conversations. This week, students at BHS organized a meeting among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian students to create space for positive dialogue.
Our focus as a District has to be on the physical and mental well-being and safety of students. Grounded in our commitment to restorative practices, conversations in our community are a tool that help us build understanding and empathy. In addition to our work to build relationships and community, we also take seriously federal and state laws regarding hazing, harassment and bullying. After working for three years with the Department of Justice, we have trained and capable staff in every building who follow the letter of the law when they respond to harassment and hate.
Finally, this weekend’s shooting is just one more reminder of the need for common sense gun control laws in our city, the state, and the USA. On Wednesday, Mayor Weinberger committed to working towards this goal and offered ways to get involved in this work. I believe this work is critical because children who experience gun violence in their communities experience long-lasting stress and anxiety. Some of our students have told me they are feeling this now. I hope we can work together for common sense gun laws to support the well-being of our students and broader community.
In Partnership,
Tom
School Safety Updates and Reminders – BSD follows Federal law and guidance from Vermont’s Agency of Education (AOE) and the VT School Safety Center and our safety policies are based on their Model policies as well as our Restorative Code of Conduct. In addition:
- All Staff have access to an all-hazards operations plan, the BSD Emergency Response Manual.
- Policy F3 and F4 speak directly to building safety.
- Each building, including Central Office, has a Safety Team who meets monthly. Representatives from those teams also attend monthly District-wide Safety Team meetings.
- Schools follow an Emergency Drill schedule based on the guidance of AOE and VT School Safety Center and discuss safety in every classroom of every school monthly and we track those drills and the tracking sheet will be sent to the VT Agency of Education at the end of the school year to ensure our compliance.
- In 2021, our School Safety Task Force recommended dropping from two SROs to one, and having that person not be based in a school, but be onsite throughout BSD regularly. Unfortunately, staffing levels and the Burlington Police Department caused the cessation of this program altogether. I am happy to report we are getting closer to an agreement with BPD to have a dedicated person for our schools once again.
School Supports – On September 8, the State of Vermont issued its Annual Snapshot/State Report Card, which provides data insight into state, district, and school-level performance as one tool to evaluate education equity for students and provide transparent information for the public. Vermont’s Agency of Digital Services (ADS) and Agency of Education (AOE) recently identified a calculation error in the previously released Annual Snapshot for the 2021- 2022 school year. More information can be found in the full press release, but for BSD the error means that Hunt and IAA have been identified as schools eligible for supports. While it’s disappointing to be back on the list, the designation comes at a helpful time as we think about how to improve the physical building climate at IAA, as well as teaching and learning. It’s also not surprising to us, as before the first report came out we were anticipating two schools being on the list. There is an appeal process for this, but we have not yet been told why our schools have been identified. I have asked for this information before deciding whether or not to appeal (which is not likely).
Budget – School principals have received their preliminary staff allocations and RISE funding allocations for FY25. School Advisory Groups have reviewed, or will soon, these allocations and make recommendations on how to spend their RISE funds. Simultaneously, the Cabinet will be meeting to discuss District-level challenges and opportunities, such as the end of the ESSER funding availability. You can be a part of the work by completing the FY ’25 Equitable Budgeting Feedback Survey. Want to learn more about the process? Visit our budget webpage for a budget time, most recent updates, information on our Equitable Budget and Staffing Model, archives, and more.
Belonging and Well-being – Using a mini-grant from NGLC, eight secondary educators went to Casco Bay High School, a public Expeditionary Learning high school in Portland Maine. We left BSD thinking deeply about student engagement and the vexing problem of students who are “present-truant” – i.e. students who are showing up to school, but are not engaging in their education for a variety of reasons (many of those are trauma-induced and/or not having basic needs being met). At the middle and high school level, this may look like students hiding in hallways and bathrooms, lashing out at adults, and generally being unsafe for themselves and their peers. And, we know for every kid who is showing us that they are in crisis, there are several more in classrooms quietly experiencing disconnection/anxiety/etc. We walked away from this experience reinvigorated in our commitment to priority area 1: Wellbeing and Belonging for students and teachers. This group is coming back focused on how we can leverage the expertise in our secondary schools to support a climate and culture that values student and staff wellbeing and belonging and better engages students. Ultimately, the trip empowered our teachers and school leaders to go back into their schools more ready to engage in this work of culture and community building.
BHS/BTC Project
Value Management The development team, including BSD leadership staff, has approved a 2nd round of recommended value management (VM) changes totaling approximately $1.1 M in savings. Total approved VM savings to date is approximately $2.5 M. These changes do not impact form or function and include such things as converting tile to a smaller format, reusing salvaged case work, replacing the insulation on ducts, changing the specified heat pumps to BOSCH, redesigning the commons railing system, and changing the panel board amp designations. The next step is took look at another round of about $2 M in additional potential savings and consider them for evaluation. We remain hopeful that this work to evaluate and get pricing for further VM changes will get us to our $4 M savings target.
Demolition EnviroVantage’s (EV) demo and abatement work continues, including on the Building C slab (completion is estimated for early December) and Building D slab, footer, and foundation (anticipated to start at the end of November with full removal and disposal completed by mid December). Building E abatement is ongoing and anticipated to be complete by mid-December. Demolition and disposal of above-grade building materials is anticipated to start mid to end of December.
Arms Forest The project team, VTDEC and the City’s Parks and Rec Department have agreed on a plan to address remediation of urban soils in a very small area of the Arms Forest just beyond the project’s proposed limits of disturbance. The plan will involve removing trees (mostly invasive) and capping the area with 18 inches of clean soil. This will require an amendment to the project’s zoning permit. The team will submit a zoning permit amendment application in the next few days and we anticipate presenting the changes to the City’s Conservation Board and DRB in December.
Permit The full building permit application was submitted on 11/7. We anticipate the permit will be issued by 12/7.
Landfill Success! EnviroVantage (EV) recently received approval to bring the building C and D foundations to another landfill in Seneca NY. This is good news as removal of the C and D foundations this year is critical for Whiting-Turner (WT) to remain on schedule.
Spring Testing – We have dates and plans in place to offer Spring Pre-ACT (April 17th), ACT (April 16th), and SAT (March 22nd) assessments. BHS will be communicating all logistics during the second semester (signing up, location, etc.).
BHS Awarded JED Foundation/VPA High School Grant BHS is a recipient of a JED Foundation/VPA High School grant which works to equip school and district leaders with evidence-based systems, tools, and resources to support student mental health. JED allocated $280K in grant funding to underwrite 90% ($31,500) of the JED High School program fee ($35,000 per school) for up to nine VPA-member schools/districts beginning in Winter 2024. JED High Schools is a 3-year technical assistance program that creates a culture of caring that protects student mental health, reduces substance misuse, and prevents suicide. We are optimistic about the value of this support and excited about the potential for significant positive impacts on our students and school community in the coming years.
Congrats Amy Truchon – Making IT Happen Award – Last month, Amy Truchon was announced as the 2023 ISTE Making IT Happen Awardee! The Making IT Happen Award honors visionary educators and leaders who cultivate connected, empowered learners. Since its inception in 1995, more than 800 educators from around the world have received this award. ISTE and its global affiliates present Making It Happen awards, often to educators and leaders who have helped move ISTE initiatives forward. Each awarding organization chooses its winner(s) internally. There is no nomination process. Winners:
- Turn ISTE’s mission to innovate teaching and learning, accelerate good practice and solve tough problems in education into action.
- Leverage ISTE Standards and programs to create change in learning and teaching.
- Champion progressive edtech planning in the short term, and persevere over time to support large-scale change
In case you missed it and would like to applaud her virtually – here is a short tribute to the Amazing Amy!
Thank you Vermont Lottery! Check out this great collaboration between the Agency of Education and Vermont Lottery! Several weeks ago the Department visited Educate and Innovate award recipient, OnTop Alternative High School, part of the Burlington School District. During the event, students worked with visiting artists to demonstrate their creativity and skill on new music production equipment purchased with Educate and Innovate award funds, made possible through Vermont Lottery contributions. Through a partnership with the Agency of Education, the Educate and Innovate Program is a competitive award that seeks to further school education technology and arts programs. The award is intended to support a practical and deliberate use of technology for increasing student engagement and learning in the creation of meaningful proficiency-based and personalized learning.
New ELO Site Leaders at EMS and SA – Nick Chmura, the long-standing Site Director at SA has stepped into a new role as the EMS Site Director. A segment from a note from Nick to the EMS community: “Having spent 5 plus years as the Afterschool Director at SA, I am committed to fostering a positive and enriching afterschool experience for our students. My goal is to create a supportive and engaging environment that complements the academic curriculum and encourages personal growth and development. I am truly excited to work collaboratively with the dedicated staff, parents, and, most importantly, the students of Edmunds Middle School. Together, I believe we can continue to enhance the afterschool program, providing valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and social development.” Taking the lead at SA Afterschool is Kevin Lewis, formerly the Assistant Site Director at SA. Kevin has a strong background in various nonprofit and youth-centered programs and has already made such a positive impact on the afterschool community at SA. Congratulations, Kevin!
Outright GSA Conference – Students from EMS, SA, BHS and HMS went to Randolph on November 8th to attend the annual Outright VT GSA Conference. Alongside youth from all over the state, BSD students attended workshops in the morning and afternoon. Together we learned about effective organizing, youth empowerment, and queer communities across the state. Thank you to the Office of Equity and all GSA organizers for helping make this happen! Student highlights included making connections with students from other schools, giving out stickers (who doesn’t love free stickers?!), getting lost (and found) on a college campus, and the bus ride.
BSD Student Leaders speak at Annual Rowland Foundation Conference – Racial Justice Academy student leaders were special guest speakers on October 26th at the Davis Center at UVM. They spoke in front of over 400 educators, activists, and community partners. Students Kali Ali, Liban Hassan, Nasra Hassan, Esta Mwibeleca, and Nadia Sylla attended the day-long conference and participated in the am and pm workshops. Their speech focused on youth leadership, do’s and don’ts of youth-adult partnerships, and racial justice. They received a standing ovation and many follow-up kudos and high fives. Check it out!
Smith and Food Services! Second-grade students at C.P. Smith Elementary School participated in the International Outdoor Classroom Day last Thursday, 11/2. Organized by Mrs. Weishaar, Ms. Spinner, and their teams. Students spent the day with their teachers and Food Science Coordinator, Jen Trapani, acknowledging and appreciating the Abenaki homeland their school is built on by cleaning up the school gardens and putting garden beds to bed, making bird and squirrel feeders with dried sunflower heads, making kindness bouquets with garden flowers, and saving seeds like these gorgeous Scarlet Runner beans (pictured below) to plant next season. It was a very full day of hands-on learning, exploring, and community building!
Athletics – Winter Sports are underway across the District! Check out burlingtonathletics.com for events, and follow us on social media @bsdvtathletics.
AOE Policy for Review – Pursuant to Section 4 of Act 29 of 2023, an act relating to school safety, the Agency of Education (AOE), in consultation with stakeholder groups, was required to develop a model policy and procedure regarding the use of behavioral threat assessment teams. This draft model policy is available for review and public comment through today, December 1. The public is invited to provide feedback via mail to aoe.publicinformation@vermont.gov.
Affordable Connectivity Program – The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. Learn more or visit their website to sign up today.
