October 23, 2026
Dear BSD Community,
This week I’ve been reflecting on our commitment to equity and inclusion and how we live out those values across BSD. One way we show this commitment is through the flagpole at each school. In 2021, our School Board decided that all BSD schools would display the Black Lives Matter flag as a sign that students of the Global Majority are affirmed, honored, and empowered in our schools. Additionally, several of our schools fly the Pride flag to align with our commitment to the safety and inclusion of LGBTQ+ students. While we know ongoing work is needed to ensure these values are genuinely felt across our community, these flags highlight our commitments and values.
On Monday, we discovered that the Black Lives Matter and the Pride flags had been removed from the Edmunds Campus flagpole and discarded on the ground. The flagpole was also vandalized in a way that prevents the American Flag from being lowered.
It is incredibly frustrating that someone would undermine these symbols of belonging. I want you to know that this act only strengthens our resolve. Racism, discrimination, and hate have no place in our schools.
Fortunately, our middle and elementary school students are turning this into an opportunity to unite. Our EMS students are organizing a public celebration, and elementary students are eager to help. We have already secured the equipment needed to fix the flagpole, which will be here Monday.
Once repairs are complete, students will rally together at Edmunds to re-raise the flags, and as a superintendent, I couldn’t be more proud of their leadership.
In solidarity,
Tom
PS – Don’t forget to join me for Coffee with Tom, Friday, November 20th. 8AM at the Skinny Pancake with special guest Lauren Klaffky, Executive Director of School Leadership.
Screen Time, Tech Use, and AI – Technology in education is a hot topic in districts across the state and country. Before COVID, we began expanding technology access as an equity imperative, and the pandemic accelerated that work, bringing our entire district to 1:1. While we are no longer 1:1, today, tech is deeply embedded in everything we do.
As these tools evolve, we face important questions together. And I have asked the teaching and learning team to collaborate with teachers, students, and families on developing updated guidelines and practices. In the meantime, I’ve asked staff to continue to be mindful of technology, to only use it to intentionally support student learning (not as breaks and rewards, unless it’s in students’ individual plans), and to have students off screens as much as possible.
Artificial Intelligence adds another important dimension to this work. A District work group began meeting last spring to provide clarity and make suggestions on how our district operates. They are also developing an AI procedure that establishes initial expectations around purposeful use, academic integrity, equity, privacy, human accountability, developmental readiness, and critical evaluation of AI-generated information. Importantly, they emphasize that AI should function as a tool—not as a substitute for human relationships, professional judgment, student thinking, or authentic skill development.
With that in mind, here are the next steps for this year’s work:
- Analyze our current practices across schools and grade levels, engaging educators, students, and families in this process.
- Develop districtwide procedures (expectations or guidance) for schools and educators for SY 2027-28.
- Track developing state-level legislation related to technology and AI, which could result in Policy development.
Remembering Kyle Toof – This week, longtime BSD employee Kyle Toof passed away after a long battle with illness. Kyle will be remembered as a kind and caring employee, whose work ethic was nearly unmatched. As our transportation coordinator, Kyle was the first in the building and the last one to leave, and he built genuine, lasting relationships with families, students, and staff. He will be sincerely missed by all of us who knew him, and our hearts and thoughts are with his family.
BSD and GBYMCA Partner to Teach Water Safety – BSD and Greater Burlington YMCA are once again partnering to meet student needs. With the launch of a new Safety Around Water Program, all 232 Burlington fourth graders will take part in the Y’s formal swim program this year! Designed to teach water safety and reduce the risk of drowning, the lessons cover water acclimation, water movement, and water stamina in a beginner, intermediate, and advanced level sequence. Big thanks to WCAX-TV for talking to Sustainability Academy students about what this means for them… learn more on our website!
Monsanto Lawsuit – Our lawsuit against Monsanto is moving forward, and trial is scheduled for January 19 in Burlington federal court in front of Judge Reiss, who has given us three weeks for trial. We will pick a jury that day and likely do opening statements. We remain optimistic that we will be able to hold Monsanto accountable for the harm they caused our students, staff, and community.
Seahorse Origin Story – If you’ve been in the new high school, you’ve seen the seahorse logo nearly everywhere! But where did our modern seahorse icon come from, and who designed it? We are pleased to share the origin story of the seahorse and will be forever grateful to Lynn Lantz for her artwork that has become a true community asset.
The Story of the Seahorse
Lynn Lantz
In 2008, my son was involved in student council and asked me late one evening if I could design a banner for the football team to tear through at a game the following night. I’m a graphic designer, so I sat down and put something together. At the last minute, he asked if I could add the school’s mascot, a seahorse, to it.
I looked for a stock image of a seahorse a little more modern than the one the school had been using but couldn’t find one I liked, so I opened Adobe Illustrator and quickly sketched one myself. I was fussing with the tail when my son put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Mom. Once the football team crashes through the banner, no one will ever see it again.”
I sent the file for the banner to his school email, and shortly afterward his advisor asked if he could use the seahorse on a report cover. I was happy to share the vector artwork with him, never imagining that little sketch would have a life beyond that.
Over the next few years, I began to notice the seahorse taking on a life of its own. I encountered it all over the community — I found it on the school district’s website, on banners, shirts and caps, uniforms, bumper stickers, and even incorporated into brushed steel on the athletic complex! When I toured the new school before it opened, I was amazed to see it throughout the campus: on classroom door signs, at the center of the gym floor, and in other permanent installations.
I am genuinely pleased that the seahorse has been embraced so wholeheartedly. There is something wonderful about the fact that a drawing made late one night for a football banner has become part of the identity and history of the school. Go Seahorses!
Subscribable Calendars – You can now subscribe to BSD’s calendar so that it syncs with your devices. Visit www.bsdvt.org/calendar to get started. EES, Smith, BTC, SA, and EMS have also added this capability!
Universal Screener Results – We want every child in Burlington School District to become a successful reader. In 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 139, which focuses on strengthening reading instruction and making sure students receive support as early as possible when they need it. As part of this law, Vermont schools are required to give a reading test, known as a universal literacy screener, to students in kindergarten through third grade at least once each year. We use Renaissance Star Assessments as our universal literacy screener in BSD. In September, we screened students in grades 1 through 5. In the winter and spring, we will screen students in kindergarten through grade 5. You will be receiving your child’s fall results via mail and email. If you need the results interpreted, please contact your multilingual liaison.
Reading to End Racism – The Reading to End Racism (RER) literacy program will return to Burlington’s elementary schools next month! RER is designed to engage PK-5 students with books and personal stories that lead to discussions about Black Excellence, Black History, and eliminating racism, harassment, bullying, and discrimination. This book list is a sample of some of the books that will be read.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program – We’re excited to share that we have received funding to offer the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at all Burlington elementary schools! We plan to begin next week, featuring local yellow cauliflower and red and yellow peppers. This program gives students the opportunity to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day, explore new foods, and build healthy eating habits.
Restorative Practices Institute – In August, BSD held a three-day Restorative Practices Summer Institute. The 2026 RPI brought together 36 BSD educators and staff to strengthen knowledge of restorative practices, build cross-school relationships, and develop school-based implementation plans. Linked is a document that summarizes participant feedback and implementation priorities from the RPI.
Electric Buses! We were informed that we have won a grant in the amount of $800,000 for two new electric buses! We will be meeting with the folks from Highland Fleets to work out the many details we will need to work through to install the charging infrastructure and many other things that will add to our to-do list. This grant is part of the VW emissions settlement.
Puberty Lessons Coming Soon! 4th and 5th grade will be taught one lesson on puberty in November or December by Nurse Practitioner Celia Bird, with a second lesson for 5th grade taught in January or February. Communication will go out to 4th, 5th, unified arts, and special education teachers the week of October 26th.
October 1 Snapshot – Each year we will pull our enrollment numbers from the first of October. That number is used for reporting to the AOE, applying for grants, and planning our budget. We have a slightly higher percentage of students with IEPs and a slightly lower percentage of multilingual students and students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Though we are down 24 students from last year, overall, enrollment is relatively stable.
- 33 fewer high school-aged students, mainly due to the fact that the entering 9th grade class is smaller than the exited 12th grade class.
- 10% (27 fewer) K-5 students at IAA; they have only 1 K class.
- 17 more in our PK programs (12% increase)
- All other schools have stable or slightly increased enrollment.
NEW PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Concussion Action Plan
Facilities Rental Procedure and Rates
Substance Use Procedures
Student Accident – First Report
Student Immunizations
SA Thank You Song to Custodians -This year, students at Sustainability Academy have been exploring systems- smaller parts that come together to make a whole. In music class, we have been discussing how people in society collaborate to make our community run, and we decided to highlight some very important workers with a remix of our original Thank You Song. In honor of Custodian Appreciation Day, we wrote, produced, and performed a song of gratitude to SA’s beloved Mr. Sonam and Mr. Jim.
Simon Parlante Honored by VYCC – This past summer, seven BHS students participated in VYCC programs, including two students who returned after participating the previous summer. One student was a recent BHS graduate, providing an especially meaningful example of how the partnership can extend beyond graduation and support students as they transition into adult employment and community life. Three students also completed an eight-week AmeriCorps position, gaining an extended experience with workplace expectations, responsibility, and service. This growing partnership was recently recognized by VYCC, which honored Simon Parlante as an Outstanding Community Partner for his work connecting BHS students with VYCC opportunities.
Building Connections Through Soccer: Edmunds & BHS Girls Soccer Come Together! A great day for girls soccer as the Edmunds Middle School girls soccer program joined forces with the BHS Girls Soccer team for a fun afternoon of training, teamwork, and building connections! It was great to see our younger players working alongside our high school athletes and sharing their love for the game. One program, one community, one love for soccer! Go Seahorses! ⚽💙 Jeff, Al, Anna, Andrew, MK & Leslie
Transportation Models at SA – What systems work to transport people and things around our city? Do you walk? Scoot? Drive? Bike? Sustainability Academy fourth graders have been investigating all the parts of the transportation system in our town. After collecting data from out in the community and talking with local businesses, we have been making 2D and 3D maps and models of transportation in our community. Sustainably rethinking transportation systems requires an understanding of how people move and where they need to go.
