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MLK Day, A Half-day in BSD: Note from Superintendent Obeng

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Greetings BSD Community,

“Each year, on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is observed as a ‘day on, not a day off.’ MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a ‘Beloved Community.’ ” -The Corporation for National and Community Service

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a profound figure in American and world history; BSD believes this day should be reflected as so.

In my time here schools have been closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Initially, I was pleased that this day was recognized in BSD and in the community. However, over the past three years, I have made a conscious effort to ask students how they recognized the day. While some of our students engage in celebrations or service in the community, my experience has been one in which I have mostly been met with answers like: “I stayed home and played video games.” or “Why did we have the day off?”.

Last year when developing the new school calendars, the senior leadership team and I had many conversations about the impact, from an educational standpoint, of MLK Day. I expressed to our team that I feel we are not doing enough in BSD to recognize this day, the individual, or the meaning of service as expressed by Dr. King, and was met with great support.

Together, we decided that for the first time in many years we will have a half-day of school on MLK Day to ensure every student is exposed to content relating to the significance of the person and the day.

Our vision for this day is that students are first brought together to intentionally focus on the importance of Dr. King, racial equality, service, and love; and ideally, students are leading some of these conversations and driving the curriculum where appropriate. (Talk to your local school administrator to learn more.)

After spending this time together, we want to encourage our students and staff to go into the community and implement the day’s teachings. We hope our community will consider serving, learning more, or celebrating with others throughout the community at events like the CEDO-led Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at ECHO (featuring BSD students again this year).

In addition to this celebration at ECHO, there are numerous volunteer efforts in our community, including those listed in the resources below. I encourage our teachers and staff to share these resources (and any others you know of) with students, friends, and neighbors. And for those who are able to do so, I hope these resources or this conversation allows you to find a way to plug in.

Recognizing the day in this fashion reflects the BSD Vision: “Cultivating caring, creative and courageous people. Join the journey!”

Thank you for listening and for being engaged.

– Superintendent Obeng

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Additional Resources:
United Way (Volunteer opportunities)

Corporation for National and Community Service (Volunteer opportunities)

GBMRC 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance (Community event)

Climate Survey Results Show Strengths and Areas for Improvement in BSD

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District to work with staff and community on next steps. 

Find all survey results here.

In 2017, Burlington School District (BSD) embarked on a community-led strategic plan planning process. Part of that work revealed the need to conduct a District-wide Climate Survey to better understand how the district and individual schools engage with students, families, and staff. BSD spent the spring of 2018 conducting climate surveys, with more than 2,000 staff, students, and parents participating. The results of the survey, available on the District’s website, point to areas of strength and areas where growth is needed. http://www.bsdvt.org/climate-survey/

Superintendent Obeng noted that the District is in the process of presenting the data to each school, leaders throughout the district, the school board, central office, parents and the community. After each group has a chance to analyze and reflect on the information, the District will begin working together with stakeholders to set aspirational goals for improving the District’s learning and working environments.

“Acknowledging the data is the first step in building environmental coherence, and now that we have this quantitative data, we are working hard combine it with what we know from our qualitative efforts, and to dissect and learn from it,” said Superintendent Yaw Obeng. The Superintendent noted that the full reports for the District and each school are available on the website and that each report has a significant amount of information.

“It’s going to take some time to unpack all of the data, but on the surface, we are seeing that a few things are obvious. For example, the data suggests staff and parents believe that differences are respected in our district. This is very important to us because of the diversity we have and our desire to address the inequities of our district. Understanding and valuing one another’s differences helps us to improve student learning. However, parents and teachers seem to agree that the district has not been equitable in how it distributes resources across the district, and many do not believe the district feels like a positive community.”

Obeng noted that central office has already begun to support some restorative work currently underway on the District level. “As a result of our preliminary review, the leadership team has been working to incorporate a theme of building healthy relationships into the 2018-19 school year, starting with a districtwide in-service day focused on building healthy relationships among staff on August 24th. In addition, the entire year’s districtwide professional development opportunities have been dedicated to Restorative Practices.”

Obeng also noted that the District is taking a deeper look at why stakeholders feel resources are not allocated in an equitable fashion. “This is important for us to understand, especially as we enter this year’s budget process. I know we did a better job this year than in the past of holding public input sessions and trying to spread the word, particularly to sectors of our community that have gone unreached in the past. We are considering these improvements and trying to make our outreach even better going forward.”

Obeng encouraged stakeholders to review the data and begin thinking about and identifying ways to help improve BSD’s climate and culture. The District is planning to make an official presentation to the board at the November board meeting.

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Burlington School District (BSD) is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 4,000 students in Burlington, VT. BSD’s mission is to graduate students who: value different cultures, engage with the community, communicate effectively, think creatively, skillfully solve problems, and achieve at their highest academic, intellectual, and personal potential.

Student Update Form and Free/Reduced Meal Application

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It is time to prepare for the 2018-19 school year! We need to gather accurate information about each student and family in our schools. It is very important we have this information to ensure the safety of all students, fulfill state requirements, receive State and Federal funding, and communicate important messages to families.

The District requires that all student information be updated for the 2018-19 school year using our online system, PowerSchool. All families must use their PowerSchool account to update information and complete the yearly mandated forms, including: Field Trip, Media Permission, Dismissal, Health forms (and Lunch forms, if applicable). Student information can only be updated online by families; it cannot be updated by your school or the District. Please do this during the next few weeks by following the steps below.

NOTE: If student information is not updated by Tuesday, September 4th (the fourth day of school) that student will not be allowed to attend school until their update is complete. If a student without updated information comes to school on September 4th he/she will be sent home.

Here follow the instructions below to complete the Annual Student Update Form or fill out the Free and Reduced Meals Application.

Annual Student Update

Many of you already have a PowerSchool account connected to your students; you can update your student information on your own. Follow the steps below to do so.

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION:

To update your students’ information on your own, please follow the steps below.

Step 1. Go to the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://psapp.bsdvt.org/public

or visit the district web page at www.bsdvt.org then click on the PowerSchool link in the upper right-hand corner.

Step 2. If you already have an account, skip to Step 3. If you don’t have an account, create one by clicking on Create Account and follow the steps. You will need an email address in order to do this. Once your account is created, log in by using your username and password that you just created.

Step 3. Connect to your students by doing one of the following steps:

a) If your student’s name is shown on the bar in the upper left corner, click on the student’s name then click the 18-19 Student Update Form and complete the information. Once you finish with this student, move on to the next student.  All students must be updated one at a time.

b) If your child’s name doesn’t appear, click on Account Preferences, then click on Students. Enter your student’s name, your access ID and access password. Then select your relationship to your student through the Relationship drop down.  Once your student is added to your account, click on 18-19 Student Update form and complete all information. All students must be updated one at a time.

c) Click Submit when you are finished with the update form.

d) You are now on the confirmation page. If your child attends Champlain, Edmunds Elementary or Middle School, or Burlington High School, or the Burlington Tech Center, PLEASE click on the Apply Now link to apply for free or reduced lunch.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

  1. Come to or call your student’s school during the school day and ask for help there.

  2. Come to our Central Office location at 150 Colchester Ave.

Free and Reduced Meals Application

The Free and Reduced Meals Application should only be filled out for students attending:
Burlington High School
Burlington Technical Center
Champlain Elementary
Edmunds Elementary
Edmunds Middle

Click here to fill out the Free and Reduced Meals Application

Student Update Form and Free/Reduced Meal Application

By

It is time to prepare for the 2018-19 school year! We need to gather accurate information about each student and family in our schools. It is very important we have this information to ensure the safety of all students, fulfill state requirements, receive State and Federal funding, and communicate important messages to families.

The District requires that all student information be updated for the 2018-19 school year using our online system, PowerSchool. All families must use their PowerSchool account to update information and complete the yearly mandated forms, including: Field Trip, Media Permission, Dismissal, Health forms (and Lunch forms, if applicable). Student information can only be updated online by families; it cannot be updated by your school or the District. Please do this during the next few weeks by following the steps below.

NOTE: If student information is not updated by Tuesday, September 4th (the fourth day of school) that student will not be allowed to attend school until their update is complete. If a student without updated information comes to school on September 4th he/she will be sent home.

Here follow the instructions below to complete the Annual Student Update Form or fill out the Free and Reduced Meals Application.

Annual Student Update

Many of you already have a PowerSchool account connected to your students; you can update your student information on your own. Follow the steps below to do so.

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION:

To update your students’ information on your own, please follow the steps below.

Step 1. Go to the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://psapp.bsdvt.org/public

or visit the district web page at www.bsdvt.org then click on the PowerSchool link in the upper right-hand corner.

Step 2. If you already have an account, skip to Step 3. If you don’t have an account, create one by clicking on Create Account and follow the steps. You will need an email address in order to do this. Once your account is created, log in by using your username and password that you just created.

Step 3. Connect to your students by doing one of the following steps:

a) If your student’s name is shown on the bar in the upper left corner, click on the student’s name then click the 18-19 Student Update Form and complete the information. Once you finish with this student, move on to the next student.  All students must be updated one at a time.

b) If your child’s name doesn’t appear, click on Account Preferences, then click on Students. Enter your student’s name, your access ID and access password. Then select your relationship to your student through the Relationship drop down.  Once your student is added to your account, click on 18-19 Student Update form and complete all information. All students must be updated one at a time.

c) Click Submit when you are finished with the update form.

d) You are now on the confirmation page. If your child attends Champlain, Edmunds Elementary or Middle School, or Burlington High School, or the Burlington Tech Center, PLEASE click on the Apply Now link to apply for free or reduced lunch.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

  1. Come to or call your student’s school during the school day and ask for help there.

  2. Come to our Central Office location at 150 Colchester Ave.

Free and Reduced Meals Application

The Free and Reduced Meals Application should only be filled out for students attending:
Burlington High School
Burlington Technical Center
Champlain Elementary
Edmunds Elementary
Edmunds Middle

Click here to fill out the Free and Reduced Meals Application

FREE Summer Lunches in Burlington for All Kids 18 and Under

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Beginning Monday, June 25th, lunch will be provided at no charge any child age 18 and under at a variety of Burlington Schools and other locations around the city. No fees. No registration. Just show up!

Lunches are provided via the Burlington School Food Project, a program of the Burlington School District. Any child can come to any of the following participating sites, regardless of what town, or state, they live in.

Burlington High School
52 Institute Road, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30pm
Dates: 6/25-8/17

Fletcher Free Library
235 College Street, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Thursday
11:45-12:30pm
Dates: 6/25-8/16

Franklin Square
1Franklin Square, North Avenue
Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30pm
Snack: Monday-Friday
5:00-7:00 pm
Dates: 6/25-8/17

JJ Flynn Elementary
1645 North Avenue, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30pm
Dates: 7/2-8/3

Integrated Arts Academy
@ HO Wheeler
6 Archibald Street
Supper:  Tuesdays
4:30-5:30pm
Dates: 6/26, 7/3, 7/10, 7/17,
7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14

LC Hunt Middle School
1364 North Avenue, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30pm
Dates: 6/25-8/3

Riverside Neighborhood
669 Riverside Avenue, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30
Dates: 6/25-8/17

Roosevelt Park
57 Oak Street, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
11:30-12:30pm
Supper: Pizza in the Park
Monday-Friday
5:15-6:15pm
Dates: 6/25-8/17

South Meadow Apartments
South Meadow Drive, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30pm
Dates: 6/25-8/17

Sustainability Academy
@ Lawrence Barnes
123 North Street, Burlington
Lunch: Monday-Friday
12:00-12:30 pm
Dates: 6/25-8/3

For more information on dates, locations, and meal times call (802) 864-8416 or visit www.burlingtonschoolfoodproject.org

Call 2-1-1 for information on free summer lunches for kids across Vermont.

Text  mealsVT  to 8770877 for information on lunch sites nearest you.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form

(AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.  To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)        Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2)        Fax: (202)690-7442; or
(3)        Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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Burlington School District (BSD) is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 4,000 students in Burlington, VT. BSD’s mission is to graduate students who: value different cultures, engage with the community, communicate effectively, think creatively, skillfully solve problems, and achieve at their highest academic, intellectual, and personal potential.

BSD Climate Survey

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We need your help! Our District-wide Climate Survey is live and we need to hear from you! Please follow this link to our Climate Survey page to have your voice heard today.

About the Effort

BSD continues to work towards building a stronger relationship with all parents/guardians, students, staff and teachers throughout our school community. As part of this work, we are conducting two district-wide climate surveys: A school-focused NCSS Climate Survey as well as District-Administration and Central Office Climate Survey.  These surveys are a direct response to the district Strategic Plan forums and the focus on some of the goals which came out of that process regarding Equitable Culture and Climate and Inclusive Teaching and Learning.

We hope you will take a little bit of time to join us in this critical effort! Please see below for more information on the surveys and directions on how to participate in each.

Thank you for taking the time to “Join the Journey” and participate in this critical exercise. Visit our Climate Survey page today to learn more and take the surveys.

UPDATE: Community Events!

Need access to the survey or help filling it out? Join us on Thursday, May 24th from 5:30 -7:30 PM in our school libraries. We will have open computers, and volunteers and translators will be present to help. Children are welcome and all attendees will be entered into a raffle!

What: Climate Survey Community Gathering
When: Thursday, May 24th from 5:30 -7:30 PM
Where: The libraries at CP Smith, Edmunds Elementary, Champlain Elementary, Sustainability Academy, the Integrated Arts Academy, Flynn Elementary, Hunt Middle School, Edmunds Middle School and Burlington High School.
Questions about the Community Gatherings? Contact us today.

“Love Your Neighbor Day” April 3rd

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In response to the international threat that has been directed towards the Muslim community, and particularly in response to the rhetoric of April 3rd being referred to as “Punish a Muslim Day,” BSD has dedicated April 3rd  as “Love Your Neighbor Day” in the Burlington School District. Staff are being asked to engage students and coworkers in meaningful and critical dialogue around diversity and inclusivity and the benefits of living, working, and learning together in harmony.

District’s DEALT team stands ready to support teachers, staff, and administrators in the efforts to have these conversations, and they have compiled a list of resources. Those who want to learn more about these resources can refer to the School Board’s 2017 Equity Reaffirmation Letter or the ‘All Are Welcome’ logo created by the BHS International Club for inspiration, or contact Miriam Ehtesham-Cating or any member of the DEALT team at – dealt (at) bsdvt (dot) org .

Please join us as we seek to reiterate to our students, faculty, and staff that “All are Welcome” and that we are a community bound together by mutual respect and love.

Voters Pass School Budget!

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“Thank you, Burlington, for your continued support!” says Superintendent Obeng.

On March 6th, 2018, Town Meeting Day, Burlington voters overwhelmingly approved Burlington School District’s proposed 2018-2019 budget. The budget passed with 72% of all votes cast in favor of its passage!

“On behalf of the School District, I want to thank everyone who voted on Town Meeting Day,” says Superintendent Yaw Obeng. “We are pleased our community turned out to support the budget and we look forward to using these resources to implement our strategic goals, as we strive to reduce disparities in the system, and close the achievement gap while raising the bar for all of our students. There’s work to be done and we’re excited to continue in our efforts.”

“For the past five months, the Burlington Board of School Commissioners has worked diligently to put forth and advocate for a school budget we believe will help our District achieve our goals while staying mindful of the impacts our budget has on the greater community,” said Board Chair Stephanie Seguino. “It took a lot of time and effort, and we wholeheartedly thank the voters for their support by passing this budget. I look forward to watching the Board’s new leadership work with the administration to accomplish the District’s goals.”

Beyond Black History Month

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Continuing in the spirit of inclusive curriculum, and recognizing that Black History does not end when March begins, an inclusive Burlington School District-wide event will take place at the Burlington High School on March 9, 2018 at 6 PM to continue – not conclude – the community’s momentum in expanding dialogues, shifting perspectives, and boldly addressing present day injustices.

Join our students and staff for an evening of conversation, education and reflection. Featuring music from a Sustainability Academy, CP Smith, and Integrated Arts Academy combined choir, a conversation from the Social Justice Union, and the dance team at BHS. Attendees can also watch as the team from Hunt Middle School participates in a Restorative Practices Circle, or visit with a variety of our community partners in attendance.

Child care and refreshments will be provided.

Get more information or let others know that you’re coming!

Safety Note

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Dear Parents,

I want to take minute to remind you that safety in our schools is paramount and we look to refine and improve on daily basis. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Burlington School District has established emergency procedures which are routinely reinforced and reviewed, and our safety teams did spend additional time looking through them today and identifying any soft spots.
  • We have well established monitoring practices and safety dialog with Burlington Police Department and district representatives meet with them regularly.
  • Teachers and staff are aware of reporting protocols in the event of any threatening behavior.
  • Students who are identified as having maladaptive behavior and social emotional challenges are referred to the appropriate social agency and authority. We have had success monitoring and directing students for supports.
  • Please contact your school directly if you have any suggestions or concerns regarding safety. If you see something, say something.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please feel free to contact my office if you have questions about anything above that cannot be answered by your school.

-Superintendent Yaw Obeng

Contact Info

OnTop Alternative Program
52 Institute Road
Burlington, VT 05408

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Tel: (802) 864-8496

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Cultivating caring, creative and courageous people. Join the journey!