Parents Call for Accountability After "Inappropriate" Survey Administered at School

Burlington parents voiced their anger at a recent school committee meeting over a controversial survey that was given to middle and high school students. They're calling the district’s version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) "inappropriate," saying it contained explicit sexual definitions presumptive questions.

The YRBS, which consists of national survey questions as well as a state- and/or locally-specific survey, was established in 1991 as a way to monitor nationwide trends in risk behavior among youth. Burlington and surrounding districts felt the state-wide survey results were skewed by the larger metropolitan areas, said Superintendent Dr. Eric Conti, and the district along with the rest of the Middlesex League, worked with Lahey Health to develop a locally-specific biannual survey a few years ago.

The survey was reviewed by the district’s Wellness Committee in 2023 prior to its first administration, said Dr. Conti, but not reviewed again this year. Conti also said the company that created the survey updated definitions (which included descriptions of multiple different sex acts) prior to this year’s administration, a statement later refuted by parent Gerry Carney who, speaking during public participation, said he had screenshots from the 2023 administration and only one new definition was added. Kearney also disagreed with the framing of some of the questions, including some which he said presume kids as young as 11 are using alcohol and flavored tobacco products.

Ahead of this year’s administration, the district sent a message via ParentSquare (the district’s messaging platform) announcing the use of the survey and inviting parents to opt their students out of the survey, which the district communication said was optional. Many parents reported not seeing the communication at all, while others reported that they did in fact opt their children out of the survey but their request was not honored. Dr. Conti said that through conversations with Mr. McMahon, the principal of Marshall Simonds Middle School, he learned that there were “four cases where the opt-out wasn’t honored” and offered apologies to any families for whom that was the case.

Many of the parents present to speak during public participation, however, said they did in fact opt their student out and while some requests were honored others weren’t. Cheryl Sheehan said her son was allowed to opt out, but was still exposed to the survey questions by a friend in class who showed him a survey question and searched the internet for some of the terms included in the definitions.

Other parents accused the district of deliberately hiding the opt-out for the survey so parents wouldn’t see it and expressed disillusionment with the district’s commitment to serving all students. “The damage has been done,” said Keri Malm, because kids are now talking about these topics. Many demanded accountability, calling for the resignation or firing of School Committee and Wellness Committee members who they say should have reviewed the survey and halted its administration in light of the nature of some of the questions.

School Committee members acknowledged and said they share parent concerns.

Jeremy Brooks expressed concerns with how this survey, which is anonymous, conflicts with mandated reporting laws if a student says they’ve experienced abuse. He also called for swift action including attaching the entirety of any district-administered survey with the opt-out message that goes to parents. Meghan Nawoichik advocated for an informed consent process, where parents have to opt their kids in explicitly, rather than an implied consent that requires parent action to opt a student out. Melissa Massardo said she feels the survey is an important one but would support the above measures to ensure student safety and comfort.

Chair Christine Monaco said the survey was inappropriate and shouldn’t have gone out to middle schoolers as it was. Throughout the meeting, she suggested that the district might stop using the survey altogether or at the very least would update their policies around administration, though she said the Committee would discuss specifics at a future meeting.