Hello, Burlington!

Yesterday was another surreal day in our fair town as the Globe article from Monday (updated version here) and news of public participation from the Select Board meeting became national and even international stories.

This is one of those rare occasions where I am a player in the story I’m writing, and I want to be transparent about that. However, if you know me or have been reading the Buzz for any length of time, you know I will report as objectively I can while also acknowledging I have personal involvement in the situation. Always I refer you to primary sources like the actual School Committee meeting (This is a Facebook link because I don’t see the meeting posted on BCAT yet.) if you have questions about context or content.

More community members attended last night’s School Committee meeting to tell their stories and urge the school committee and superintendent, Dr. Conti, to prioritize filling the DEI Director role. Attendees spoke for a full hour and represented many facets of our community.

A high school student, opening up the public participation period, told stories of homophobia they had experienced throughout their time in BPS, starting in elementary school; the student representative to the school committee ended the commenting period by recounting similar experiences. He also reported seeing a TikTok video about this story, where some Burlington students were expressing pride about the disruption.

Other speakers reflected on the use of the flag as a tool of division, with Air Force veteran James Sparks saying, “By weaponizing patriotism, we undermine the very values we claim to hold dear: equality, freedom, and justice for all…this is not what we fought and sacrificed for.”

Presbyterian Church minister, Trina Portillo, read a statement signed by several clergy members, affirming their support for the LGBTQ+ community. “We believe that schools should be a space where all children and youth are safe and protected from discrimination and harm, but queer and trans youth are especially vulnerable,” she said. “Queer pride and national pride are not in conflict with one another, and we should not conflate the two issues.”

Still others responded to claims from some community members that expressions of LGBTQ+ Pride should not be present in schools, arguing the importance of visibility. “Doing something publicly or within your line of vision like wearing rainbows or flying a pride flag is not shoving it down your throat…it’s being normalized, finally and thank goodness,” said Sarah Cawley, parent to four BPS students. Andrea Bono-Bunker, community member and public librarian, added, “These parents may state that a Pride celebration is pushing LGBTQIA+ acceptance down their throat, but the real question is, Why can't they stomach it? We, the LGBTQIA+ community, exist in this world every day, offering valuable contributions, despite being surrounded by heterosexual, cis affirming messaging.”

Another community member shared astonishing youth suicidality statistics from The Trevor Project, adding that acceptance is the single factor that can bring this statistic down from around 45% for queer kids (more  depending on their specific identity) closer to the national average of 8%.

One mom to a sixth grade student remarked that some students wore red, white, and blue to represent their team (each grade has a Red, White, and Blue Team) and stated that, while students who destroyed property or demonstrated intolerance should have consequences, the school should focus on those whose intentions were in the wrong place.

Students and community members who spoke last night emphasized that racism, homophobia, and other forms of intolerance are an ongoing problem in BPS and implored the School Committee and the district to translate their words into actions.

The School Committee and Superintendent publicly commented that they support the LGBTQ+ Community and have a responsibility to make the school environment safe for all its members. Dr. Conti also remarked that his priority was filling the Assistant Superintendent Role and that he will work with Dr. Lisa Chen, whose tenure officially begins on July 1, to create a job posting that will set the BPS community up for success when a DEI Director is officially hired.

Today in Burlington

Meetings and Events

• 12:00-2:00 PM - Eversource Virtual Community Conversation regarding the proposed new substation in Burlington
• 2:00 PM - Board of Health - Tri-Ton Coalition Advisory Board will discuss programs and public health initiatives, including Stop the Bleed training, Narcan training, Hoarding, and more. (virtual)
• 5:30 PM - Select Board Strategic Planning Session, where they’ll discuss a large handful of things including the Trash & Recycling program proposal, Seasonal Decorative Streetlight Banners, $20,000 for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training, and more. They’ll also get an update on the Police Station Feasibility Study and Government Review. (Grand View Farm)
• 6:00 PM - Burlington Scholarship Fund will recap this year’s process and start planning for next year. (Grand View Tavern)
• 6:00 PM - Zoning Bylaw Review Committee will review warrant article drafts for September, review signage articles, and hear updates about the Mall Road Rezoning Initiative, the Town Common Electronic Sign, and more. (virtual)
• 7:00 PM - Library Fables & Fantasies Book Club: Legends and Lattes with the author! (5 spaces still available; Register)

Sports and Activities

Our softball team plays their final four game tonight at 5:00 in Westfield. We’re rooting for you, girls!

That’s all for today. Have a good one, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Nicci