 Good evening and welcome to ongoing election coverage from town meeting television today We're welcoming uncontested candidates in Burlington school commissioner election For this round of elections the north southeast and west districts all unopposed will be on the ballot Today, I'll be joined by Kathleen all well Who's the curriculum and personnel committee co-chair and Jean waltz the diversity equity inclusion committee co-chair? Also on the ballot will be Jeffrey wick and Kendra sewers who are not able to join us this evening and this will You'll be voting for four of the 12th person Burlington school commissioner seat So this is one of the many forms that we're bringing you in advance of local elections and town meeting television And of course town meeting will take place on that first Tuesday in March March 2nd 2021 town meeting days that time over monitors go to the polls and weigh in on local government representation Municipal budgets school budgets local ballot items and all the candidates that will be on ballots have been invited to participate in town meeting television selection of forums We're seeking to introduce you tonight to some of the key issues and the candidates and their thoughts and ideas So you can go to those polls informed. You can also participate tonight By calling in at 8 0 2 8 6 2 3 9 6 6 again That's 8 0 2 8 6 2 3 9 6 6 We welcome Your calls if you're watching this on the 19th of February at 5 30 or about there Please note that when you do ask a question, we'll frame it to all candidates. Everybody will have an opportunity to answer Since we're not in direct Competition so to speak tonight. We'll give candidates a couple minutes to answer each question and rotate through a number of pre-selected questions for folks and everybody will open to with a one-minute opening statement So again, we welcome you to town meeting day forums Hope you've made your plans to vote and tonight we'll dive in and welcome our two candidates for border linkedin school commission seats Kathy all will welcome gene waltz. Welcome So we'll start off with you with an opening statement to tell us a little bit about while you're running and the Experience has been on the board so far And what would you like to do if you're reelected? Okay Oh, hello, my name is Kathy all well And I'm the east district candidate representing wards one and eight I live in ward one and I've been on the board for four and a half years I've been on the curriculum committee and personnel committee as I co-chair those both and I I've also been On the board back in the 90s for three or four years I am Besides being on the curriculum and personnel committee I also often go to the diversity equity inclusion committee And I've also been working on the weighted study coalition, which is the weighted which is comes under the finance committee So I'm running for a third term As I am very interested in the path our new superintendent along with the community Will take the district and from what I have seen so far. I am very encouraged so those I I'm looking forward to Joining with the community and deciding in the next half year or so where they want and The administration want to take The school district. I find that a very Exciting thing to do with the community. And so that's why I've We up for another two years Thank you, Kathy. Oh well, jean waltz. We'll go to you next Hi, my name is jean waltz. I also go by jeannie. No preference um, I represent the central district which are wards two and three, uh, which would be The integrated arts academy and the sustainability academy And I've actually lived in both ward two and three um for 30 years now and um, I've worked in uh, a lot of the different schools my first my first jobs in The late 80s was working at burlington high school in the diversified occupations program So I've been involved with um the schools for about but I I teach at a private non-profit school called rock point um, and I've been there for 21 years. I also do, uh, this thing called the ramble, which is the celebration of creativity and community of the old north end and unfortunately With the pandemic we've been on a hiatus But um, yeah, I've been coordinating that um for a couple years and also, you know But I've been involved with it since 2004. Um, I uh, this will be my third time on the ballot. I actually first got elected through special elections. Um When somebody left early and uh, so this is like my 2.5 year And I am re upping Mostly because I feel like I just am getting my feet wet There is a tremendous learning curve that goes along with um Learning everything. I mean, and I mean everything everything about how the school runs everything about how These meetings operate. Uh, it's you know, there's a lot of different Layers of Understanding how you can implement change so and also understanding what needs to be changed I as Kathy Mentioned I've been a part of the diversity equity and inclusion committee. I've only been co-chairing that I think since last April and also like Kathy uh joined the The weighted pupil study coalition and that's been that's basically like having another committee, but it meets weekly And yeah, that's probably about a minute long. Don't worry Take up too much time. Thank you Great. So extensive community involvement on both cases outside of your participation on the school board as well impressive Can you tell us a little bit about the school budget? Do you support the budget as it's presented on the ballot and Kathy? We'll start with you this time Yes, I do. I totally support it. We We've worked both the school the administration the staff and the board In going from what was in the beginning sometime in january. It was sitting at 13 percent increase in school budget Due to the funding that we were not getting And that we had to make up and We culled it down to at the moment. It said 6.88 percent. So I feel like we have done everything imaginable to pull it down as far as we could We have gotten word that most likely What the taxpayers will see on the on the ballot will be even less than 6.88 percent because there should be more money coming from the state But we are not sure how much so what it is on the ballot is 688 But what people will see in their bills will probably be less so and I feel like we have done it without touching children as not Having to cut staff. We've cut Empty positions that haven't been filled or couldn't be filled, but we have not Staff at all in this budget Thank you. Kathy and gene. How about you? Do you support the school budget as presented? I do very much and um, so Kathy talked about more or less the deductions or the conservative part of the budget. So that's a perfect opportunity for me to talk about the additions and one being something that the diversity equity and inclusion committee worked really hard to bring awareness around and to drum up support and Hopefully we'll have a policy in place this summer around The multilingual liaisons being a year round position You know, I don't want to go too much into it, but basically This this these folks work around Work year round, but they weren't compensated for that and obviously that felt just not morally I mean more than morally incorrect, but also um, we need the them to be available Especially during the summer when all of this planning is taking place. There's no way to Have all of those things happen in preparation for kids It's starting school in the fall without their their expertise their skills and And they're just such a huge part of the the educational community it seemed Basically what the committee wants to do is essentially solidify their rule and strengthen it and create more stability and more Predictability for them as employees but also for the educational community And then the other thing is supporting the superintendent Implement not implemented, but crafting or organizing a strategic plan and I Like Kathy have really Appreciated our new superintendents Everything I want him to stay I want for us to as board but also as a community to support his work and his vision and um, those that funding is gonna is going to do that and it's I think it's really important for us to sustain leadership I mean especially after Some of the snake. I'm sure you know, we're going to get into it at some point, but yeah, this is really important for us to Talk about retention Right. So a great reminder as to voters to Educate themselves both on the candidates on the ballot, but also the budget um as a whole Something we've all said quite a bit this year is unprecedented. I imagine the education world's Been no different in that regard. Can you talk a little bit about uh, pandemic learning? What impacts have has the pandemic had on learning and the students for students in the burlington school district? And what would you and your role in the school board due to address those impacts? Hopefully not too much longer, but What do you think needs to be done there and gene? We'll start with you first this time Well, of course we have so much hope in Going back to in-person learning at downtown bhs downtown former macy's um I want to acknowledge how heartbreaking it's been for parents and and how negatively affected some of our students are um For those that weren't involved in the sports program in the fall uh, it was pretty hard to get them to have that Outlet during the day that kind of Not just fostered a sense of community, but like, you know, got them out of their own head And out of their pajamas um, so yeah, there's there's I mean what how things are affecting kids Of course, it's a concern. Of course, we're doing what we can and of course what we can do is really limited so um Just moving forward with whatever we can obviously the board is supporting any kind of recommendations that come down from the cabinet or the leadership folks, uh There's been no hesitation to support any kind of Change or implementation that is going to um You know further their experience like for example Looking looking at edmonds to to have the high school kids there on wednesdays. Um Oh, is that answer is there was there a second part to that question? Oh, I think you got out of it Maybe we'll give Kathy a shot as well and see if we tie those together Kathy education in in in these pandemic times Well, I think The pandemic has certainly made it very hard Being online and having kids on screens for all day is not exactly A wonderful thing especially for real young children But they've been doing it and many of them have been in school for most of those Four days and one day at home for the high school kids It was they were really on the screen all day long and That was very isolating. I think it was also for them, you know We are seeing psychological effects the kids From this pandemic and from how school has been and I think those are things that we probably will have to deal with as we get back into in-person school because schools are kind of the center of the community it is Where kids who don't have enough to eat get food three meals a day and a snack it is where they See a dentist often or go to a dental clinic. It is where they where they See the nurse who works with them. There are the social workers and the psychologists there and so Not being in person is really a problem and also only being there Four days a week and then at different times is also problematic. They're getting less Probably then they time in the classroom than they usually would have so I can imagine academically, we will also have you know Makeup for or or at least supports that need to be put in place for for the kids after that but You know, hopefully the funding that comes down from the federal government because of covet We will have the funds maybe to do some of those supports both psychological and academic for our kids Great. Thank you both. Does that feel like we covered that topic that feels good to me One little thing I should add at some point. Um, well, I think it's beginning The state is requiring districts to come up with a recovery plan Believe that these are the things that Are going to be addressed Great, so something I look forward to for folks too Junior mentioned, um Macy's and um, there's a nice sign. I think hanging right now saying future home of Of an education center. So can you talk a little bit about the school construction and bonds? Should we build a new high school or rehabilitate the old and what's being done to investigate the safety of the other aging facilities? And buildings in the school district Do you want me to talk about Macy's or you want me to talk about the old? I was just referencing I was referencing that generally, but yeah, no go to the bonds And you go to the both if you like The question specifically the bonds, but please feel free to touch on both I think folks would be interested in both. Yeah, I definitely can't speak to the bonds. I'm not I am not the numbers gal um, I although I want to thank the voters for for supporting them but uh The what's going on On north avenue is still pending There's there's no way to To really move. I mean things are moving forward in the way that of course everything that goes along with making sure that The land the buildings whatever What parts of them are viable or not viable? eventually what Is going to be have to be remediated at what level at what cost all of that has to come in I think before It's almost it it is not Um a good use of our time to think about what this Right, we have to wait until we have that concrete information to move forward with Re-envisioning redesigning rebuilding whatever that is Kathy you want to pick up that thread? Sure, and just just very quickly while Kathy's answering our mind folks You can call in 802 862 3966 this we've got a question. Okay to you Kathy Well, I mean I think that's true. I feel the same way we have to know What's there and how much it's going to cost to to get rid of all the PCBs on that campus? and And then we can see whether it's worth it to go ahead and remodel or rebuild build and remodel the former plan or if we have to Totally build new that we can't say right now But as far as our our older buildings We passed and and this I'm It's my age is showing but I think it was I think it's three million a year, but I can't swear to that this is awful a bond to redo all of our old structures because we've known that and so we have been doing that and I know for a fact that if we're looking at PCBs and what How much of them are in a building if that's what the question is about We haven't tested them, but we have re we have taken out windows in most Of our buildings, which is the clock around the windows is where and Put in new build a new windows in a lot of our buildings how many exactly I'm not sure but I know There are many of our buildings that have gotten new windows new facades new Flooring and I know that back in the 90s We took out every single light fixture in all of our buildings and replaced them with The ones that and now I know there are PCBs back then it wasn't clear it was that I think Burlington Electric was asking us to switch them out because They used so much more electricity than the new incandescent bulbs did so they took out and with that came out those ballast Which were full of PCBs. So we know those are gone. So yes, there's more to do And you know at some point five years ago, I think um Champlain was tested and was found to be safe. So I you know, but that was some big federal thing where they were coming in and in each school district just looking at one school so Hopefully we can look at air testing Our other buildings as time goes on but that too is very expensive but And if we're doing all this remodeling and the taxpayers have supported that thank god There will be less PCBs in those buildings Aging infrastructure challenges So we've got about 10 minutes left a couple questions. I'd love to make sure we touch on The racial justice question and also the question about school safety and resource officer Um, Kathy, let's start first with this with the school safety issue. Do you support school resource resource officers? and why are we not I do not Support them. I I mean I support them as far as the people that we have had have been fine. It's not bad It's that I've worked for years now with youth in this city I started the new north end youth center in the miller center and I and have also Started an after-school program at hunt and the big middle school summer program between hunt and when I mean between for all brollington middle schoolers and when new ski kids I I find that we need to have a very good working relationship With police, but I don't believe that police need to come into youth facilities or schools with with bulletproof vests and and Revolvers these are children and they I I know that across the country and all the school shootings that it's never been That the school resource officer has been the one that has Saved anyone or whatever and not that I'm not belittling that they're usually not there where The person enters the building or whatever. It's not that I'm Dissing what they do. I just feel like we're as safe if we put on put Good locks on the doors and put video cameras out front so we know who's coming into the building And they can't come in without being let in I just Feel like guns don't have any place and I know we work with many kids that have come out of War zones They they have much trauma And I know That the uniform and The guns Both are things that terrified them So I I would have no problem with resource officers If they were not in the uniform and did not carry a gun openly. All right. I don't think they need to carry them at all in the school, but Jean can you pick up that thread first on school resource officer? yeah, I Think well first of all, there's there was a task force or a safety task force formed with community members and they spent gosh months together meeting and researching and Came up with recommendations for the district about the student resource officer program And we're going to hear about that soon. It's been the final report was just made The district is obviously looking it over then it's going to be presented to the board and hopefully we're going to see what they find but I personally and Well, first of all, I just want to say I really respect hearing from experts Of course, I have my personal opinion Um, but I do need to put a little bit of that on the shelf to hear about what does safety look like In in the district and you know, I'm I I don't know what that means, right? So but I personally Want for the district to invest more in restorative practices and community justice and anything and and like non punitive Systems I am yeah, I just if there was a way to Take shame out of educating students in any way shape or form. I'm for it and I totally understand Feeling uncomfortable around police officers even though I've worked closely with police officers as part of like getting permits and stuff for the ramble I but you know overall Sorry, they need to do some community building before they've got my My uh, you know not feeling self-conscious around them feelings Maybe not unrelated. Jean, you mentioned your participation on the The equity and justice committee and it sounds like Kathy You're almost a de facto member of that committee attending a lot of the meetings Can you talk about the work being done around racial justice? Where do you see the opportunities for Addressing racial justice in the school system and how do you see the board? In your participation Being part of meeting that challenge and do you support the raising of black Lives matter flag at the Burlington school campus It's a couple components to that Kathy you want to go first? Okay Yeah I mean the things that basically the committee is working on Developing policies, especially one around antiracism and addressing systemic racism in the district um we're working closely with the office of equity and Doing whatever we can to support their mission Which is brand new not necessarily brand new but has been revised is now on the The district website mostly some of the Details we're working on our strategies around uh hiring and retention of BIPOC Especially classroom teachers is kind of a focus um, but But of course everybody I mean every staff position um Yeah, I mean it's it's a very involved obviously there's everything overlaps So when I talk about hiring and retention I also talk about you know what we're thinking of is The classroom teaching staff should be a reflection of our student body Which also feeds into having a Having the kind of environment that is supportive to students right having that also feeds into We want to support student voice which feeds into we want students to be a part of this Hiring process right So there's a lot of little details with the overarching goal The main things are about are about Somehow um Many different facets of creating an anti-racist environment where students Feel heard supported and are an integral part of the process And just quickly jean before we bounce over to kathy. What about the racing of the black lives matter flag? hundred percent in support there's you know and unfortunately, we need that reminder that um There they're unconstitutional things happening every day to people of color and The flag is there right the american flag is there and that's supposed to remind us about our democracy Well right out there is a reminder of all the other The the democracy failing essentially so yes, of course we're in the the the board unanimously is in support and And but it wasn't just this symbolic thing it really there was curriculum and Programmatic things that happen at every single school around the raising of the flag and Yeah, I really want to thank the office of equity for implementing that it was Genius stuff happened if you ask me Kathy, let's go to you racial justice in the role of the board in ensuring equality in the berlin school district That's well, you know much as what um genius said but also I I very much think that we as a district but we as a community really have a whole lot of work to do still and I think it it happens best probably in small groups that are manageable that people are Discussing with one another These topics it's something our history is such that this this country was grounded On the backs of our slaves I mean we would not be the wealthy country where we're we are today Had we not had slaves and had we not Had also the work of the indigenous people of this country in the beginning and until we as a country acknowledge that and really Teach it in in schools Not the whitewashed history, but the real history of this country and what has gone on Will we ever be able to live together? Equally and I you know and it's it's a lot of work having grown up as well I told you in the Jim Crow South in the 50s and moving then from there to Germany as a 22 year old In the 70s They're both countries have a very heavy Background on what they did to people during different regimes And I think we all need to recognize that do reparation for that and apologize for what we've done so Yes, in the schools we have much work to do but that Will never be done or finished until we as a community Burlington Takes this by the horns and really works on it. So I you know, that's great That's that sounds like a wonderful Statement for probably a number of issues and we could spend all evening I know diving further into all the great work going on by the school board Want to thank you both for joining us tonight want to thank folks at home For joining us and Kevin in our studio for doing such a great job on the production side of things As a reminder, this is town meeting tv and you can watch this live In a number of different places and spaces Comcast channel 1087 Burlington telecom channel 17 and 217 as well as town meeting tv's youtube page Kathy and gene. Thank you very much. I think the voters will probably feel Very confident going to the polls knowing who they're voting for and what they're voting for on march the second Hope everybody makes a good voting plan gets ready to vote contact your clerk. Be sure you have a plan Thanks so much for joining us tonight. Kathy and gene. Thank you. That was nice to me. Nice to meet you