PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

Lawrence Barnes School

North Street, Burlington, VT

1. PRESENT

Commissioners:

Kate Baldwin, Marrisa Caldwell, Katherine Connolly, Barbara Crook, Wallace Elliott, Thomas Fleury, Chris Haessly, Paul Hale, Erik Hoekstra, Jurij Homziak, Fred Lane, Keith Pillsbury, Loyal Ploof, Amy Werbel

Administrators:

Jeanne Collins, Acting Superintendent and Director of Special & Compensatory Education

Lyman Amsden, Advisor to the Board

Betsy Liley, District Grants Coordinator

Paul Irish, District Technical Director

Absent:

Sara Jane Mahan, Human Resources Director

Scott Lisle, Business Manager

Bonnie Clapp, Director of EEE/Co-Director Curriculum

Stephanie Phillips, Co-Director Curriculum

2. CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Hale called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Commissioner Hale extended the apologies of Commissioners Homziak and Connolly for their inability to attend this evening.

Commissioner Hale then read a preliminary statement regarding the Board's priorities and the various proposals before the Board concerning socio-economic integration and consolidation.

Mr. Amsden made a preliminary presentation regarding his proposal for socio-economic integration and consolidation.

3. PUBLIC COMMENTS/QUESTIONS

Julia Curry -- Old North End resident. Thinks that the first thing that needs to be changed is the process. Disappointing to see just a single proposal. Asks the Board not to consider any of the current proposals. Doesn't want the Task Force to be dominated by School Board members.

Colin Campbell -- Says that the existing playground at Barnes is the largest green space in Old North End. Thinks the focus should be on getting better jobs for Old North End residents. Does not believe burden of socio-economic integration should be borne by Old North End residents. Suggests making Barnes a school that focuses on art and music, and make Wheeler a math and science magnet.

Kevin Ryan -- Running for Republican nomination for mayor. Disagrees with statements at Wards 2&3 meeting that there was not a plan to shut Wheeler and Barnes. Old North End thinks that shutting schools is a bad idea. Argues that it would only cost 1% of total school budget to keep Old North End schools open. Asks about transportation issues, which he thinks could absorb savings.

Attendee -- Main concern regarding distribution is suggestion that poor = stupid. Feels that report stigmatizes Old North End children, and moving them to other schools will subject them to judgments. Questions closing school on a street that Burlington just renovated. Believes that there are other ways to save money.

Max Drum -- Former Barnes student. Never a good thing to close a school. Suggests that the Board should focus on the Wards that have voted "no" on the school budget and close those schools instead.

Karen Bushey -- Questions the costs of the proposal. Argues that families will move out and have no reason to stay in the neighborhood. Says that Old North End will not support budget. Also very concerned about green space issue; lives next to existing playground. Barnes is a school that is very supported by community. Concerned about drop-out rate, but has talked to lots of people; has not found a single supporter of proposal. Believes that new facilities will have to be built in the future. Thinks that proposal is actually creating more obstacles. Worries about stigmatism, and thinks that proposal will result in kids being stigmatized at an earlier age. Stresses sense of community in Barnes.

Shawn -- Wants Board to do what's best for Barnes children. Thinks that closing Barnes is merely a short-term solution.

Melissa Parker -- Barnes staff member and PTO chair, and parent of Barnes children. Concerned about impact on her children of having to go Champlain. Also worried about transportation issues. Says her children will lose friends to different schools; every staff person in Barnes knows her childrens' names. Questioned value of standardized tests.

Attendee -- Talked about Mr. Amsden's tour of the building and questioned his

Kerry Drum -- Talked about professionalism of Barnes teachers and the role they played in the education of their children. Underscored success in encouraging her son to become an avid reader.

Kirsten Bergman -- Husband teaches at Edmunds. Applied for variance for children to go to Edmunds but didn't receive one. Tremendously impressed with Barnes. Wants more information about impact of moving kids. Doesn't think that laptops would serve as an inducement for middle class families. Really likes the idea of magnet schools built around different themes.

Nan Reed -- Kids go to Edmunds. The solutions for blending socio-economic groups seemed insulting and classist. Does not want to see Dovetail program cut.

Maiomi [?] -- Came to Barnes at an early age; "saved her." Taught by Mrs. Deliduka to read, and thinks it would be much hard without neighborhood schools like Barnes. Some kids will not thrive without support of school. Stresses that there is a real sense of community at Barnes. Believes that Burlington has some fine teachers, and without their help, would not be able to speak tonight. Closing Barnes would take away chances for other kids.

Kathy Olwell -- Thinking about this issue for a long time. Believes that we should look at what other cities are doing, and bring in experts to talk to us. Worried that kids will get lost in the mix. When she was on the Board, Barnes was a star in the Old North End. Wondering about what has changed to cause testing problems in school. Doesn't think that the decision should be made as part of the budget. Suggests that Board take a year to make its decision.

Kate Charles -- Would like to suggest that the proposal be tabled and that the Board focus on identifying leadership for the District. Believes that District needs leadership, and wants board to hire Superintendent with vision for all of the schools and children. Doesn't think that proposal takes into account the impact on the children. Believes administration should find some place else to go. Asks where else in the Ward is the same sense of community. Believes that Barnes enriches neighborhood. Believes that Dovetail and variances have added to the problem. Recommends that Board change policies that have contributed to problem.

Terry Buehner -- Head of BEA and teacher at high school. At last meeting, asked if Board found the hands of the students in the concrete. Believes that the low testing scores and low graduation rates are due to transience of Barnes students. Asks if a comparison has been made between students who have gone through the system and those who have just shown up. Also thinks that many Barnes students do graduate from high school, but just not BHS. Agrees with Kate Charles that variances are a problem, and policy should be changed. Talked about ability of children in Barnes to dream, and stressed that students are achieving; she believes that testing procedures are affecting results. Moving children will not make a difference, since consolidation will not change the issue of transience. Only effect will be to drive down test scores of receiving schools. Makes argument for ignoring test scores.

Attendee -- Suggestions regarding composition of task force. Raises some questions regarding validity of Paul Irish's study. Doesn't believe that experiences of other cities are relevant. Dislikes idea that Board toured school prior to public hearing. Also questions whether planned maintenance purposely overlooked Barnes, perhaps in anticipation of remodeling. Mentioned upcoming UVM workshop on education and poverty. Thinks that problem is a lot older than twenty years and does not think Amsden's proposal solves the problem.

Tim Ashe -- Ward 3 City Councilor. Interacts with wide range of people. Universally, people find some aspects of the proposal intriguing, but object to the process by which the proposal was formulated. Described his understanding of process. Dislikes idea that Board toured building. Finds idea of task force to be very appealing; believes it could be very effective.

Julie Billings -- Works at Barnes. Sees both benefits and drawbacks. Raised concept of year-round schedule for students. Numerous benefits associated with changing schedule to year-round calendar.

Ian Drum -- 4th grade at Barnes. Doesn't want school closed because it's close to people's homes. Thinks teachers have really helped him learn to read and like math. Has lots of questions about how things would work if the school is closed.

Heather Remer -- Mother of Barnes student. Still waiting for information based on questions she asked last week. Has some additional questions. Thinks it would be wrong for the Board to ask without additional process. Thinks that "drastic" proposal should be tabled and task force should be created.

Art Demeray -- Burlington parent; daughter, Barnes student, is getting high honors at BHS. Continues to oppose closing Wheeler; thinks that Barnes is a done deal. Believes sacrificial lamb is needed for other wards. Thinks undercurrent here is classism. Believes that children have been set up to fail. Has seen complaints by parents about students from Old North End, and has heard teachers complaining about resources devoted to Old North End schools. Believes District should do right by every student, regardless of their resources.

Kaela Billings -- Senior at BHS. Student at Barnes K-5. Made honor roll numerous times; nobody likes tests. Recently accepted into her top college; first in her family, and first at BHS to get accepted. Did succeed going to Barnes. If space is good enough for school board meetings, why not students?

Tom Billings -- Many family members attended Wheeler; had son who came to Barnes. School made a big difference in his life. Success of children was due to great teachers in Old North End schools. Hopes Board listens to all the people in Burlington. Emphasized community aspect of Old North End.

Attendee -- Common objective: best education for children. Believes that kids get a better education with decentralization, not centralization. Believes that centralization is a corporate education, and that it is destroying the planet. Thinks that Board should re-open the schools that have already been closed.

Gary Golden -- Previously served at Barnes and Smith; currently at Hunt. Offered two stories in reassurance for Old North End residents. The sooner that socio-economic integration occurs, the better. Burlington schools trained to deal with teasing and bullying. Barnes kids will be well-taken care of by Burlington teachers throughout the district.

Doug King -- Discussion of the "life stories of individuals." Endorsed idea of theme schools. Suggested possibility of having kids visit different schools. Saw list of six different programs with volunteers in lobby.

Jonathan Kassam -- Parent of Barnes 1st grader. Wanted to support concerns about the process undertaken by the Board. Agrees proposal should be tabled. Doesn't think public hearings are sufficient. Raises questions about validity of studies used to support socio-economic integration. Not sure there is hard evidence of improvement. Also believes that districts referenced have had experience with racial desegregation first, which Burlington has not. Studies also involve areas with high levels of public transportation. Even in transportation is solved, doesn't see how it affects transience of parents. Believes that it sends a message of fatalism for Board to consult middle-class experts

Caroline Loise -- Third-generation poverty, second-generation welfare. Has 18-year-old daughter in college, no thanks to school system. Does not believe that school system supported her daughter. Raises serious concerns about transportation issues. Also believes that class even in middle school segregates kids. Thinks that only reason that the Board is doing this is budgetary, not to improve socio-economic integration. Asks Board to look at tardiness and absenteeism. Believes that start of free transportation from Old North End to BHS made a difference in attendance and graduation. Would ask Board to stand outside and wait for a bus; they're unreliable and can be 30 or 45 minutes. Even worse if there are small kids involved. Thinks that Board will pay for it in a different way: welfare for girls and jail for boys. Wants to know what the impact would be on after-school programs. Believes that Board has a responsibility to provide transportation.

Attendee -- Barnes parent. Anxious about tour of building. Will be looking at jobs in newspaper over the weekend. Very concerned that it is a done deal. Asks Board to keep an open mind. Once school closes, it won't open again. Believes argument that other schools will take Barnes children on is paternalistic.

Vicki Billings -- Would like to know how many Board members had kids come to Wheeler or Barnes. Talked about the job that teachers at Barnes and Wheeler did in working with her children. Believes that the community is wonderful. Community will fight to keep school open and will say what they think.

Louis Boudin -- "Louie the Cowman" public access show. Life doesn't come from education, comes from the heart. Believes that CNN would like story of Board's attitude towards poverty. Will e-mail lots of people--Pat Leahy, etc.--about Board's proposal. If kids want to keep school open, they'll have to do it themselves. Believes that teachers use kids for emotional blackmail.

Attendee -- Supports neighborhood schools. Has heard commitment of community to Barnes school. Should not judge community on the amount of its money.

Motion (Lane/Connolly) to adjourn. The Board adjourned at 8:58 p.m.