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Description
For more information about upcoming Town Meeting Day 2023 coverage visit https://bit.ly/TownMeeting2023
https://linktr.ee/townmeetingtv
00:00:00 Introductions
00:00:45 Opening Statements
00:03:35 Budget
00:07:31 Language Access
00:10:22 Capital Improvements and Bonding
00:16:29 Teacher Well Being and Retention
00:20:57 Racial Justice
00:25:48 Challenges
This video belongs to http://www.cctv.org and published with permission under Creative Commons License CCTV Center for Media & Democracy Programming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A
Good
evening
and
welcome
to
town
meeting
television's
continuing
coverage
of
town
meeting
2023,
that's
March
7th
is
voting
day,
although
many
of
you
have
probably
received
your
ballots
in
the
mail
already
and
if
you
haven't
yet
made
your
decision
on
the
South
Burlington
School
Board
Race.
We
have
two
of
the
candidates
here,
who
I
think
will
inform
your
vote.
We
have
Brian
Campion
and
we
have
trivia
Childs.
Yes,
and
you
are
an
incumbent
you're
already
sitting
on
the
school
board.
Yes,.
B
A
A
C
Good
evening,
over
40
years
ago,
my
wife,
Vivian
and
I
moved
to
South
Burlington.
At
the
time
we
had
no
children,
but
we
knew
we
wanted
to
be
part
of
a
growing
Community
with
good
schools.
Looking
back
43
years,
things
really
haven't
changed
both
of
our
daughters,
graduated
from
South
Burlington,
High
School,
and
currently
we
have
three
grandchildren
at
Orchard
School
as
a
family.
We
feel
very
indebted
to
the
community
and
the
schools
for
the
role
they
played
in
the
development
of
our
daughters
and
the
continuing
role
they
play
with
our
grandchildren.
C
C
Solving
and
of
course,
construction,
but
I
think
the
key
takeaway
from
PC
was
that
an
organization
is
defined
by
the
quality
of
its
people
and
the
success
of
that
organization
will
be
based
on
those
people
in
2020,
I
served
on
a
budget
Review
Committee
after
two
budget
defeats
I
found
the
work
interesting,
challenging
and
I
began
thinking
about
running
for
school
board.
So
three
years
later,
here
I
am
sometimes
it
takes
me
a
while
to
get
doing
things,
but
recently
I've
gone
to
visited
three
schools.
C
B
My
job
has
just
begun
and
I'm
qualified,
because
I'm
a
disabled
vet
I'm
a
mom
of
four
and
a
Nana
of
four
and
I
own,
the
youth
center
at
the
mall,
so
I'm
always
there
or
in
school
I'm
actively
playing
director
out
there
I
run
the
club,
so
I
try
to
get
out
there
and
try
to
listen
to
the
students
and
try
to
give
them
an
idea
that
someone
is
here.
Thank
you.
B
B
Because
the
budget
focuses
on
supporting
students,
social,
emotional
and
academic
safely
and
facilities
in
Burlington,
we
are,
we
are
going
out
to
the
buns
too,
for
zims
to
address
overcrowding
at
Orchard
and
Rick
Marcotte,
Elementary,
School
and
the
facilities
needs
in
the
school.
91
of
the
zims
will
be
back
paid
back
by
impact
impact
fees.
Impact
fees
are
charged
by
the
suit
by
the
city
for
sewer
fire
Etc.
C
C
Your
position
on
the
school
budget-
please-
certainly
these
are
difficult
times
with
high
inflation
and
economic
uncertainty.
I
think
the
key
to
budgeting
is
finding
that
balance
and
Dr
Charles
referred
to
it
of
what
is
necessary
to
deliver
a
quality
education
and
what
the
community
will
support.
I
do
support
the
budget.
It
has
about
a
4.2
million
dollar
spending
increase
this
year,
which
is
about
seven
percent,
but
the
school
tax
rate
is
only
going
up
to
about
four
percent
I.
C
Think
all
districts
in
Vermont
are
very
fortunate
right
now
that
the
state
yield,
which
is
the
contribution
the
state
makes
to
districts,
went
up
16
percent.
Well,
what
does
16
percent
mean
to
South
Burlington?
It
means
we're
getting
close
to
4.9
million
dollars
of
new
money,
so
you
might
say
that
yield
increases
kind
of
taxpayer
relief
in
these
tough
times,
which
I
think
is
good.
C
Another
part
of
the
budget,
I
really
like,
is
the
fact
that
we
have
four
math
interventionists
that
we're
keeping
on
they
were
previously
funded
by
Esser,
coveted
relief
funds
and
that
money,
of
course,
is
running
out.
But
I
was
really
pleased
to
see
that
the
local
budget
is
picking
up
three
of
those
positions
because
back
in
that
budget
period
of
220,
when
we
had
two
defeats,
one
of
the
largest
reductions
in
our
budget
was
math
and
literacy.
Support,
I
didn't
agree,
but
we
had
to
pass
a
budget.
C
C
C
Yes,
I've
said
this
before
I
would
have
probably
campaigned
for
two
bonds,
one
for
maintenance
and
one
for
the
classroom,
project,
I'm
conservative
in
nature-
and
this
is
the
biggest
Bond.
The
communities
had
I
believe
it's
going
to
pass,
but
as
being
a
conservative
person,
I'd
rather
get
something
than
nothing
so
we're
all
in
okay.
But
clearly
we
do
have
overcrowding,
I
think
we'll
get
to
that
on
facilities
exactly.
C
Great
question
and
I
will
tell
you:
I
did
not
know
much
about
this,
but
I
did
some
some
looking
at
it.
I
was
told
by
one
of
the
principles
I
toured
with
that
over
80
languages
are
spoken
at
homes
in
our
district
and
I
thought.
Wow
I
haven't
heard
this
issue
surface
at
a
school
board
meeting
or
in
our
community
and
I
have
a
neighbor
who
does
not
speak
English
in
their
house.
But
what
I
found
out
is
we
have
a
very
strong
English
language
program,
they're
working
on
training
for
translating
and
interpretive
Services.
C
They
have
English
learning
teachers
they're
having
family
engagement
nights
to
help
other
members
of
the
family
at
the
community
library,
they're
doing
assessments
that
are
shared
with
Educators
as
well
as
the
administration.
So
we
can
target
areas
that
are
need
and
they're
in
the
final
stages.
It
sounds
like
of
developing
a
plan
for
English
learning
across
the
entire
District,
so
it
sounds
like
we
address
the
issue,
we're
continuing
to
address
the
issue
and
because
it
hasn't
been
raised
as
a
real
crisis
or
anything
I'd
have
to
say
job
well
done.
A
B
B
We
have
implemented
a
software
program
that
allows
us
to
use
data
to
understand
student
and
family
needs,
as
well
as
provide
information
on
home
language
spoken.
We
also
hire
the
English
language
coordinator
and
expanded
our
ell
teaching
staff.
We
know
that
those
who
speak
languages
other
than
English
enrich
learnings
for
all
of
our
students.
This
is
one
of
the
main
reasons
that
I
helped
to
create
a
District's
equality
policy.
Last
year.
As
a
member
of
the
board.
A
Why
don't
we
go
to
the
question
of
Capital
Improvements
in
bonding?
You
have
spoken
a
little
bit
about
that
Dr
Charles.
What
role
does
school
infrastructure
play
in
a
healthy
community
and
in
addition
to
the
over
addressing
the
overcrowding?
What's
next
for
the
city
of
South,
Burlington,
School
District,
we're.
B
B
Elementary
School
students
will
move
through
our
system.
We
need
to
work
with
the
community
to
determine
if
our
community
wants
to
move
fifth
graders
to
the
middle
school,
then
start
the
infrastructure
infrastructure
committee
to
determine
middle
and
high
school
facilities.
I
am
a
supporter
of
community
engagement
and
I.
Will
work
with
city
manager,
superintendent
city
council,
chair
to
ensure
that
development
within
SB
is
supported
in
the
partnership
in
our
district.
C
And
what's
needed,
you
know.
Certainly,
people's
work
environment
has
an
effect
on
how
they
look
at
going
to
work,
how
they
approach
their
job
and
in
a
school's
case,
how
students
learn
it
can
impact
their
performance.
I
visited
three
schools
and
I.
Think
our
staff,
Administration
and
faculty
in
those
schools
are
doing
a
great
job,
managing
a
difficult
situation
and
it's
time
to
fix
it.
C
We
do
have
overcrowding,
clearly
we're
using
every
square
foot
in
those
schools,
and
we
have
maintenance
issues
when
you
have
small
little
children's
swimming
pools
catching
rain
water
in
hallways,
so
their
immediate
needs.
Dr
Childs
talked
about
them.
We
need
classroom
space
at
Rick
Marcotte
and
at
Central.
We
need
maintenance
on
roofs
and
other
issues
that
are
included
in
the
bond
issue.
If
that
passes,
it
buys
us
time
to
really
have
a
good
structured
plan.
C
The
fifth
grade
decision
is
probably
the
biggest
decision
facing
our
buildings,
because
that
will
determine
where
we're
going
to
have
to
do
the
most
work,
but
assuming
that
they
go
to
the
middle
school,
then
the
middle
school
has
to
be
completely
looked
at
one
area,
I
would
look
at
in
the
middle
school
is
our
gym.
It's
really
not
functional
now,
and
if
we
bring
150
students
there,
it's
only
going
to
be
worse,
so
I
would
look
at
repurposing.
Something
like
that.
C
Can
we
turn
it
into
classrooms,
and
can
we
build
a
facility
along
with
the
other
things
we
need?
Our
high
school
is
vintage
1960s,
so
you
know
what
those
kind
of
buildings
and
the
issues
that
need
to
be
addressed
there
and
we're
going
to
have
to
look
at
our
future
for
the
high
school
to
accomplish
our
education
goals.
Growth
in
South
Burlington
is
not
going
to
slow
down.
You
read
whether
it's
going
to
be
another
thousand
homes
in
the
next
10
years.
That
would
be
a
20
increase.
C
According
to
the
tax
department,
we
have
5200
households
in
South
Burlington.
So
if
you
had
20
percent,
what's
that
going
to
be
for
the
impact
on
our
schools,
so
I
think
the
key
is
a
long-range
plan,
the
development
of
it
and
communicating
it
in
detail
to
the
community,
letting
them
know
the
level
of
support
you're
going
to
need.
C
What
is
it
going
to
cost
I
think
we're
fortunate
in
South
Burlington
we've
got
a
good
history
of
supporting
our
schools
and
if
we
play
the
role
of
a
good
Steward
of
public
funds,
maintain
and
build
confidence
earn
that
confidence.
I
think
we
will
get
the
funding.
We
need
to
address
our
facility
issues
and.
B
You
can
go
first
sure,
because
we
didn't
expect
it.
We
weren't
prepared
for
anything
for
people
to
move
in
and
the
scare,
not
the
scary
part.
But
the
sad
part
is
now
that
we
don't
know
what
to
do
actually
we're
trying
to
figure
out
a
b
and
see
what's
best
for
us.
But
we
have
an
immediate
need
and
that's
why
we
have
the
zims.
B
B
A
A
C
You
look
at
at
South
Burlington
in
the
growth
and
I
think
we
have
been
surprised
by
some
of
the
sources
of
students,
for
instance
I
the
demographer,
the
district
uses
Who
projects.
Enrollment
numbers
looks
like
they
missed
it.
When
we
built
these
one
and
two
bedroom
apartments
over
in
the
Market
Street
area,
our
downtown,
that's
developing
and
it's
developing
a
lot
of
housing.
I
mean
the
university
is
going
to
put
300
units
there,
but
that
housing
housing
at
the
other
end
of
town
has
really
overrun,
Rick,
marcott
and
Orchard.
C
You
know
the
Chamberlain
District
can't
grow,
it's
just
the
size
of
it
can't
grow
so
there's
no
growth
there.
So
we
are
in
a
bad
situation.
The
bond
issue
would
give
us
a
stop
Gap
and
carry
us
give
us
the
classroom
space.
We
need
to
execute
and
do
what
is
right
for
the
children,
but
it's
a
tough
thing
and
the
pandemic
I
think
led
to
it.
Vermont
became
a
very
good
destination
to
come
and
work
when
people
could
work
away
from
home
and
we've
seen
a
lot
of
that.
A
C
Me
start
with
retention:
I,
don't
think
retention
is
an
issue
for
teachers
in
South,
Burlington
I
think
we're
viewed
as
a
very
desirable
place
to
work.
You
get
to
engage
with
good
students
from
good
families.
I
think
we
have
a
good
culture.
We
have
a
very
good
pay
scale
and
we
have
a
community
that
is
supported
so
I,
don't
think
retention
is
an
issue
with
teachers.
Hiring
staff
is
an
issue
for
everybody
in
that
business
and
education
I
think
it's
a
new
thing
for
them.
C
You
know
in
construction,
we've
been
recruiting
people
forever
we're
in
the
engineering
schools
when
they're,
freshmen
and
sophomores
I.
Don't
think
education
had
to
do
that
and
I
think
recruiting
is
a
struggle
to
the
mental
health
side
of
it.
I'll
tell
a
story
that
kind
of
puts
it
in
in
perspective.
C
My
daughter
lives
next
door
to
a
person
who
is
a
high
school
science
teacher
in
another
District
this
summer
he
told
me
he
said:
I
need
this
summer
after
the
last
two
years
to
get
myself
in
the
right
frame
of
mind
for
the
first
time
in
14
years,
I've
taught
I'm,
not
sure
I
want
to
go
back.
So
to
me
that
says,
there's
a
crisis,
it's
across
the
country,
but
it's
in
the
schools.
I,
don't
really
know
what
the
schools
have
done.
C
C
On
the
other
hand,
do
we
have
a
program
for
teachers,
so
they
can
reach
out
it's
a
very
difficult
issue.
I
think
well-being
and
job
satisfaction
will
improve
when
people
feel
like
they're
getting
their
job
accomplished
and
right
now,
with
the
issue
with
students
and
the
fact
that
we
can't
meet
some
staffing
issues.
C
B
Morale
I
think
during
covet
when
these
teachers
were
forced
to
go
back
because
the
parents
wanted
the
kids
to
go
and
a
lot
of
them
retired
because
they
didn't
want
to
be
sick
and
bringing
sickness
home
to
their
kids.
But,
given
all
the
challenges
educators
are
facing
today,
what
a
significant
only
made
by
I
mean
only
made
Greater
by
the
pandemic.
B
We
have
an
incredible
and
committed
staff.
I
support
changes
to
increase
morale
that
matter,
such
as
programming
to
support
social,
emotional
learning
and,
as
little
is
known
like
bringing
treats
to
the
bus
drivers
and
saying.
Thank
you
all
the
time
now
we
did
that.
A
couple
me
and
a
couple
students
we
took
them
treat
6
30
in
the
morning
took
a
hot
chocolate
gift
bags
and
food
just
to
help
them
to
say
we
care,
but
I
didn't
go
as
board.
B
Director
I
went
as
a
community
member,
so
I
think
that
we're
doing
a
great
job
compared
to
everything
else.
We
are
incredibly
fortunate
in
our
staff
retentions
rates,
the
vice
I
mean
the
vtp
VT
superintendents
Association
completed
a
staff
survey
in
the
fall,
and
we
were
one
of
the
best
staffed
districts
in
the
state.
Excellent
pay
and
benefits,
as
well
as
culture
of
care
and
a
tradition
of
Excellence
with
a
supportive
Community
are
some
of
the
reasons
why
not
to
mention
our
exceptional
sports
team.
B
Our
HR
department,
superintendent
and
principals
are
also
working
to
recruit,
I,
mean,
recruit
and
maintain
staff.
We
are
implementing
new
programs
and
training
to
assist
support
staff
in
addressing
many
of
the
social
emotional
learning
challenges
we
are
seeing.
We
are
seeing
in
students
in
pandemics,
like
you
said,
we
can't
send
them
when
the
teachers
are
worked
so
busy
working
on
other
things.
Instead
of
learning,
we
are
grateful
to
have
the
best
teaching
and
staff
in
the
state.
A
Thank
you
so
much
Joe
I'm
just
going
to
remind
our
viewers,
if
you
have
any
questions
for
our
candidates
for
the
South
Burlington
City,
School
Board
to
your
seat,
802-862-3966,
Dr
Charles.
Why
don't
we
start
with
you
on
this
next
question
on
racial
Justice?
What
is
your
current
understanding
of
the
work
around
this
issue
in
our
school
district
and
how
would
you
support
leadership,
efforts
and
initiatives
to
meet
the
challenges
and
create
an
equitable
and
thriving
environment
for
all
students.
B
First
of
all,
this
is
this
is
an
issue
close
to
Heart.
Things
are
happening
and
I've
learned
that
the
more
we
make
ourselves
available
and
we're
going
to
try
to
learn.
So,
what's
the
current
understanding
of
the
work
around
the
issue
and
how
long
would
support
leadership
effects,
I
mean
efforts
and
initiatives
to
meet
the
challenges
of
creating
an
equitable
Equitable
experiment
for
environment.
For
for
students
I'm.
Sorry,
the
understanding
is
that
the
community.
A
B
B
You
know
we
love
them,
we're
going
to
protect
them,
because
one
point
was
when
we
had
sros
and
how
the
kids
that
looked
like
me
felt
they
were
afraid,
and
it
comes
back
to
yesterday.
I
mean
the
other
day
when
I
was
in
a
room
with
the
chief
of
police,
and
it
made
me
feel
different,
but
until
people
realize
that
we
can't
go
anywhere
together.
B
C
I
think
the
school
is
acting
appropriately.
Dr
Childs
has
been
a
catalyst
for
that
and
I
praise
her
for
that
an
equity
policy
was
developed,
but
we
all
know
that
sometimes
policies
are
developed
and
they
just
sit
on
a
shelf
I
like
the
fact
that
we're
putting
ours
to
work,
we've
hired
an
executive
director
who's
been
on
staff
for
I.
Think
about
eight
months,
my
take
whenever
you
hire
somebody
and
it
doesn't
matter
in
this
position,
but
where
I
work,
when
you
hire
somebody
you
let
them
do
their
job.
C
We
hired
a
qualified
person,
the
best
candidate
that
the
board
could
find
great.
Let
them
work
with
the
administration
in
our
schools
to
develop
the
means
and
methods
to
get
the
results
that
we
want
and
that's
I
think
how
a
school
board
has
to
look
at
it.
We're
not
running
the
schools
on
a
on
a
day-to-day
basis.
It's
our
educational
experts
and
we've
hired
an
expert
in
this
field.
As
far
as
a
board
member
I
need
to
learn
more
about
this.
I
would
do
so
by
listening
to
the
reports
that
the
director
develops.
C
Looking
at
issues
that
might
come
before
the
board
listening,
asking
questions,
supporting
and
monitoring
the
program
to
see
that
we're
attaining
our
data
points
and
our
goals,
because
we
do
want
to
move
forward,
it's
an
important
initiative.
I
agree
on
restorative
justice,
I
believe
and
I
have
for
a
long
time
that
punishment
that
is
based
or
discipline
based
on
punishment
only
is
a
negative
to
everybody.
C
I
could
give
you
numerous
examples:
how
it's
failed
us
in
our
business,
so
restorative
justice,
where
we're
trying
to
repair
the
harm,
that's
been
done
and
time
I
had
no
clue.
We
were
waiting
three
months.
That's
very
sad
accountability
for
that
person.
That
is
responsible
for
this
harm,
taking
accountability
and
working
to
repair.
To
me,
that's
creating
a
positive
from
what
was
a
negative
because
discipline
for
discipline's
sake
doesn't
work.
A
So
we're
moving
into
our
closing
comments.
I
think
we
have
a
few
more
minutes,
so
I'm
going
to
just
go
right
to
the
biggest
challenges
you
see
facing
the
school
district
and
then
we'll
go
to
short,
closing
comments
so
Brian.
Why
don't
you
address
this
question?
What
do
you
see
the
biggest
challenges
facing
the
district
and
how
would
you
use
your
seat
on
the
board
to
make
those
changes?
Sure.
C
Issue
number
one
is
Staffing:
education
is
a
labor-intensive
business
and
it
is
a
business.
It's
the
business
of
educating
South
Burlington
students
and
when
we
can't
fill
key
positions,
that
means
we're
not
delivering
the
service
that
we
want
to
so
education
Staffing
is
a
real
Balancing
Act
and
we
lost
23
positions
this
year.
C
Okay,
that
decision
was
made
by
the
management
of
the
school
I
agree
with
it,
but
we
always
have
to
look
at
Staffing
because
it's
78
percent
of
our
budget
of
our
62
million
dollars,
we're
going
to
spend
49
is
wages
and
benefits.
So
Staffing
is
key.
We
need
to
attract
good
people,
we
need
to
make
South
Burlington
the
place.
People
want
to
work
so
I
think
we
have
to
look
at
ourselves
and
say:
what
do
we
need
to
do
to
improve
culture,
our
reputation
and
be
the
place
to
work
after
that
I'm?
C
Looking
at
Social
and
emotional
issues
and
I
think
we
ask
schools
very
often
to
address
those
and
they
do
a
very
good
job.
In
some
areas,
school
lunch
programs,
breakfast
programs,
combat
hunger.
We
know
that
students
can't
learn
if
they're
hungry
after
school
programs
combat
Aid
these
parents
that
work
infrastructure
is
one
that
we
have
to.
We've
talked
about.
C
Equity
we've
talked
about
mental
health,
I
think
those
are
the
things
if
I
had
to
look
at
a
vision
for
South
Burlington
I'd
say
we
want
to
make
sure
that
every
student
has
the
means
to
maximize
their
potential,
and
every
parent
says
my
child
was
taken
care
of
well.
We
need
to
get
the
growth
in
the
community
under
control
and
make
progress
on
the
social
and
emotional
issues.
Thank.
A
B
I
directed
superintendent
Nichols
to
move
forward
with
both
museums
and
impact
fees,
I
believe
that
the
community
process
that
brought
us
to
the
Zim's
recommendation,
as
for
learning
I
support,
SEL
positions
and
working
on
act,
one
to
improve
Dei
of
efforts
in
the
district
regarding
facilities.
I
am
supportive
of
a
community
convert
conversation
on
fifth
grade
transition
in
Middle,
School
and
I'm,
always
in
the
school,
and
it's
embarrassing.
Sometimes
when
kids,
because
the
word
is
South
Burlington
is
the
best
city,
you
know
in
Vermont,
and
then
they
have
to
deal
with
all
this
stuff.
B
You
know
like
things
falling
down
and
it's
real
and
when
my
son
first
started
we
walked,
there
was
no
AC,
so
I
had
to
bring
water,
but
how
many
people
know
that?
How
many
people
came
in
there
and
sat
down
and
walked
with
the
students?
Nobody
has
because
I'm
sure,
if
they
did,
they
would
make
a
change.
They
would
want
this
for
our
kids,
because
I
know
South
B
supports
their
people,
our
kids,
the
community.
Also
the
community,
was
able
to
hear
from
principals
regarding
school
safety
at
each
School.
B
My
partnership
with
the
superintendent
allows
us
to
work
together
on
both
teams
to
get
initiatives
accomplished,
as
you
can
see,
by
deliverable
of
the
impact
fees
for
them
school
safety
and
Staffing,
to
name
a
few.
My
vision
is
that
South
Burlington
minority
kids
are
comfortable.
They
feel
like
they're,
a
part
of
the
environment
because,
as
I
travel
in
Texas
I
feel
at
home,
nobody
was
looking
at
me.
B
You
know
nothing
was
going
on,
but
then,
when
you
get
here
but
I
think
a
lot
of
times,
our
kids
are
struggling
because
that's
what
someone
said
not
the
truth,
and
so
that's
why
I
always
try
to
make
sure
we
get
in
contact
with
the
city.
We're
trying
to
do
things
together,
but
yeah
I'll,
try,
I
mean
I
challenge
like
Brian
said
facilities.
A
Very
good
I
want
to
thank
you
both
we're
out
of
time.
I.
Think
your
challenge,
question
addressed
your
closings
comments.
I
just
want
to
remind
people
to
vote
on
March
7th,
if
not
before,
with
your
ballots.
If
they've
been
sent
to
your
home,
we've
been
speaking
with
the
candidates
for
the
two-year
seat
for
the
city
of
South,
Burlington,
School,
Board,
Brian,
companion
and
Dr
trevia,
Childs
and
I
appreciate
you
both
being
with
us
tonight.
Thank
you
and
thank
you
so
much
for
watching
stay
tuned
to
town
meeting
television's,
continuing
coverage
of
town
meeting
2023.