Despite the major winter storm this past Sunday and Monday, this has been a productive and full week! Students enjoyed the many, many inches of fresh snow during recesses and several classes got out to xc ski as well!
This past Monday was our 6th snow day this school year. As Dr. Mike referenced in his communication on February 7; the district is under the number of required instructional school days, resulting in an extension of student days into the week of June 16. The last student day will be determined when we are through the worst of the winter weather.
Thank you to those of you that attended the Budget info Q&A this week with Chris and Sarah. The brief slide deck can be found here, and the recording of the meeting can be found here. If you haven’t had a chance to review the HUUSD Annual Report, check it out here. All seven campuses are featured and there is great information and celebrations of the good work that happens here! Please reach out with any questions you have about the proposed budget. We look forward to and are counting on your participation in casting your ballot on or before March 4. The sooner we have a successful budget, the sooner we can move forward with strategic planning for next school year.
Finally, with so much change occurring on a national scale, we hope you can find comfort in Vermont’s commitment to upholding its values and state Constitution, as shared by Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders:
“Our commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students remains unwavering. All students, including transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students, are entitled to an educational environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. It is the policy of the State of Vermont that all Vermont educational institutions provide safe, orderly, civil, and positive learning environments. Harassment, hazing, and bullying have no place and will not be tolerated in Vermont schools. No Vermont student should feel threatened or be discriminated against while enrolled in a Vermont school. 16 V.S.A. § 570.”
“Schools have no legal obligation to collect information related to a student’s or their family’s legal citizenship or immigration classification (i.e., their legal right to remain in this country).
As a general reminder, students’ personally identifiable information and educational records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and can only be disclosed if specific conditions are met. We recommend that educators contact their legal counsel if they receive any requests from immigration authorities for personally identifiable information in education records to ensure they are maintaining compliance with FERPA.”
(Read more here and here)
To our Brookside community: we see you, we value you and we stand with you. Thank you for sharing your children with us.
We hope you will enjoy the winter break 2/24 - 3/4. We will return to school on Wednesday, March 5.
Warmly,
Sarah & Chris
