CVSD Board Response

Dear Members of the CVSD Community,

The Champlain Valley School District is a vibrant and diverse district. In response to recent acts of bias perpetrated at our high school we are reaching out to send a clear and united message: Hate has no home in the Champlain Valley School District.

It is the responsibility of the CVSD Board, in partnership with the Administration, to ensure that every person walking into our buildings feels welcome and secure. We strive to provide all students with the opportunity to learn in a safe, supportive setting where every member is treated with respect and dignity. Verbal slurs and racist and anti-Semitic graffiti, which occurred recently on the CVU campus, go against our core values of diversity and inclusion and we denounce them. These acts of intimidation by a person or group within our community are an attack on our community’s health.

Our educational mission is to develop citizens who demonstrate a capacity for empathy and respect for differing cultures, values, and points of view. We understand that student safety and emotional well-being are critical components of that mission. We will continue to foster a nurturing environment where every student receives the resources and educational opportunities they need to learn and thrive.

We welcome an open dialogue with the broader community as we move forward with the resolve to do better. While the discussions may be difficult and the solutions complex, we know that we must create systems that disrupt unfair practices, address implicit and explicit biases, and promote methods that will help all students succeed.

Kind regards,

CVSD Board and Superintendent Pinckney 
Josilyn Adams

Kelly Bowen
Erin Brady
Russ Caffry
Dave Connery
Lynne Jaunich
Ray Mainer
Kevin Mara
Barbra Marden
Colleen McKinnon
Brendan McMahon