CVSD Update November 22, 2021

 

We are happy to share the latest update from the Champlain Valley School District. This newsletter includes:

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• News about Test to Stay and Vaccines
• Ways to get informed and involved in the Budget Development Process
• Celebrating some CVSD-named snowplows
• and more!

We hope you have a healthy, safe, and joyful Thanksgiving!

CVSD Schools Name Snowplows

Some of our schools had unusual visitors today, snow plows and their drivers! A few weeks ago, the Vermont agency of Transportation sponsored a Name a Plow Program. Schools or classrooms were encouraged to submit a name for a snowplow. Many of these submissions were accepted and today was the celebration day. 

Today was Vermont Plow Day. The plows visited "their" school for students to see them and meet the drivers. Not only does each plow have the name that the school or classroom submitted, but the name of the school is on there as well. 

It will be very exciting to see the plows out and about when the weather warrants it! Be on the lookout for Salty, Powder Pusher, and Shelburne Blizzard. Thank you to the educators and students who helped to make this happen.

Allen Brook School's plow, Salty

Williston Central School, Karin Ward's class plow,  Powder Pusher

Shelburne Community School, Karen Newman's class plow, Shelburne Blizzard

Superintendent's Thoughts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CVSD

 

November 14, 2021

Hello CVSD Families, Staff, and Community,

I write to you today to share my thoughts on the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion work in our beloved district.

In these first months of my tenure, we’ve had several equity issues come to light that are very concerning. Upon personal reflection and through conversations with those folks directly impacted, I understand that these concerns could have been addressed in a more thoughtful and collegial manner. As we, as an institution, continue to grow, we will improve our knowledge and implementation of practices that support students, staff, and others in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

I recognize that, often, growth comes with growing pains. In this case, the growing pains manifested in some of our staff feeling let down and frustrated. Folks have expressed that they feel vulnerable, targeted, and even afraid to come to work. Our staff should never experience hostility while at work in our schools. These essential community members must be encouraged to continue their work focusing on the outcomes that we aim to achieve for every student in our care.

As superintendent, I’ve learned that developing and strengthening relationships goes a long way toward solving personnel issues and furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. With honest and open communication, we can face personal and professional discomfort and grow together while also learning more about each other in the process.

But personal and administrative growth is only part of this complex picture. For significant change to occur as a district, it is essential to focus on the more significant systemic issues. A comprehensive equity policy can immediately call for a review of our board and administration policies and procedures to ensure they are equitable and fair. A sound equity policy has guidelines for formal and informal communication--how we talk to each other, how we provide access to co-curricular and other activities outside of the classroom, and how we measure and adjust for a student’s growth and progression through our system.

To address these systemic issues, I am taking a proactive approach. But I realize achieving equity takes more than one person. We must come together and work together. So, I’m asking you — the CVSD community — to guide and hold your district accountable along the way.

Under my leadership, these are some upcoming diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that I am excited to share with you:

First (pending final board approval next week,) we will contract with Mass Insight to undertake a formal equity audit that will review many current district systems. This audit will start, in full swing, in January. We will seek volunteers to participate in focus groups on specific topics. Based on the audit results, we may need additional feedback or budgetary steps to fulfill the recommendations.

Second, on December 8 at 6:30, CVSD will hold its first Town Hall on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our goal is to have a structured meeting where attendees can work together to create immediate and long-term action steps. I plan to hold town halls bi-monthly through at least the end of the school year. The insights gathered at these forums will help guide us into our five-year strategic plan work.

Third, I have been thrilled to meet with many of our local DEI community and school groups this year. We have many folks interested in the district’s DEI work. I’d like to recruit members of these committees, as well as students, parents, staff, and others, to join a CVSD DEI Advisory Group. The purpose of this group will be to help the district engage the wide range of voices from our five towns, our schools, and the broader community. Our aim is to better understand the needs of our students and staff and ensure that those needs are met in policy and practice.

Fourth, beginning in March 2022 and concluding spring semester 2023, CVSD will undergo a process to develop a five-year strategic plan. This plan will involve stakeholders across the district and use our equity policy as a lens throughout the strategic planning process. We will gather information to establish goals, metrics, and action plans to guide our future budget, operational, and educational planning.

Fifth, while not directly focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, I will create a Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee. This committee will consist of four students from each school who will provide me advice and feedback on the student experience in the district. Additionally, as a group, we will seek opportunities for leadership and service on their campuses and in the community. From these conversations, I hope to learn more about the daily and yearly experience of the students so my administration can use it as another data point for serving our students.

I want to acknowledge that daily DEI work can be very challenging. DEI work is necessary work, but it will take time and patience to implement correctly. As in other Vermont districts, CVSD is in the beginnings of its DEI work. If we can move the needle forward each day, each week, each month, and each year to improve the academic, personal, and social-emotional outcomes for each of our students, we know we are making needed progress.

It’s important to note that we are still actively managing the effects of COVID-19 on our students and systems. The pandemic has affected every student differently. Knowing and accounting for each student’s needs, especially after the nearly 20 months of irregular student access to school, is at the core of DEI work. Additionally, the pandemic continues to cause increased anxiety and decreased coping capacity and strains the mental well-being of both students and staff. I recognize that this imperative work might seem overwhelming or be viewed as additional work on top of the regular course of business. But I assure you, as a district, we will strive to align our goals and target our outcomes to support this valuable DEI work.

I am honored to be your superintendent during this time of growth, inclusion, and curiosity. I am confident that this journey towards providing equity in our school district is the right path. And I am encouraged by the many passionate voices within the CVSD Community who will join me on this journey.

Sincerely,

Rene Sanchez

CVSD Bus Driver Receives Well-Deserved Recognition

 

Champlain Valley Bus Driver Named ESP of the Year

Here's an official press release from the VT-NEA (National Education Association) 

James “Jim” Johnson, a Champlain Valley School District bus driver with 31 years behind the wheel, has been named the 2022 Vermont-NEA Education Support Professional of the Year. 

“Over the years, Jimmy has used his humor, patience, and excellent communication skills to develop deep, personal relationships with district officials, the head of HR, payroll specialists, and chief operations representatives,” said Christopher Hood, the Champlain Valley EA president who nominated Johnson for the award. “These relationships help Jimmy be the best possible advocate for his members as he uses his lines of communication and wisdom to get the job done. He is a role model.” 

As ESP of the Year, Johnson will receive a $1,500 award, an all-expenses-paid trip to the national ESP conference, where he will represent Vermont as our nominee for NEA ESP of the Year. “I love working in transportation because it's constantly on the move and I get to talk with so many people,” Johnson said. “I love to collaborate with great people who are passionate about their jobs, and I love helping make our professional employees have a better living, a safe place to work and the happiest, most rewarding work environment possible.” Congratulations from all of us at Vermont-NEA!

We encourage our communities to help to recognize and and thank CVSD Education Support Professionals (ESPs) every day, but especially next Wednesday, November 17th, which is National ESP Day. ESPs include bus drivers like Jimmy, food service staff, custodians and maintenance crew, para-educators, and many more that not only support our programs, schools, and students, but also help to keep our schools safe, healthy, and welcoming for all. 

Congratulations to Jimmy and thank you for all you do for our students, their families, and your colleagues!

Leading the Way with Digital Learning

CVSD’s Director of Digital Learning & Communication, Bonnie Birdsall, was recently presented with the Frank Watson Award. This honor was bestowed upon Bonnie at Vita-Learn’s annual Vermont Fest Conference in Killington.

As Vita-Learn stated in their press release, “Bonnie is highly-respected among her peers, and she has demonstrated leadership through her actions in her own district and statewide including championing the student data privacy work,” noted Robert Gervais, Technology Director of the Missisquoi Valley School District and Vita-Learn Board President.

The Frank Watson award is presented to a person whose many years of devoted service, vision, and leadership have significantly advanced Vermont educational technology at the local, regional, and state level.

In the nomination, Bonnie is noted for her work around student data privacy, which she is focused on along with CVSD’s network administrator, Mike Kanfer. We shared information about that work in this blog post from 2019. That very important work continues. In addition, Bonnie collaborates with the district’s digital learning leaders and librarians to ensure that there are equitable opportunities for all students in the realm of digital learning. Those groups helped to develop the district’s Digital Learning Plan, completed at the end of the last school year, which guides the district's efforts for the next three years. She believes that technology and digital tools can enhance and support learning, making it possible for students to create, collaborate, communicate, and think critically.

Bonnie was a classroom teacher in Williston for many years before transitioning to the role of digital learning leader there. She has been in her current district position since 2018.

Congratulations, Bonnie, and thank you for the work you do on behalf of CVSD’s students and schools.

 

CVSD Update November 5, 2021

In this CVSD Update you will find:

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• Information about Test to Stay
• Announcements about COVID-19 Vaccines and ways to learn more
• Opportunities to attend upcoming budget-related Board meetings
• News about Internet Connectivity for Families

and more!

Please let us know if you have questions, using this form.

Student Voices Lead the Way

The 4th graders at Charlotte Central School recently noticed some stereotypical language being used between peers. They spoke up about how that felt wrong. Their teachers, Dana Hanf and Tasha Grey, respected those thoughts and used it as a spontaneous teaching moment to connect to a greater view of stereotypes and gender language. 

As a group, they made this poster. 

Then, they made their own posters which can be found hanging around the school. 

Way to go, students! And way to go, teachers, for supporting the conversation.