[{"_1":2,"_82":-5,"_83":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6282534,"mediaKeyId","2595359-ebd09fd35e25a8b9fe5ac07cfebb9712","parentId",2595359,"title","School committee approves expansion of Francis Wyman community garden to boost pantry yield","audioSeconds",624,"startMs",711000,"endMs",1335000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2595359-ebd09fd35e25a8b9fe5ac07cfebb9712&start=711&end=1335","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2595359-ebd09fd35e25a8b9fe5ac07cfebb9712/thumbnail_711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6282534/Burlington-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-expansion-of-Francis-Wyman-community-garden-to-boost-pantry-yield","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282534-43b7df219b84173420aad0f94f623d27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159269&Signature=ELC0eCH3O~O4GwpheMO39UNYUtdcF3D0ENlnF5L2xBtK2RU2nL2hzVY3WN48fJfj7axbDgWzD~OglTr9mrpwguW-L9JT-Vh4hWMKtjhSsYq2Ar47Y1fnPOtveNZRXsPibRcLdPn3gn6FH5ru6W8iZOryUQU~MXrNwVp3J413x0GvSkh2P~y74O3ykn13F5oyOqb~2d051PlaaBgXI0UYZdQKVchr-UedysFawneUL9p7mesz9-pYSLH8msxw76X6skFQLsWyD9cmdRgL2And3nx8XvvGTKTQtDNr2aL3DRpDoxzSoD2xsOYtkVJcZy5fveV5EVQQSLgt2pva-qSTiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burlington Public Schools, MA","date","2025-03-12T18:25:02Z","article","The Burlington Public Schools School Committee unanimously approved on March 11 a plan to expand the volunteer community garden on the Francis Wyman School grounds, a project volunteers said will increase the garden’s annual yield for the town’s food pantry.

The committee voted to allow the People Helping People Victory Garden to clear part of a hill behind the garden and establish a 25‑foot buffer; the motion passed without recorded opposition.

Peter Capola, senior volunteer at the Community Garden Complex, told the committee the garden has operated for 13 years and supports the food pantry, leased plots for residents and a school garden. ‘‘We need to significantly increase the size of the volunteer garden,’’ Capola said, explaining the current footprint has reached capacity. He estimated the expansion could raise annual yield by roughly 1,100 pounds — to a projected total of ‘‘almost 5,200 pounds.’’ Capola said the DPW would perform excavation and a contractor has offered to remove trees at little or no cost.

Committee members asked about conservation and sight‑line impacts for nearby Laurel Lane residents; Capola said the proposed work would preserve roughly 30 feet of hill as a buffer and would keep sight lines from Laurel Lane unchanged. A committee member asked whether the work could be staged over multiple years using volunteers; Capola said volunteers could help if a phased approach is approved.

Administration representatives said the expansion would not cost the school department. The committee directed staff to confirm any required Conservation Commission or DPW approvals and asked volunteers to coordinate timing so contractors would be clear they have authority to proceed.

Committee members flagged follow-up items: confirming conservation permissions, scheduling work before the growing season if possible and providing a short update to the committee once start dates and permits are confirmed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Committee - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Volunteers told the committee the People Helping People volunteer garden needs a 25‑foot buffer expansion to raise annual produce yield; the school committee unanimously approved the request and asked staff to coordinate DPW and conservation details.","taxTitle","Burlington Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",56238,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":78,"_53":79,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":80,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":81,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6282540,"School committee approves travel, fees and program changes; calendar adopted 3-2","/articles/6282540/Burlington-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-travel-fees-and-program-changes-calendar-adopted-3-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282540-ee415e9858a096407fb18b1538207e04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159269&Signature=PmAffJTkq~cYEkDTJvER7g8iOpI-p2X~ZL-v~FAjyVfLtWalztzUA5ZTgTljkbmngZlZ2y~dE6VlH~3--mTO2SEiXWOxJiA~Wh1C8noaNuwXGazFlKzCCMWpzMdAhDO0iPfCDil9tMLQDLbqoyPMFlJbqGgDkqnYJLRVTNtVr9Kw8sWuGo2gPYCag8TUcWHhIPws5w3xCK895hwBp1rqkKYIdUeU~85YusSiAD5EPkJ9LNV8DJzqoWw2TEvoKosUa~32iPqD9Mx2faw7gB6Mv3WAc2hDUdm5Z8cD2CWQkOWIjzjxUFei4gPEKsEctQYb1T6CkB5GlupO~gVPQ8RfBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burlington Public Schools School Committee on March 11 approved a set of travel requests, program fee changes and routine minutes and warrant approvals, and adopted the 2025–26 school calendar after a 3–2 vote.

The committee unanimously approved three out-of-state travel requests: Director of Mental Health Miss Concepcion to speak at the 2025 Innovation Institute in Maryland (anticipated cost shown in the packet: about $2,500); a robotics team trip to a Rhode Island competition (hotel costs to be paid by students); and a DECA group trip to DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Orlando for 17 students and three chaperones (estimated cost about $1,100 per student). Committee members said the trips followed existing policy and funding sources cited in the backup materials.

The committee also approved proposed after‑school program tuition changes, including keeping elementary and middle-school annual tuition steady, matching middle-school daily rates to the elementary program, and a $10-per-day increase for school‑vacation programming. The building rental rate schedule was increased (first change in seven years, per staff) and will be communicated to user groups.

Separately, the committee voted to adopt the 2025–26 school calendar (Draft 2). The first day for students in grades 1–12 will be Tuesday, Sept. 2; pre‑K and kindergarten would begin Monday, Sept. 8. Staff would report Aug. 26. The calendar shortens winter break and adds Good Friday as a no‑school day; the last day of school without snow days is listed as June 17. The motion passed 3–2 after discussion about preferences for a pre‑ or post‑Labor Day start.

Also on the consent side, routine warrants and the Feb. 25 minutes were approved at the start of the meeting.

Votes listed below reflect motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes and packet.","At its March 11 meeting the Burlington Public Schools School Committee approved several routine and program items — including out-of-state travel requests, after-school tuition changes, building-rental rates and limited school choice — and adopted a 2025–26 calendar after a 3–2 vote.","actionData","errors"]

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School committee approves expansion of Francis Wyman community garden to boost pantry yield

School committee approves travel, fees and program changes; calendar adopted 3-2