[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6092448,"mediaKeyId","2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255","parentId",2853932,"title","Parents and committee spar after youth-risk survey given to opted-out middle school students","audioSeconds",4109,"startMs",110000,"endMs",4219000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255&start=110&end=4219","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255/thumbnail_110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6092448/Burlington-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/Parents-and-committee-spar-after-youth-risk-survey-given-to-opted-out-middle-school-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092448-3fcc276e8108c72013692fcd1d91dc31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147608&Signature=k53sqf95wWiJbmFSy-QBwj7Y24s~0WOS0ZXs~FINRQIJW~GjDxLeZHk6TGBgyovhqfklz4uhvv~rlyfHg0ljHGHjWHT5U0pQ1jWaMi-380Dz7PcSgixFegg1COUlw~4xDiawLZSViP7MobfNf772FN~uLNCH9jszBcUL4s3loCMARunRwsdMWttybpKNXbNmh~Y9fbDhYmNqZKN7UyXWBlBVUqoymtlM~j~BHJmKxpb9sYWAm43-qPHLe8HNvu104Fjbm-vqI1p5p-QAMNRhTqA4sNL0zI09K09YGq~8M1ugc~DnaL-NMlLmQjDSBY-qwFQFpBW8zExmtTtnERF0pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burlington Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-03T00:11:26.577Z","article","Parents packed the April 1 Burlington School Committee meeting to protest a youth risk behavior survey that several parents say was given to middle school students even though their parents had submitted opt-out forms.

The complaint reached the level of a public confrontation: multiple parents said students were told the survey was mandatory, that teachers did not honor opt-outs, and that some students were exposed to explicit question text and definitions that parents called inappropriate for sixth- through eighth-graders.

The parents’ concerns prompted a detailed response from Superintendent Dr. Anthony Conte. Conte said some opt-outs were lost in a large volume of ParentSquare communications and that school staff identified at least four concrete cases where an opt-out was not honored. He said the district had worked with a regional consortium and a public-health contractor (JSI) to convert a paper survey into a computer-based questionnaire and that JSI altered some definitions after the district’s wellness committee reviewed the survey. \"The definitions were altered after that and we missed that, the alterations,\" Conte said, adding the district apologizes to families whose opt-outs were not honored.

Parents described the survey language as deeply upsetting. Hilda Darion, who said she has a sixth-grade son at Marshall Simonds Middle School, said her son \"came home last week clearly shaken up\" and only realized what he had been asked after seeing posted screenshots. \"My son said, Mom, we took a test today at school, but the questions were really weird. I didn't know how to answer them. I didn't wanna take the test, but my teachers made me,\" Darion said during public comment.

Other parents said the survey included explicit definitions (some added in 2025) that went beyond the CDC instrument the district had referred to in communications. Superintendent Conte told the committee that eight of about 10 Middlesex League communities used the same questions, and that JSI added or changed items and definitions at the last stage of preparing the computer-based instrument. \"We just assumed that the questions would be the same, and the information would be the same as 2023. And it was changed. But that was changed again by JSI, not by our staff,\" Conte told the committee.

Committee members and parents pressed several follow-up items: better notice to parents before a survey is administered, an opt-in rather than an opt-out system for sensitive instruments, a policy that requires the survey text to be attached to any opt-out/permission message, and clearer classroom directions that students who decline may stop and not be pressured. Committee member Jeremy Brooks said he wants immediate action and proposed putting policy language on the next meeting agenda; the chair agreed to bring survey policy proposals back for committee consideration.

District officials confirmed Leahy Clinic provided partial funding for the multi-district effort and that Burlington also shared costs; Conte said the district will not continue working with JSI \"if the committee so chooses,\" and that the wellness committee and administration must tighten review procedures going forward.

What the committee directed and what it did not do
Discussion at the meeting produced several clear next steps rather than a formal policy vote: the administration agreed to inventory surveys used by the district, provide copies of the 2023 and 2025 surveys for committee review, present proposed policy language addressing parental consent and classroom procedures, and return to the committee with recommendations on whether to continue participation in the Middlesex League survey process or to replace the contractor. No formal disciplinary actions or personnel votes were taken at the meeting.

Why this matters
District leaders and many parents said the goal of collecting youth-risk data is to inform wellness programming; parents who spoke said the particular instrument and the way it was administered crossed a line for middle-school students and breached parent trust. Several speakers insisted immediate, concrete policy changes be presented to the committee at the next meeting.

The committee scheduled follow-up agenda items; the district said it will post answers and the survey instruments as soon as they are available.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Committee - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parents packed the April 1 Burlington School Committee meeting to protest a youth risk behavior survey that several parents say was given to middle school students even though their parents had submitted opt-out forms.","taxTitle","Burlington Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",56238,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092438,"School committee approves capital warrant items including HVAC, field projects and community custodial support",502,7868000,8370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255&start=7868&end=8370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255/thumbnail_7868000.jpg","/articles/6092438/Burlington-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-capital-warrant-items-including-HVAC-field-projects-and-community-custodial-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092438-7054e11bd854d50da75a571983f8bda1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147608&Signature=HXOP9I-awO-S5fAqXa4cex6TuQqar7obEXTeLdwm-mioT9ZiwZJ8-6AhLRhfZXCGt4s-W3UHqHveV-v50K9axB2Dr2jj~sjcbaDliDHJRa5Yr74hO9beNeN0OozKMYgvzU44qZWrsKpI8WXrY2XCWyQUaqD5-Jr~1GKKYXs0ASj6KhaPHClpSdTlMBrX6Ky~mglBV5V3t5WNrLTbmmZzIUP~pyFoI4zZ0pCx2RWDeKL1v8618Kn41UQPoA6pcA6zmO08svxlnRLjBiJB~oZmHusuPDZdy43z3sSqnxHEcwK7R86sy8Y9JUaPr0LPTXye7wHXfkDZpuMYoiLzQ-yKRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burlington School Committee on April 1 moved through a set of capital warrant articles after a long public-comment period earlier in the meeting. Committee members voted to support multiple articles ranging from building systems maintenance to field improvements and community facility support.

Key approvals (motions passed April 1)
- Curriculum K–5 literacy (program/materials/services): $578,722.40 — approved by voice vote.
- Green communities / BMS (energy-related work): $276,888.70 — approved by voice vote.
- Building envelope and vestibule (one school): $335,500 — approved by voice vote.
- Network equipment (E-rate eligible): $637,194.70 — approved; administration noted that E-rate rebates reduce the town’s net share.
- Security upgrades: $54,747 — approved.
- Tree maintenance: $50,000 — approved.
- Boiler-room maintenance: $69,873.10 — approved.
- HVAC maintenance: $753,500 — approved.
- Middle-school furniture: $101,000.38 — approved.
- Scoreboards and related technology (indoors/outdoors/audio): $98,950 — approved (recorded opposed vote: 3–1–0).
- Community custodial: $74,783 — approved (see separate article).
- Marshall Simonds Middle School (phase 2 field work): $1,710,000 — approved.
- Marshall Simonds field bathroom facility (site amenities including bathrooms/snack shack/storage): $1,650,000 — approved.

A handful of articles included explanatory discussion about eligibility for external rebates and scheduling. For example, administration staff explained that a portion of the network equipment request is E-rate eligible and that the rebate reduces the district’s portion; that is why the overall town warrant package shows a different net figure than the gross equipment cost.

Most votes passed unanimously by voice vote; one warrant article (scoreboards/technology) carried a recorded opposition. Several articles were framed as warrant articles to be presented to town meeting; where required the administration noted the items would be placed in the town warrant and that town meeting would approve final funding. The committee noted that some larger projects (for example, building vestibules and phase 2 middle-school work) may be phased over multiple fiscal years and will be coordinated with town capital planning.

Why this matters
The approved warrant items fund maintenance, technology, and facilities work that the administration says is necessary to keep operations safe and functional and to support extracurricular activities and community use of schools. The Marshall Simonds field and site projects are the most expensive single items and were discussed in the context of scheduling, wetlands review, and potential staging to avoid conflicts with other district capital work.

What’s next
Most items approved by the committee will be included in the town warrant for the upcoming town meeting. Administration and facilities staff were asked to continue coordinating with town finance and to return to the committee with implementation schedules and any required follow-up materials.","After public comment and facility discussions, the committee approved a series of capital and maintenance warrant articles on April 1, including HVAC maintenance, middle-school furniture, network equipment, and multiple Marshall Simonds field projects; the community custodial article also passed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6092443,"PTOs urge changes to facility-staffing rules after cafeteria, custodial fees cut into fundraising",4213,4250000,8463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255&start=4250&end=8463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2853932-7a8c04ad5bcdcceb2c8ca503a9b39255/thumbnail_4250000.jpg","/articles/6092443/Burlington-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/PTOs-urge-changes-to-facility-staffing-rules-after-cafeteria-custodial-fees-cut-into-fundraising","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6092443-77f803e7a1298339939b5bd3afd1c9d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147608&Signature=QF8LaFHP3-3OUWgqWBiUQXhR-ICfK~huXN3uTUytYBQDtHOjKNe4nxVUz1uLaenfQnnzWCVvPmTeFpgTLz-0UZykiWFFGsZgHF9f5qxXwkyqjVOVg-YNoM5MyBe64zB0MuKYCtOsat~nYfLaYP9LO0S5ANFuq07HNcQIr~yOrPHRBJ2L4I8FWiJg-zRR4NmPJ-BjkChEQ2jMMmdZ54KwXSrujrGyGaCl9hpHcnvIKzv0vPk6gfzNJQlTlY3w4LpZWbv2DFIPqtWBagPgUdKJgB79yousIqxmhgbbgV2oiMZ6rdn-cEP9MxnVME0PRoyEufkkStJyl6tJaTc~l1ChLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","PTO leaders from Pine Glen and Memorial schools told the April 1 Burlington School Committee that facility-staffing rules — particularly the requirement to have cafeteria staff and custodians present for some after-hours events — are reducing the net proceeds of their fundraisers.

Margo Bunker, Pine Glen PTO president, and Colleen Shannon, Memorial PTO events chair, said recent events such as carnivals and pancake breakfasts yielded little or no profit once required staffing fees were paid. \"The profit we would have gained, which would have been almost a thousand dollars from the pancake breakfast, we had to use to pay the bill that the cafeteria workers gave us,\" Shannon said. Bunker and other PTO representatives urged the committee to consider ways to allow community groups more feasible access to kitchens and cafeterias without extinguishing their fundraising proceeds.

School facilities staff described constraints that limit options: kitchen staff are licensed and insured employees whose contract requires their presence when the school kitchen is used, and custodial staffing levels are set by contractual obligations tied to size of events. The administration also cited state guidance (Department of Revenue) on the \"Anti-Aid Amendment,\" which limits municipal resources from being used to assist private fundraising activities even when the fundraising benefits school programs.

Officials discussed possible workarounds and options. Suggestions included allowing community groups to use cafeteria space without using the kitchen (bringing prepared food) or applying for one-day Board of Health permits for parent volunteers to prepare food; expanding the community custodial fund to better cover custodial hours for events; and clarifying contract language so groups and staff understand staffing thresholds. Facilities staff said they would research options and report back to the committee; the administration cautioned that some uses (kitchen preparation) will continue to require a licensed cafeteria employee for food-safety and insurance reasons.

The committee later approved a warrant article supporting the community custodial account for $74,783; the motion passed during the capital-warrant votes that followed the facilities discussion.

Why this matters
School-based community events are a major revenue source for many PTOs and youth groups. If required staffing charges consume a significant share of those proceeds, school volunteers say it undermines the point of fundraising and limits enrichment activities. The legal constraint cited in the meeting — state guidance on municipal assistance and fundraising — narrows the set of policy solutions the committee can approve without external approvals.

What the committee asked for next
Administration and facilities staff will examine contract language, Board of Health one-day permit options, historical custodial-hour usage, and whether the custodial/community facilities fund allocation can be restructured to reduce the cost burden on school-based fundraisers. The committee asked staff to return with a recommended approach and clearer guidance for PTOs.","PTO leaders told the school committee that cafeteria-staffing and custodial requirements for after-hours events are reducing net fundraising. Committee members discussed Department of Revenue limits on municipal support for private fundraising and directed staff to explore options including Board of Health permits and contract changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and committee spar after youth-risk survey given to opted-out middle school students

School committee approves capital warrant items including HVAC, field projects and community custodial support

PTOs urge changes to facility-staffing rules after cafeteria, custodial fees cut into fundraising