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Parent tells Burlington school committee safety incidents were not shared with families
Summary
A public commenter described multiple safety incidents and alleged the district failed to notify families; committee members acknowledged concerns and pointed to ongoing policy reviews to improve transparency.
At the start of public comment, William Manka told the school committee the district has a "dangerous pattern of miscommunication and complete lack of accountability," alleging that families were not notified after serious incidents and that repeated failures have "put children at risk." Manka cited a February 2022 incident in which students were sent home during an active manhunt and two 2024 incidents — one described as "a terrorism threat" that led to a three‑day suspension and another involving a student with a knife that received a five‑day suspension.
Manka said neither recent incident had been disclosed to the broader Burlington parent community and urged the committee to take "meaningful change" to restore trust. He offered photographic evidence of doors being propped open and criticized the district’s handling and communication.
Chair acknowledged the comment and the committee moved on to the agenda items. Several committee discussions later in the meeting — including proposed survey and opt‑out policies and handbook clarifications — reflected an emphasis on increasing transparency and improving parent notification procedures.
What’s next: The committee did not make an on‑the‑record policy decision in response to the allegations; public commenters’ concerns about communication were part of the broader discussion that prompted the policy first readings and planned follow‑up.
