Letter To The Editor Roundup: School Diversity Role

BURLINGTON, MA — A warrant article that would fund a new director of diversity, equity and inclusion position at Burlington Public School has prompted passionate interest from some residents and organizations. Patch has received a number of letters to the editor on this issue, collected below.

>>Town Meeting Article Would Fund BPS Diversity and Equity Director

Previously published letters:

• Letter To The Editor Roundup: Burlington School Diversity Role
• Letter To The Editor: Equity, Diversity And Inclusion Director
• Letter To The Editor: BEA Supports School Diversity Role

Letter to the editor from Burlington High School's Leadership and Social Change class:

To the Editor,

As our nation is becoming increasingly aware of racial injustice and insensitivity towards the BIPOC community, it’s time to realize that our town isn’t an exception when it comes to racism and hate incidents. These problems truly came to light in November of 2015 when two BHS students vandalized the Burlington Islamic Center by spray painting “USA” repeatedly on its walls, directly presenting the – ignorant – message that Muslims don’t belong in this country. In March of 2016, three religious statues at St. Margaret’s Church were destroyed and vandalized. In January of 2019, anti-semitic graffiti was painted at Pine Glen Elementary School. While these incidents in the community were highly publicized, BHS students witness hate-related speech and actions almost daily identifying the urgent need for Warrant Article #7: School Department Salary for Direction of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to pass.

This month, a BHS student called a Black BHS Student the “n-word” 4 times while playing basketball. A Black BHS Alumni was “told to defend slavery” by their teacher in their freshman year. Stories such as this range from a Black student being told not to “drink from this water fountain, it’s for whites only” to a Muslim student being referred to as a “terrorist” and LGBTQ students facing traumatizing hate remarks. Many alumni and current students have stories of being victimized in this town we call home. Our surrounding towns have taken initiative towards repairing this problem, and it’s time that Burlington embarks on an anti-racist journey as well.

School districts like Lexington, Arlington, Brookline, Framingham, Medford, and Wellesley have student populations equally or more diverse than ours, leading them to recognize the need for a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In fact, many of these school districts already have a version of an Equity Coordinator, whose job is to build anti-racist students in their schools. However, we don’t have a Director. We have an Equity Committee composed of faculty, staff, administrators, and student representatives. While our school’s Equity Committee has done commendable work in regards to Equity in our town, we need a leader who is fully committed to taking Burlington on an anti-racist journey.

This is NOT just about the budget, this is about our community priorities. This is about how students – beginning in elementary school – aren’t taught an equity-based curriculum. This is about incidents not being reported to administrators since students know that nothing will happen to those who hurt them. This is about not even having a set protocol for how to deal with these appalling events. This is about having a 35% non-white student population while there is a mere 4% of non-white teachers in the district. This is about reflecting our values and priorities in our budget and having a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion who will work to change the issues that we listed above.

At the end of the day, it is about the entire community working to fund this position due to its importance for each and every one of our students – our youth. By having a Director of DEI, teachers, administrators, and students will be better equipped to manage incidents of inequity in the future.

As students and humans, we feel the hiring of a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is absolutely necessary, as we want to feel safe, appreciated, and acknowledged in our schools. We ask you to vote in support of Warrant Article #7: School Department Salary for Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Signed,

Leadership and Social Change Class at Burlington High School (Sophomore-Senior)

Sara Shaikh (BHS Senior)
Prapti Shah (BHS Senior)
Sarah Pottle (BHS Senior)
Layla Ahmed (BHS Sophomore)
Alana Caluwe (BHS Senior)
Violet Corcoran (BHS Senior)
Jonathan Wolinski (BHS Senior)
Isabella Vigliotta (BHS Senior)
Matthew DiRienzo (BHS Senior)
Sara Almonte (BHS Senior)
Rachel Schlansky (BHS Senior)
Jodi Princiotta (BHS Senior)
Ella Tedesco (BHS Sophomore)
Thomas Porter (BHS Senior)

Letter to the editor from Burlington Planning Board member Mike Espejo:

Town meeting members and to the Burlington School Committee,

I am writing to you today to ask for your support for Article #7, the creation of a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion position within the Burlington schools. I will concede that in these uncertain times we need to be vigilant, deliberate and measured in watching our purse strings. The global pandemic has turned our world upside down and these days, it seems we have more questions than answers.

One thing we can be sure of is that Burlington children deserve the highest quality of education. They also deserve a safe and welcoming environment to receive that education. It absolutely broke my heart to hear those students at that rally on the common tell testimonials that echoed what I endured 30 years ago in those exact same hallways. Nothing has changed since I was in school here; nothing will change here unless we take swift and decisive action.

The issue of racism is bigger than any (potential) budget shortfall. This is a moral issue and at the crux of preserving our community and the very fabric of our society. It is not a luxury. It is a flat out necessity. Even in tough times, you need to find a way to spend on necessities and sometimes that means finding creative ways to get there.

We have an opportunity here to begin to turn the tide. Other towns are doing this and we shouldn’t let Burlington fall behind. This vote is a barometer for our town: This vote will tell us, our community, our state and our nation if Burlington is serious about making a safe environment for every student or if we are satisfied with the status quo. There is no better moment in time to reaffirm that we desire a community that is safe and comfortable for every single student that enters a Burlington school.

Please vote in favor of Article #7 for our current and for future generations of Burlington kids. Do it for the kid that feels so alienated and scared that he hides in an MSMS bathroom. I’ve been that kid and I still remember that terrible sadness and pain. Your vote in support of Article 7 can go a long way in ensuring that doesn’t happen to another child in the Burlington school system.

Thank you for your consideration and thank you for every single moment you spend in service of our wonderful town.

Sincerely,
Mike Espejo
Precinct One
BHS Class of 1991

These letters were produced by Burlington residents. The views expressed are the authors' own.