Ward 5 NPA

Regular Meeting

Burlington, VT · November 20, 2025

Minutes

Neighborhood Planning Assembly Minutes Ward NPA: 5 Date of Assembly : 11/20/2025 Start Time: (Commence): 6:59 Location: DPW Finish Time: (Adjourn): 8:31 Note taker: Jak Tiano Steering Committee Members in Attendance: Jak Tiano, Primrose VanWolevear, Jason Van Driesche, FaRied Munarsyah, Lena Greenberg Discussion Topics ● OPC Presentation Actions Taken / Decisions Made ● School Redistricting ● No actions taken ● Apartheid Free Community Pledge Agenda Items and Actions: ● 6:59PM: Prim calls meeting to order ● 7:00PM: Opens public forum ○ FaRied Explains People’s Kitchen ○ Jak pitches an idea about neighborhood development group ○ Andy explains that there’s a need for people to help move benches in in Calahan Park ○ Andy also explains that there’s a walk through of calahan park and the new paths coming up ○ Jason makes a plug to go out in the mountains, because winter is here (there) ○ There is a question and a brief discussion about the changes downtown with new police patrols and changing shelter bed situation ● 7:15PM: Jess Kirby Director of Client Services from Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform kicks off the presentation on the Overdose Prevention Center ○ City website under the OPC tab there’s a survey for people who live or work in BTV to take, live until December 15th: Survey link ○ There’s also a webinar about the OPC on the city website: Webinar link ○ These two pieces are the main points of the presentation; opens it up for question ○ Question about the timeline: ■ They don’t know when things are going to happen yet because it will depend on siting. Currently on Bank street, but don’t have a final location sorted out yet and wont stay on Bank street. This is a big part of the service assessment survey. ■ Needs to be walking distance to downtown, so that it’s in proximity to where overdoses are happening, and to also alleviate impact of public drug use and discarded syringes. ○ Question from Andy: in the most basic form, could you explain what an OPC is? ■ OPC is an “overdose prevention center”, used to be called a “safe injection site”, but has evolved over time to be more clear about what it is. The goal is for it to be a harm reduction hub, for people to have low-barrier access to supportive services. It’s a way to get people what they need, and to make a connection between harm reduction and recovery, and to help people build trust so they can get better. That being said, there will still be services to help people safely take their drugs and be responded to in the event of an overdose. ● 7:35PM: Tiff, Bram, and Lucia kick off the conversation about school redistricting ○ Today, the redistricting task force met to finalize and approve a report to the legislature, which will come to the legislature on December 1st ○ Bram gives overview ■ Act 73 is spurred mostly by high property taxes, and by the fact that we had the highest per-pupil spending in the country, unequal educational outcomes, and yet schools had fewer kids than ever ■ There were a lot of questions about the optimal size of school districts and class sizes, but also a need to change how funding works ■ Instead, every district gets a per-pupil dollar amount, with additional weights for kids who have higher needs (costs) ■ No more Vermont tax dollars going to out of school states ■ Replacing statewide property tax credit with a homestead property tax exemption based on income. ○ Tiff explains where we are in the process ■ Task force wants to be pragmatic, focused, and data driven ■ Research showed that there was no support for the district sizes proposed, and that forced mergers cause problems; new maps don’t address real cost drivers, which are health insurance, special ed, and transportation; locally driven voluntary mergers are best ■ The conclusion is that “Vermont should concentrate on instructional improvement and regional shared-service capacity, not on large or rapid district mergers.” ■ Instead: 1) regional Cooperative Education Services Areas designed to actually reduce costs, 2) incentivise strategic voluntary mergers, 3) work toward regionally-governed high schools (particularly in rural areas) ○ Jason asks “Can the Governor actually throw out the task force report?” ■ Tiff says she’s not sure, but is hopefully that wont need to happen ○ Lucia gives a BTV framing ■ From the start, BTV’s school board have been opposed to Act 73, because there’s no data to support that this would save costs, improve operations, and would not increase educational outcomes ■ The proposed solution is potentially elegant, and the school board has not met yet since the report came out, but Lucia is optimistic about it ■ Last year Burlington’s budget went up, but the tax impact went down. Even with the changes, that should continue to fund the district until the new process goes into place for at least a few years. ■ From an operational perspective, it would be very harmful to the workers and students ● 8:07PM: Apartheid Free Community Pledge ○ For the last two years, city council has stopped a ballot initiative from moving forward, and they would like it to move forward ○ Presenters give an overview of what apartheid is, and its presence in the state of Israel ○ The presenters connect this back to Burlington, and how the money we pay in taxes goes to Israel through the federal government ○ Amy gives a brief overview of what the Apartheid Free Community Pledge is ■ In 2025, 9 towns actually voted on this, and 5 passed it ■ Burlington allows ballot items to go on the ballot with enough signatures, and in 2024 and 2025 they got enough signatures, but the Burlington City Council blocked this from going forward ○ A question about why it’s important that we vote on this? ■ The presenter explains that the most important thing is that we vote on it, not that it passes. People have made it clear that they want it on the ballot, and it’s important to let that democratic voice carry through. ○ Ben Traverse wanted to mention that because Democratic City Councillors were called out, he wanted to speak to it. ■ Ben says that as city council president he does not plan to put this on the ballot. ■ In a statement he explains that he does not believe that the wording of the question does not allow for safe discussion, in the community, and offers his personal experience in the past. ■ He also offers that he believes that the organizers have not been open to evolving the language. ○ Buddy Singh also offers his own thoughts on the topic. ■ His main focus is on the fact that he feels dialogue is not happening, and that we should focus on conversation over a ballot initiative. ● 8:31PM: Prim adjourns the meeting.

Agenda

Packet

Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA): Draft Agenda Thursday, November 20th 6:30PM-8:15PM Join in person: 645 Pine Street (DPW Building) Join virtually: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89574495720 Facilitator: Primrose VanWolvelear Note Taker: Jak Tiano 6:30 Community Dinner | 30 min 7:00 Welcome & Public Forum | 15 min ● Introductions ● Open floor for community input 7:15 Overdose Prevention Centers Presentation | 15 min ● Sharing info about the OPC community survey launching in November 7:30 Update and community conversation regarding school redistricting | 25 min ● To discuss the school redistricting process and gather input before the committee finalizes its recommendations 7:55 Apartheid-Free Community presentation | 20 min ● A presentation and discussion of the Open Letter to the Burlington City Council regarding free speech and the Apartheid Free Communities initiative (www.vermontcpl.org/btv) 8:15 Adjourn ● Next meeting will be Thursday, December 18th, 2025 Page 1 of 36 EDUCATION REFORM – ACT 73 WHERE WE’VE BEEN WHERE WE ARE WHAT’S AHEAD Page 2 of 36 WHERE WE’VE BEEN Page 3 of 36 THE PROBLEM ❏ Unsustainable annual increases in property taxes ❏ Highest per-pupil spending in the country ❏ Large variations in education spending and education quality across the state ❏ Ed spending going up even as the number of students declines. Page 4 of 36 ACT 73 GOALS 1 2 3 LOWER AND ACHIEVE IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES EDUCATIONAL STABILIZE ACROSS THE OUTCOMES & COSTS EDUCATIONAL INCREASE SYSTEM STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES Page 5 of 36 1. DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION Task Force created to draw up to 3 maps – Report due to legislature this December 2. CLASS SIZE MINIMUMS 1st grade: 10; grades 2-5: 12; grades 6-8: 15; grades 9-12: 18. Exceptions for certain classes. Page 6 of 36 3. FUNDING ❏ Base funding to districts through statewide“Foundation Formula” (by 2028 if new districts formed by then) ❏ $15,033 per student (adjusted annually for inflation) ❏ Additional money (or weights) for students who are English learners, economically disadvantaged, and those with disabilities ❏ Other allowances Page 7 of 36 4. INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ❏ Prohibits tuitioning students to out of state schools ❏ Allows tuitions to VT independent schools if: - A district does not have a public school for some or all grades - At least 25% of students enrolled are tuitioned through the state ❏ Effective 2026-27 school year Page 8 of 36 5. Tax Changes Replaces statewide property tax credit with a homestead property tax exemption based on income. ❏ Households earning $115,000 or less can exempt a portion of housesite value – up to $425,000 – from property taxes. ❏ Taxes second homes at a higher rate than business or rental properties. ❏ Implementation report due by Dec 31st. Page 9 of 36 WHERE WE ARE Page 10 of 36 Redistricting Task Force - August - Nov GUIDING PRINCIPLES ❏ Be pragmatic and focused ❏ Acknowledge political realities ❏ Use DATA, not assumptions ❏ Honor local knowledge ❏ Do no harm ❏ Design for resilience Page 11 of 36 Redistricting Report ❏ No research supports the mandated Act 73 sizes (of between 4-8,000 students) ❏ Evidence of potential harm if implementation is too rapid or poorly planned ❏ New maps don’t address real cost drivers (health insurance, special education, transportation, building maintenance & construction investments) ❏ Research reflects that locally driven, voluntary mergers are more successful and can produce more immediate savings Page 12 of 36 Its Conclusion “Vermont should concentrate on instructional improvement and regional shared-service capacity, not on large or rapid district mergers.” Page 13 of 36 INSTEAD… THREE COMPLEMENTARY STRATEGIES ❏ Creation of regional Cooperative Education Services Areas designed to reduce duplication, leverage proximate resources, promote equitable access to education, and reduce costs. ❏ Incentivizing strategic, voluntary mergers focused on educational benefit, community priorities, and fiscal sustainability ❏ Regionally-governed high schools to expand student opportunity (particularly in rural areas) Page 14 of 36 REDISTRICTING: Timeline Multi-year, multi-stage process: Year 1: Assessment and Planning ID shared svs opportunities Years 1-2 Launch service pilots Begin regional staffing where feasible Evaluation and feedback Years 2-4 Conduct feasibility studies for regional high schools Incentivize voluntary mergers Years 4+ Expand successful models statewide Implement mergers and governance shifts Evaluate Page 15 of 36 Parallel Work ❏ Commission on the Future of Public Education charged with resolving issues related to school governance: which decisions are local, which belong to the state? ❏ Agency of Education charged with establishing statewide high school graduation requirements ❏ Reports on other issues - school construction, transportation, career and technical education, special education and pre-K - in process Page 16 of 36 WHAT ABOUT BTV? Page 17 of 36 Helpful Links ❏ Draft Report: https://bit.ly/3XM4MEt ❏ AOE Task Force Link: https://bit.ly/3Xalr4x Page 18 of 36 Burlington, VT NPA Meeting Tour Page 19 of 36 AGENDA Israeli Local Next Steps Open Apartheid and Campaign Discussion the Genocide and Q&A Page 20 of 36 Page 21 of 36 Israeli apartheid: Deprivation The deliberate impoverishment of 4 strategies Palestinians. For example, keeping them at a great disadvantage in comparison to Jewish Israelis Dispossession Decades of discriminatory land and property seizures, home demolitions, and Fragmentation forced evictions Keeping Palestinians separated from each other Segregation into distinct territorial, legal A system of laws and policies that and administrative domains keep Palestinians restricted to enclaves, subject to several measures that control their lives, and segregated from Jewish Israelis Source: Amnesty International Page 22 of 36 Israeli apartheid: According to whom? Advisory opinion on July 19, 2024 found Israel responsible for committing apartheid. Page 23 of 36 Page 24 of 36 Israeli apartheid: Who’s paying for it? Page 25 of 36 LOCAL CAMPAIGN Page 26 of 36 The VERMONT COALITION FOR PALESTINIAN LIBERATION is a collaboration of several Vermont organizations and hundreds of Vermont residents volunteering their time and energy to work for a FREE PALESTINE. Page 27 of 36 $27.6 million Vermont taxpayer dollars sent to Israel in 2024 3 Palestinian students were shot Palestine in Burlington in 2023, showing the is a local issue. violence is not contained overseas The Boomerang Comes Back, spreading apartheid, hate, and violence spread Page 28 of 36 THE APARTHEID-FREE COMMUNITY PLEDGE: Initiated by the American WE AFFIRM our commitment to Friends Service Committee freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; in 2022, this pledge has been adopted worldwide WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; by 880+ businesses, and community organizations, WE DECLARE ourselves an artists, unions, faith Apartheid-free community and to that organizations, & end, municipalities. WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation. Page 29 of 36 Winooski Plainfield Thetford Support for the pledge is growing around Vermont… Newfane Brattleboro Page 30 of 36 2024 …but in Burlington, our vote is 2025 being blocked. Page 31 of 36 Burnaby, BC, Canada Aug 26, 2025 | Passed resolution to endorse AFC and write to federal government demanding an arms embargo. Somerville, MA Nov 4, 2025 | Ballot question to boycott and divest from businesses supporting Israeli apartheid passed with 55.7% of votes. Iowa City, IA Aug 5, 2025 | Passed resolution to boycott and divest from businesses supporting Beyond Israeli genocide and occupation. St. Louis, MO Nov 7, 2025 | Passed resolution to divest city Burlington, pensions from war and human rights violations cities and by Israel. towns are taking action.Page 32 of 36 Let Voters Decide on Apartheid-Free Community OPEN LETTER TO BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL Dear Burlington City Council & Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, Democrats on the City Council blocked the AFC pledge advisory question from going to voters two years in a row, despite thousands of Burlington residents signing petitions to put the pledge on the ballot. In April 2025, the Council unanimously approved a resolution for protecting free speech on Palestine, and it is time to rectify the fact that our free speech rights have been repeatedly denied. There should be a democratic vote on adopting the pledge. We, the undersigned, SUPPORT the Apartheid-Free Community (AFC) pledge, and DEMAND that the Burlington City Council place the AFC advisory referendum question on the town meeting day 2026 ballot. Page 33 of 36 NEXT STEPS Page 34 of 36 What can you do? Ben Traverse ❏ Sign the open letter (vermontcpl.org/btv) btraverse@burlington.gov 802-357-2055 ❏ Contact your city councilors to demand the right to vote on AFC Buddy Singh bsingh@burlington.gov ❏ Inform your community about AFC and post on 802-238-5131 Front Porch Forum ❏ Volunteer with VCPL to support this campaign ❏ Support “No Appetite for Apartheid” campaign What can this NPA do? Vote on a resolution to call on City Council to uphold democratic norms and endorse the open letter to the Burlington City Council Page 35 of 36 THANK YOU Questions? Contact us: apartheidfree@vermontcpl.org vermontcpl.org Page 36 of 36