Vermont Legislature SmartTranscripts:

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: We are live.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: Been an education committee at CBU back after the tour of the school and now we're engaging in really key part of the day which is the student at home and you're gonna, I know you have a discussion amongst yourselves about what's sitting with us in the

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: Westmans afterwards. Well we'll introduce ourselves first. I'm Steven Heffernan from Madison County District

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: and I live really close by Bristol. So Madison Center District. Yeah

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale I am your senator this is my district it's nice to meet all of my husband graduated.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: And my name is Seth Bongartz. I represent the Gettysburg Center District, Bennington County and a couple of towns in Woodin County. We won't spend time with more than that, so tell us about yourself.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I'm Allison Gutierrez. I'm from Hinesburg. I'm a g and I'm a junior at CBO.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: I'm Summer Tiguzayamo. I'm a freshman, and I'm from Shelburne.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: My name is Ethan Santamore. I'm from Williston, and I'm a junior.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: My name is Rutland. I'm from Williston. I'm a senior.

[Rutland (Student)]: My name is Jim Garcia, and I'm a junior and I'm from MovieStar.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I'm Parker Kearney. I'm in

[Rutland (Student)]: ninth grade, and I'm from Williston. Okay. What county are from? Wilson.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: Wilson. Okay. Yeah. Good. Well, you have the questions so you're doing your we've seen this before so we know how it works.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. Think we can just jump right into the first question. Do you have at least one adult in the building that you feel comfortable going to if you need help? And is that person a teacher, an adviser, an administrator, or a staff member?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I feel like I can start with this one. I think that my advisor is definitely someone that I feel comfortable going to. I've had three advisors in my past four years because they keep retiring. And even so, even though I've had three different advisors, I feel like I've always had a great connection to all of them. And I feel like CBU does a really good job of pushing for that connection. We have like one on one meetings and like we have a good like bonding time and I feel like, don't I know, feel like that's something CB does a really good job with. And so because of that, I feel like my advisor has always been someone that I feel really comfortable going to. Like my parents know, like they know that I really need a connection with them. Yeah, I agree. I think my advisory is definitely like a safe place for me within the school. I've had the same advisors throughout my physical experience so far. And I think advisory is definitely one of like the positive things about CDU and really helps build connections like throughout all grades. Yeah, I

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: also think that my counselor, is snowing, so Gavin, he like helps me through schedule and stuff. Like he's also just like knows me personally, I feel like after like, you know, Weeks like make my schedule and he's come into my health class to talk about suicide and stuff. And I feel like he's just super friendly in the halls and like, I don't know. I just feel like he, like, made an effort to get to know me on, like, personal level. And even though I've only, like, actually met with him once, I feel like really comfortable around him and stuff.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. For me, like, my adviser also Gavin's another person that I feel like I can go to if I need help. But then also my club adviser or one of the clubs I lead, CBU, when we don't have adviser, we have what's called c three. And we have a lot of really amazing clubs that anyone can be a part of at CVU. And so the club adviser and the club that I lead, like what Summer was saying about with Gavin, he's always made an effort to really get to know me as a person. So it's made it really easy to feel comfortable, like, going to him and reaching out if I need anything.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I trust my adviser and my math teacher partially because I'm already friends with his son. But,

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: yeah, I feel like I can

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: go to them when I need help. And yeah.

[Rutland (Student)]: For me, my teacher and my counselor, whenever I have problem or looking for a job, they help me to search or see if this job is good for me or for my health. Yeah.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: And something skipping down to the third question, how do your teachers try to get to know you? Something some of us touched on a little bit. But just for me at least, like, I feel like all of my teachers at CBU, they've all done a really good job about, like, in the start of when I have them as a teacher, doing activities where we can get to know each other as students in the class, but also we can know the teacher, the teacher can know us and know more about us. So then it makes that transition into the class easier. And for most of them, they follow-up with that. They continue asking questions about your life, what you did over the weekend. A lot of my classes, we have attendance questions in the beginning that so we can learn from each other. I think that's something that's really powerful when it comes to getting to know teachers and peers.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah, I really agree with that. I also feel like because we have the PM Connect at the end of the day, it really allows for like further connection with teachers. And I feel like throughout like my experience at CBU, like when I see my teachers in the hallway, they always make an effort to say hello. Like everyone I feel like all the teachers I've gotten to know truly want everyone to succeed. And that shows through how they treat people.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: Yeah. I agree. I also feel like it goes both ways with the students too. Like, the I feel like all the teachers put an effort, but they have so many students. So, like, I feel like if you're looking for that, like, really personal connection with your teachers, then it's also, like, your job to, like, reach out to them, PM Connect, see if you can need help. Like, I think that this school set up so, like, teachers really are interested in getting to know you and engage, but you also have opportunities to, like, put in your part and stuff.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I agree. I think that's where the way see view differs from like a traditional high school. I feel like a lot of the teachers, like, really make an effort to try and get to know students, whether it's add on to what you said, whether that's like asking about your personal life and how, like, your weekend was or, like, you know, what you were doing in, like, other classes and everything. I feel like the teachers here have always been really giving with that sort of thing, and they've always really wanted to have a connection with the students. And like what you said, the students also want to get to know the teachers. So I feel like this is really, really good two way street. And yeah, I've never really had any issues with me not knowing my teacher well enough or like not having a good connection.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I feel like the teachers always want to get to know the students a lot, but it also largely depends on how much the students tell the teachers about themselves and the students are equally as responsible for their relationship with their teachers as the teachers are with the students. For

[Rutland (Student)]: me, it's like, when I have, like, a question and where I can solve, so I will quickly go ask my teacher. And after that, I finish to figure out what is it, and then I can go back and do some questions. And after that, we can see through my teacher telling me, like, show me, like, some stuff for math great math is very relevant for me. So sometimes she help me to to do some math, and then yeah.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, connecting back to that, Somerset, I feel like it kind of like transitions into like one of the questions about opportunity. Like, it really the opportunity to be successful in CVU is completely out there. It truly is dependent on what, like, each student's ability to, like, want that. I feel it. And, like, actively, like, try for that. Yeah.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: I agree. There's a lot of op there's opportunities for anyone at CVU regardless of what you're interested in or what you're passionate about, to get involved and be successful, whatever your definition of successful is, because I know that's different for everybody. But there's so many opportunities that not only the teachers provide, but the school itself with RISE, c three, like I said before. And, yeah, like, I agree. I think a lot of it depends on how willing a student is to kinda seek those opportunities, but teachers are also there to support that always if you don't know how or encourage you to take those steps. I think we can look at the fourth question. Just I know we're all in different grades, but what where do you picture yourself after high school? If you have an idea of that. Yeah. I can go first to it.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I can go. I'm a senior. So for me, I see myself attending, you know, four year university under some engineering degree. And but, yeah, that's that's the plans I have right now. And, yeah, good. I

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: definitely do, like, wanna go to a four year college and stuff. So, like, career wise, like, I don't really know yet because, like, I haven't taken, like, classes that really point to me in a direction where, like, I may love. But, like, I definitely feel like I'm gonna try to take, like, principles of finance, maybe, like, some business. Like, I don't know. That kind of interests me. But, like, I'll see because also want to take some sciences.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, I'm hoping to go to college, maybe in like the business or psychology route.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Yeah.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I haven't thought about this much, but maybe I'll go to UVM and study law there a bit. I mean, hopefully, I'll be outside of the high school though.

[Rutland (Student)]: For me, it was electrician and, like, fix small, small things, like, I usually fix things at home, like, table. If it's broken, I fix it, or the door, or if it's, like, the lighting, the fuzzy piece broken, and I fix it.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. For me, I also wanted to attend a four year college. Again, not really sure where or what, but I am, like as a junior, I feel like this is the time to really start taking those steps, and that's what I'm starting to do now is figure out what and where I wanna go and what my interests are.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: Okay. You thinking of going to the CTE? Yeah.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: So that you have some apprenticeship years

[Rutland (Student)]: under your belt. Yeah. Yeah.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: So next question kind of builds off of that one. What is the most important thing that CV could provide for you so that you are more likely to have a successful future? For with the younger students, what do you guys what would you guys want? And, like, what, like, what push do you need? Like, what are you more interested in to help you find, like, successful future? Because you mentioned that.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: Yeah. I just feel like like, definitely help with your counselor on, like, creating your schedule so that number one, you can try different things, you know, see different classes. But, like, also, just so, like, you can, like, help build on, like, what you know that your interests are. So, like, I mean, like, I don't know, just feel like ability to, like, take classes that are kind of like going down your path, which like I know as a freshman, you don't have a lot of choices on which classes you can take, but that's why electives are like super important. So yeah, just like help with what classes to take and stuff.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I don't have much to add on to that. Like, I feel like there should be like some guidance on what classes to experiment with and oh, you can try this. This might be fun. And yeah.

[Rutland (Student)]: For me, first is I have to talk to my counselor and ask, like, hey. I like this class and see, like, for the the reason I might with my future. First, this before I choose that class, I will have to ask my teacher, my counselor to explain to me what what is that first like. It's really like this. Is it really for, like and explain if it is it good for something that we have to go with?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah. I have felt like opportunities have been really just like opportunities as a whole have been really crucial to helping me find, like, like, solid, like, career path for my future. And I think that, like you guys said, like, I found I found a lot of success with, like, my classes. I've been able to take, like, a lot of classes at CU that would interest me. But like a thing that gave me a major push was being able to do like opportunities like over the summer, I've done like programs. And then I found that through the help of my teachers and my my counselors, like I went to GIV and I've done like a couple college programs. And those are really helpful for me to, like, become successful and for my future. So I mean, like, besides or on top of classes, I feel like just those, like, outside of school extracurricular opportunities have been really important for me.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: Yeah. And I think it's important that teachers are, like, first of all, like, aware of those and that they showcase that to the students because I'm sure that many students would like love to do that.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. And for me, like, I'm in a class called Nexus right now where you can kind of pick your own project and do what's interesting for you. And when I've tied my nexus project to figuring out what I want to do as a career path post high school. But I think, like, I love that class, and I think it's been very valuable to me. Just the only thing, like, I wish I knew more about it sooner before I was a junior. So I had either more time to kind of, like, have an extension to what I learned or had more of a basis sooner, if that makes sense. Just like hearing about the opportunities and like what you were saying, I feel like, like, I don't know a lot about some of the classes that I'm taking before I actually take them. And I end up enjoying them, but I don't always know that it's an opportunity or what that opportunity could be like until I'm in that space.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah. I really agree with that. I feel like part of that, like, at least, like, for me, I feel like it's kind of hard because, like, there's, like, one there's, like, not that many guidance counselors for the amount of students that they have to take on. I feel like I've built a good relationship with the counselor that I had, but I feel like it's hard to, like, know about everything when they have so many people that they're, like, thinking of and meeting with. Mhmm. If that makes sense.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: And there's also so many opportunities for students that I think the guidance counselors, they have to like you were saying, keep in mind all the different students, but also all the different opportunities that, like, this student might be really interested in this. This person might be interested in that. Like, it's a lot for them, I would imagine, to try to think about. So we don't always hear about some of those opportunities as soon as we may have liked or from the people that we may have wanted to hear from.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: Could we circle back to, like, number two?

[Rutland (Student)]: Because I think we skipped over that.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I feel like school helps me belong in the way that, you know, like we're allowed to have dedicated times to be with our friends like clubs and, PM Connect. And then the teachers actively like try to help the students so if you fall behind, it doesn't feel like you can't catch back up. And yeah.

[Rutland (Student)]: For me, life was how they they make the road for no school no funds because that helped me, like, to mix friends before. For my second year, I wasn't having friends because if I'm I'm trying to talk to them, they're just, like, he's on the phone, not talking to me. If I'm talking to them yesterday, they're ignored. But this year, I've met a lot of friends because nobody was focusing for something just like going to classes or when the thing you're already talking. But before, was just a student who's working by using just a phone a few times with the same view just to go back. This year, I made a lot of claims because of the.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. I agree with, like, the the phone ban. Like I said before, I'm a leader of a couple different clubs. And, like, seeing the difference from this year to last year, I definitely see, like, we all engage with each other more, interact with each other more. And that was not always, like, necessarily productive towards what the club's goals are. I still feel like we've had a lot more opportunity to engage and create that sense of belonging because we haven't been, like like, there were some points where I could be, like, texting my friend who's in the same room as me. And it's like, those we don't have that anymore. It kind of forces you to talk to people that you may not talk to normally. I think that's really cool. And then also, like, again, just the clubs that we offer at CBU. I think there's a space for everyone that they can come in and feel like they belong and, like, be an active part of the CBU community.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I agree with everything everyone said so far, especially with, like, the club piece. I also am a part of different clubs, and I feel like I mean, I don't really know what the comparison is like between other schools, but CV has a lot of clubs to offer. And I feel like all of them are, like, great spaces. It's like your interest in really great spaces. And so the main all four years of my high school career, like, I felt like I've always had a club that I felt I, like, I belong there, and that was super important for me. So I mean, anything, I'd have to say, it's just like the amount the the clubs and the the space that CBU has to offer.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: It's always great to see the percentage of students who do feel like they belong or feel connected between home and school. Can you put yourselves in the shoes of people you know who you feel like maybe would answer that question differently that they they don't feel that sense of belonging what does that sound like

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: to you when you think

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: of people who are struggling to belong?

[Rutland (Student)]: Like, the first thing is, like, language. Because that happened to me, like, for the first year when I was here, I was speaking only, like, African languages, like, five languages, African, but I didn't know how to speak English. So, like, when I was trying to talk to people, some people would just, like, ignore and say, I may not speak like, I may not understand something that they are talking about, and just they walk away. And I think that is happening to my friends. So they, like, always speak the Spanish language. There's somebody who's speaking Spanish, and then they will try to, like, connect to be, like, friends with that person and, like, a little bit focusing in English class.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: What helped you? Was it being in language classes with other students learning English or what helped you build a sense of belonging?

[Rutland (Student)]: For me was, NLC club. So, like, it's my counselor who runs that club with her her daughter, and she's already finished to graduate. So they would come in our class, like, in for us that after first block in c three or and then they're gonna take us. We go, like, in in the class in the club, and then they're gonna we're meet new people there. We talk, and that is how I start to be friends.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Yeah. Rutland, can you say what can you say what the club stand for?

[Rutland (Student)]: It's saying it's saying for, like, like, for, like, language words, like, for n one, for New American and New African. Yeah.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: It's New American Outreach Club? Yeah. Yeah.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Again, I also I think, like, what you were saying, it is a lot of, like, the clubs. I think being a part of those clubs and whether someone offered it to you or you got involved, I think that's like, I think that's the best way for someone who's, like, not feeling like they necessarily belong at CPU. Like, I think that's a really easy space because I mean, CPU is a huge school. There's so many people, and it's so hard to build connections. So being in a space where there's 20 to 30 people, it's a lot easier to build those connections. I also get it's really hard to, like, just join a club without your friends. And, like, it's a lot easier said than done, but I I just think that's the best way to build connections and kind of eliminate that feeling that you don't belong.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: You're talking about quotes in the school during the day.

[Rutland (Student)]: Yes. Yeah.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I think that's a really great question that you had asked, and that's like a whole new perspective that I'm thinking about now. And I definitely agree with you. I think it's really crucial to take those, like, first steps. It feels like uncomfortable steps since joining just any club. Like, there's, like, literally, there's actually so many clubs here that, like, just, like, taking first semester to like, join a club, even if you feel like at the moment, you don't really belong. I feel like you, I feel like any student could gain a feeling of belonging by just joining this, like, intimate space of, like, 20 students, like, that happen, like, every week. Mhmm. So I feel like it's just, like, slowly, like, that buildup of, like, time spent can really help someone feel really like a poet.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: When you join a club and find you might not find it a bit, is it easy to switch to another club? Yeah.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: So there's there's three blocks of c three every week. And if you so that means that you can join three different clubs. And if you don't feel like one's a fit, it's super easy. Like, just the next week, you're able to talk to your adviser and have them switch you out of the club and you can just join a new one. One thing I would say is challenging about that is that a lot of, like, the clubs that like a lot of like, a lot of the clubs fill up kind of quickly. Feel like they're, like, throughout, like, like, every year, there's been, like, at least, like, one club that I've really wanted to be a part of, but it was already filled up, so I haven't been able to. I mean, obviously, I found like, all the clubs I'm in right now, I really enjoy and like, so it all worked out.

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: I don't actually have a sense of what the club tell tell us about, like, five or six of the clubs. What do they do? What are they?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: So one club is, like, seeds, which is Yes. Everywhere we go around, would say Yeah. Are. Clubs they're a part of. Yeah. So I'm like I'm like a half member of seeds. Like, I was a member, like, freshman and sophomore year, but now I'm a bit busier, I don't go in there as much. But I still feel like a member.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: What's the ACREU?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: SEEDS stands for students encouraging equity, diversity, and success. Yes. In that club, it's kind of like it's just like very, like, much of like feels very much like a community. Obviously, CDU is a very white dominated area. And it can be hard, like looking around the hallways and not, and not seeing a lot of like representation. So I feel like when I would go into seats, it's like, it's a place where I'm like, I know that I'm understood. I don't have to explain why that thing that someone said was offensive. They know because they feel it too. I'm in Women in Business. That club, it's kind of like, trying to think of how to explain it. It's like, kind of like, think of like random, like, marketing things. It's like a fun, like, lighthearted club. I'm in for education, that club we're trying to get women's education. Yes. Into the curriculum. We've done a lot of work with that. And then I'm in restorative practices, where we're trying to get more restorative practices to be used in CBM.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: I'm also in her education club. That was really fun. And I'm also in

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: a good opportunity to lobby. I'm the only woman on some education. So you did find me, but you may want to tell other members of senate education what your aim is.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yes. So we are trying to figure out how to word this. So throughout my high school sort of like years so far, it came apparent to the person who started the club, Omelie, that women's education is not a required course. And there is no unit for women's history throughout the whole high school curriculum. There is optional classes that you could take in your junior and senior year. But, you know, people might not even know that they would be interested in that because it's not offered prior to that. And people not being educated on women's history, like, as a whole, there's there's so many, like, downsides of that. Like, just with, like, you know, like microaggressions, like sexism, things like that. You know, like, I think there's so much power in understanding how things are the way that they are today and understanding your history. So the fact that, you know, a group that has been sort of, hang on, has been like not an equal member of society in the past. The fact that so many people don't know how women gain that right, I think is disappointing. It's such, it's a thing that should be valued and it should be a required course. So we're working on getting that into the curriculum, hopefully, for maybe, like, tenth grade humanities classes. And, yeah, that's our goal.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Interesting. So one of the clubs I lead is racial alliance committee. So we kind of

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Is it still there with

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yes. It is still. RAC and SEEDS both do exist. Yeah. RAC, it's a lot more, like, kinda action and, like, we work towards a specific goal. Right now, we're, like, working towards repainting a mural in the school. So it's a lot of, like, outreach to the community to reach a specific goal and educate people. I'm also part of restorative practices that Elliot talked about super briefly. Last year, like, we all worked and we did something within with every school in the district where we had training about, like, what restorative practices was, kind of help us set some goals and how we could bring it into our schools. So we're continuing that this year on how we can implement restorative practices and kind of the structure into CVU. And then I'm also a part of culture club, which is a more, like, lighthearted. Every week, someone brings in a different food that we try and we learn about where that food comes from. And then we like, geography games, like, fairly light hearted and fun where we can learn about different cultures and parts of the world. And then there's a group that we're, like, just starting. We don't even have a name yet, But it's not an official C3 yet. We're hoping to kind of get it there. But it's about mental health and just kind of encouraging people to be kind and working together that way.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah. I am the leader of seeds, like Ali mentioned. It's a really amazing space. And in the midst of, like, a lot of the academic and, like, you know, focus clubs at CVU, it's, like, a really, like, amazing. It's a really calm and, like, very a space that I a lot of people would connect and a lot of people from, like, different diverse backgrounds can really, like, engage with one another. I'm also a leader of the women in STEM club at CVU. So we do a lot of fun activities and learn about different different experiments. And we also do this we do a competition. We go to BTSU. It's like a bridge building competition. So we make a bridge out of popsicle sticks and, like, we spend, like, couple months working on it. Last year, our bridge held up 300 pounds. Thank you. Mhmm. And so, yeah, I'm also a part of the threads club at CBU, which is kinda like this, kinda like a hardness club. And we're trying to get that, like, people more comfortable with, like, speaking and, like, these, like, kind of public spaces. And I'm also a member of the robotics club at.

[Rutland (Student)]: I was we were trying, like, me and my teacher and other student that we have. We have same class in COD. So we were trying to create, like, a club that called world dancing called, like, you you pick up the music, like, from around the world, and then, like, you play the music and invite people to come. We you can't, like, a music. We listen from around the world, and we tried that one day, and we see a lot of people playing on the stage. Were trying to plan to do it again next year. Yeah. That'd be fun. I

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: do yearbook club, which pretty self explanatory. I just make the yearbook. I also do music and puzzles, where we listen to music and do puzzles. And I'm also in class council in which right now we're trying to plan a later dance that might actually end up happening in April rather than mid June.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: I know that we were talking about

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: like how you like, what makes you

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: feel belonged in Steven, I just wanted to make sure we went over, like, the core

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: the core the four course for

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: ninth graders because that's definitely a huge way that, like, freshmen can feel welcomed into such a big school. So there's four course, Snelling, Nichols, Chittenden, Fairbanks. You're in Nichols. Nichols. I'm in Snelling. And that space has definitely helped, I think, lot, if not, like, all students feel pretty welcomed into this big school. I know Snelling in the beginning of the year, we had Snellingville, which is just like instead of class, you just get to know people. And all the teachers like within class, like we have like assigned seats and it like rotates so you get to know like everybody. And so like, even if like the clubs that you are in, maybe you don't find some connections, you have like your core and those teachers also know you on a personal level. And I just think it's like a really good space to like feel like seen and stuff.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Do you ever feel like finances can create a lack of belonging? Like, there are things that are harder to do if you don't have the money?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Something I've always noticed CVU does is that there's always, like, a little note that, like, that, like, CVU offers scholarship money or, like, for all the field trips or the the rise trips I've gone on, that's always been something that has really been pushed to the front that, like, money and even through, like, the old emails that they send about opportunities, that's always on there that, like, if money is not or if money is a problem for anybody, that, like, they can take care of that. And so, like, I feel like it's a really big priority that CBU, like, pushes out there that, like, money should not stop anyone from participating or having the same opportunity as everyone else. So just really publicity wise, that's all I've got there. I'm not sure about the more internal. Are AU athletes? Yeah.

[Rutland (Student)]: Yeah. What sports do you think? Indoor track

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: and outdoor track, but it's not happening right now. Yeah.

[Summer Tiguzayamo (Student)]: Yeah. I did some CU soccer girl, and I'm gonna try to do some tennis in the spring. I found that that was also a really good community because the sports, at least the fall sports usually start before the school year. So like I already knew some like sophomore, juniors before like going into school, which is also really helpful and like trying to like feel like the school's not as big and stuff.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. I also do indoor and outdoor track. And it's a there's a lot of people and it's a big team, but it's easy to like I won't say it's like clicky, but everyone kind of has their own groups and we all get to know each other a lot, especially in indoor track if there's less people. We all like, if you're a sprinter, you're with the sprinters every day for practice, and you get to know each other pretty well, and we play games and do different activities. Yeah.

[Rutland (Student)]: I did soccer in my tenth grade. So that's when I meet, like, a lot of, like, some new student, I meet them there with each other. That's when I start to meet like when I start to meet a lot of friends was like when I started to place on that CDU.

[Parker Kearney (Student)]: I'd like you to go to the last question.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: Yeah

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: this is something that like it ties with both the second, the last and the last question. ARCNIS, which is what we're doing right now, like conversations where we're sitting together and, like, having conversations. Some of them are tied to academics, and sometimes it's just, like, candid conversations about not always a certain topic. It can be about really anything. Last year, like, Lydia and I were both in a class that about Harkness leadership, and we were, like, trained in Harkness, how to facilitate, how to, like, have these conversations. I don't know that that's really came up besides, like, being in this format. That's something that, like, I found a lot of value in last year, and then that carried into this year. It wasn't ever a thing that I had thought about or, like, space that was offered in, really, middle school. And then we started doing it, like, freshman year to kinda get that basic level knowledge and understanding of how to do a hardness discussion. And then last year, I got the opportunity to really, like, elevate that. And that's some that's a space that I found really valuable, and it's helped me in just about all aspects of my life, in school and my relationships, things I do outside of school. So

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: You're saying you wish there was more forums for discussion?

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: I wish there yes. I think, like, we have a lot already, and they're super, super valuable. And but I do wish, like, there were more spaces or at least, like, not thinking so much about the high school, but I wish I'd start started doing them younger because I feel like a lot of people especially when I look back to freshman year doing hardness discussions, I think a lot of people kind of like struggled with the fact like being comfortable with being uncomfortable. And so I just wish like we have a lot of opportunities in CVU having them sooner so you're not as uncomfortable coming into this space.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: So like public speaking and or speaking in a forum together just to get used to that not necessarily having the forum be about anything in particular.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: exactly. Sitting down and getting used to talking to each other.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. Like being an advisory, like having a circle and advisory and just everyone like in the circle format. Either it's like like we go in a circle or people just kind of popcorn share out having conversations, even just like about your weekend or what you did. Like, regardless of the topic, I think it's super great. And starting hard conversations, but also just those simple ones sooner. That favorite candy bar. Start that one. Exactly.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: Get in diversity that gets a little bit more promotions and

[Rutland (Student)]: get Yeah. Yeah.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: So, like, when there's something that, like, maybe happened in the community, something hard that, like, we need to talk about in a circle, it's not as uncomfortable for people to be in that. Like, they're familiar with that space, and they know it they're used to it.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Yeah. I really agree with Ethan. I think one of the like, when I was a sophomore, I was in the Harkness leadership, which was like a class during C3, and we would like get a humanities credit. And in that Harkness, I kind of started to learn that like, because freshman year when we would do Harknesses, a lot of people, it kind of felt very like ungenuine. Like people would say things or talk, but no one was actually listening to each other because everyone was just saying things for a grade. And joining a Harkness group where it wasn't for a grade, it was all people who were actually interested. It gave me the opportunity to talk to people that I maybe wouldn't normally talk to. I think CBU has a lot of great communities, but I feel like the communities are kind of like everyone has their own little group, like maybe a little bit clicky, you know, which I mean, maybe it's not a good thing. Maybe it is a good thing. I don't know. But I feel like Harkness really taught me to really like, everyone has a different perspective, but everyone's voice is valid. You can learn something from anybody. And I feel like hardness can really teach that to people. So I think, yeah, like learning those skills sooner could be very, very helpful.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Are there any classes that are hard to get into or that you're worried about losing because of budget cuts or?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Some of the AP class options, I think, for me at least, I feel like.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Say more, but they're they're pretty booked.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I just know that like some, there are some that aren't offered anymore, which is like just kind of like disappointing because I'm not very like science y and math person, but I'd still like to take AP courses. Right now I'm taking AP Human Geode and AP English. And I think there's AP gov. But other than that, I could be wrong. But other than that, I don't know if there's like an AP class that isn't science or math related. Is that Yeah. A lot of classes, a and non AP classes as well have, like, a handful of them have taken a blow recently because of the budget cuts, and I've heard a lot of people a of underclassmen as well talking about that and being overly disappointed. I feel like it's sad for, like, the underclassmen are not Mhmm. Experience high school the same opportunities.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: So no AP econ. No AP science. AP bio. No AP bio. Yeah.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: I know there's, like, like, people, like, when we were freshmen, Ally and I and you also when we were freshmen that they had, like, this whole plan of they wanted to take this class this year and, like, kind of what a plan for what class they wanted to take. And then after our freshman year and then the year after, this some of those classes continued to get cut, and they kinda had to, like, shift what they were thinking. I didn't, like, plan that far ahead of what I wanted to take, but I know there were people who were really bummed out that they were like like AP Bio, like, they couldn't take that class anymore when they had really wanted to for two or three years beforehand.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: There's been, like, a lot of disappointment going to the school about everything that's and the teachers as well. And so the option like, the alternative options for students to maybe, like, take a class at UVM that they would then have to pay for and, like, drive out of their way to go to, and then, like it cuts into like receiving new class time and it's been like a lot of like like uncertainty around all of that. So yeah just to answer your question. Was

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: time to go but my do students understand one say that class only had a class of say it was only you six that were interested in that class and that the school decided you know we have to stop this class because we don't have enough students to make it valuable to the school to dedicate a teacher to that. Do you think that the students understand that when that happens or do they just look at it I'm having something taken away from me that I really wanted to do?

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: I think I think for some classes that's understood with classes that aren't as popular, but I think for the classes that a lot of people were maybe hoping to take when those get taken away, it feel like feels like there's a lot of interest there and an opportunity is lost where there there was interest. People people did want to do that. Yeah. I agree. Even if even if there wasn't a lot of popularity of the class, it's still like six students who have like the interest of taking that class.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: I understand that But part of like everything has cost and that's what that's what Vermont's running up against. Everything has cost and there's going to have to be people that make that decision of what can be continued to be taught and what's not and it's a hard like I said it's some people are like well it doesn't matter what it costs we should should spend that money on it but everything as you as you're learning has a price tag on it and if you can't afford that price tag I guess it's something maybe a top down needs to express to that you know really know this is what you wanted but we can show you why we're not able to offer that.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Well AP Econ was life changing for me and I

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: so maybe if I have AP Econ they'd understand that.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah I will say like I think I think a lot of people do understand that, but it's a mix of both. Like, they understand that it was cut for a reason, but we're also frustrated that it was cut. And I also think, like, a lot of people just kinda understood it on their own, and there wasn't someone saying, this is why that class was cut. And, like, I don't know. There wasn't a class that I was, like, dying to take that was cut, but I know it just hasn't seemed like a lot of communication why this class was cut for this reason. And if you're still interested in this, you can go this route. You can do this. Like, I don't know. I feel like there hasn't been a lot of that, if that makes sense.

[Senator Steven Heffernan]: So better communication from the leadership down would help students of understanding why what is happening. Rather than just doing it, we should explain why we're doing it.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: So Yeah. What I'm hearing? I yeah.

[Allison Gutierrez (Student)]: Also, maybe more involvement of, like, how these choices are being made. Like, I don't know how each class was chosen to be cut, but I don't maybe more communication of like, what people feel like is more valuable. So what like, I don't know if that makes sense, but more like communication when the decisions are being made about class option.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: Yeah. Good feedback. And I think we're about to transition to lunch if you want to make sure you folks get to. I really appreciate all six of you taking time out of

[Rutland (Student)]: your day to come in

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: and talk with the Senators Is there something you want

[Senator Seth Bongartz (Chair)]: to do? Just to say the same thing, thank you so much. We've done student panels and schools have been visiting, and it's really perhaps the most important part of the day for us to hear firsthand what's working, what's not working, what you wish, and all of those things together. So this was really valuable.

[Rutland (Student)]: Do each quarter of you, Thank you so much, Jerome.

[Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale]: And good luck with everyone working with you.

[Ethan Santamore (Student)]: Yeah. Thank you for like giving us this opportunity.