Belmont Public Schools

📅 Mark Your Calendar! Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m.

🎤 Join Belmont Public Schools for an inspiring evening with bestselling author Rosalind Wiseman! Rosalind will share insights and invite us into an engaging conversation about supporting young people in today’s world.
We hope you’ll join us for this special evening!
📌 Register via the flyer below.
🎥 Hear directly from Rosalind: Watch her invitation here: https://youtu.be/KB_4lrNjGP4

REMINDER - TODAY at 4:00PM - A Community Forum
🗓Monday, August 3, 2026 at 4:00 pm
📍Location: Town Hall Auditorium, 455 Concord Ave. Belmont or
💻Remote via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89006941103
Webinar ID: 890 06941103
The recent events involving a Belmont Public Schools (BPS) employee have affected many members of our community. BPS is committed to supporting the well-being of our students, families, staff, and community. The resources found on the BPS website - https://aptg.co/7Dvl9z - are intended to provide guidance, trusted information, and access to additional support as we navigate this challenge together and organized to help students, families, staff, and community members find information, practical guidance, and support based on their individual needs and circumstances.

Welcome to Belmont, Principal Haines! 🎉
As the new principal of Butler School, Principal Haines is looking forward to getting to know students, families, and staff as the new school year begins. Learn more about his background and excitement for joining the Belmont Public Schools community in this recent Belmont Voice feature.

Butler Welcomes New Principal Jeffery Haines joined Belmont Public Schools as the principal of Butler Elementary School earlier this month. Haines most recently served as the principal of Washington Elementary School in Lowell. He was previously an assistant principal in Lowell and Derry, New Hampshire. “I’m excited to again...

Crossing the tracks to save a few minutes isn't a shortcut. It's trespassing, and it's one of the leading causes of rail-related deaths in the U.S.

The only safe and legal place to cross is a designated crossing. Stay Off! Stay Away! Stay Safe!

A Community Forum -
🗓Monday, August 3, 2026 at 4:00 pm
📍Location: Town Hall Auditorium, 455 Concord Ave. Belmont or
💻Remote via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89006941103
Webinar ID: 890 06941103

The recent events involving a Belmont Public Schools (BPS) employee have affected many members of our community. BPS is committed to supporting the well-being of our students, families, staff, and community. The resources found on the BPS website - https://aptg.co/7Dvl9z - are intended to provide guidance, trusted information, and access to additional support as we navigate this challenge together and organized to help students, families, staff, and community members find information, practical guidance, and support based on their individual needs and circumstances.

📣Say Goodbye to PlusPortals: Belmont Public Schools Is Moving to PowerSchool
Beginning August 1, Belmont Public Schools will transition from PlusPortals to PowerSchool, our new student information system.

Like PlusPortals, PowerSchool provides students, families, teachers, and administrators with access to important student information, including grades, attendance, class schedules, and more—all in one integrated platform.

Belmont Public Schools selected PowerSchool because it offers a simpler, faster user interface, making it easier to access information while supporting improved communication between schools and families.

District staff completed initial training this spring, with refresher training scheduled before the start of the school year. Additional information, including parent login instructions and a secure process for families to claim access to their students' accounts, will be shared in the coming weeks.

*Event Update* | Upcoming Kiddie Concert & Groove Band Concert at BPL
▶️The Kiddie Concert (Sherry Harris Jones Children's Concert), performed by Matt Heaton, is STILL SCHEDULED as planned for this Thursday, 7/30, at 10:30 am at the BPL.
🔄The Classic Groove Band is POSTPONED to Thursday, 8/20, at 6:00pm (originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 29).

Visit https://belmontpubliclibrary.net/explore/programs/event-calendar/ to view more upcoming events at our new Public Library.

July 28, 2026
Dear Belmont Public Schools Community,
I write to follow up on the recent news regarding the arrest and arraignment of BMS teacher, Leon Dyer. This news has left many members of our community shaken and with important questions. I want to share what we currently know.

Here is what we know from the District Attorney's Office and State Police at this time:

● Mr. Dyer has been arrested and charged with possession of child po*******hy. Mr. Dyer is accused of downloading images containing child po*******hy; investigators have found no evidence that he created content. To our knowledge, none of the images involved BPS students or members of the Belmont community.
● Mr. Dyer has posted bail following the arraignment. As a condition of his release, he is prohibited from being on any school property, including buildings and fields. As I noted in my previous message, access to school accounts has been revoked.
● Following the arraignment process, law enforcement has found no evidence that Belmont Public Schools students were involved in the alleged activity. Should any such evidence emerge, they will notify Belmont Police immediately. We have also asked that the State and Local Police continue to share relevant information with the District.
● Mr. Dyer is due back in Court on September 17, 2026.

I have also read news reports indicating that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted the Massachusetts State Police about certain files connected to Mr. Dyer in January 2026. We do not have any independent information on that report; however, I want to be clear that the Belmont Public
Schools did not have any knowledge about those reports or concerns with Mr. Dyer until I was alerted of his arrest this past weekend.

To reiterate, the safety and well-being of our students will always remain our highest priority. Although we do not yet have a complete understanding of this matter, we will continue to share what information we have when we can.

For additional context, Mr. Dyer has worked as a middle school teacher in the District since 2007. Over the years, Mr. Dyer has also advised and participated in a number of student clubs and extracurricular activities. Throughout his employment with Belmont Public Schools, the district never received any reports or complaints alleging illegal conduct or behavior inconsistent with the expectations of his role.
Nor did we have any other reason to suspect Mr. Dyer of being involved with child po*******hy or otherwise being a danger to children. Belmont Police have similarly confirmed that they never received any reports of wrongdoing involving Mr. Dyer. As I previously noted, the District performed regular Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background checks on Mr. Dyer, as it does with all teachers. All of Mr. Dyer’s CORI reports were clean.

I recognize the impact this situation is having on our community. Families entrust us with the care, safety, and education of their children every day, and that confidence is foundational to everything we do. I am committed to upholding that trust through open communication, transparency, and accountability. Our teachers, support staff, and administrators will continue to care for, support, and educate every student with the integrity, compassion, and professionalism they deserve. We will move forward together, continuing to demonstrate the values that define Belmont Public Schools, and we welcome input from the Community as we do so.

We invite you to a hybrid community forum on Monday, August 3, at 4:00 p.m. at the Selectboard Conference Room in Town Hall. A Zoom link will be available for those who wish to attend remotely. District leadership and Police representatives will be present for questions and to share any additional information available at that time.

In addition to the State Police, you can direct inquiries or information specific to the case or investigation to the Middlesex Children’s Advocacy Center (781-897-8400). For other questions, please reach out to the Belmont Police and/or me directly.

Respectfully,
Jill Geiser, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Planning ahead for September? Don't forget that new school start and end times will take effect at all Belmont Public Schools this fall.

Below are the start and end times for each school, reflecting the additional instructional time for the 2026–2027 school year.

We hope you're enjoying the summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in September!
Town of Belmont

Get your child ready for the 2026-2027 school year!🎒
The Belmont Health Dept is offering required vaccines for children 18 and under *BY APPOINTMENT ONLY*
➡️Register: belmont-ma.gov/vaccineregistration
📍Homer Building, 2nd Floor.
📞617-993-2720