Cavendish Update 5/19/22: Breaking News/School/News

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 Breaking news: At last evening’s Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board meeting, two of Cavendish's three representatives-Dennis Reilly and Kate Lamphere- resigned from the board effective immediately. The board voted 5/5 to reinstate the GMUHS’s Mascot name Chieftains. The tie was broken by the board chair, Deb Brown, who voted in favor of the name. Both Reilly and Lamphere are state workers and as such, they cannot be part of a board that is violating state law (Act 152).  Before the meeting adjourned, Cavendish’s third representative, Steve Perani left the meeting.

5/19/23

1.    Fire District #2 Annual Meeting

2.    Cavendish Info

3.    Cavendish Forum School Restructuring

4.    Events

1. FIRE DISTRICT #2 (CAVENDISH) ANNUAL MEETING: At Tuesday night’s Annual meeting of Fire District #2 (Cavendish village), 27 people were in attendance. The budget of $164,450, which includes the one-time cost of $21,000 to insulate the fire house attic, was passed. Current officers of the Prudential Board will remain the same for the coming year: Abraham Gross (Moderator); Staci Bishop (Member 2025); Scott Ranney (member 2004); Stu Lindberg (member 2024); Diane McNamara (auditor 2024);  Maureen Savage (Treasurer 2024). 

CVFD has 40 hours of paid EMT time Monday-Friday from 8-4. Of the 97 calls responded to by CVFD-52 medical and 45 fire- this past year, only 26 occurred during the paid staff time. While it’s recognized that the staff has assigned tasks beyond responding to calls, such as being the distribution point for Covid test kits, people wanted to see more being done, such as offering blood pressure clinics, Stop the Bleed programs, writing of grants etc.

It was brought up that rumors have been circulating about responders not having proper equipment available at the scene. While Prudential member Stu Lindberg said it was of the utmost importance that these events do not occur, and if they do, he takes them seriously, member Staci Bishop voiced frustration about not having the proper equipment on a call she responded to. In addition, Bishop noted that she had requested that more programming be offered but that it had not occurred.

Yesterday, Cavendish Connects received a notice from CVFD that they will be offering weekly Blood Pressure clinics, and that people can stop by any time the EMT is there for a check. In addition, they will be offering other “citizen as first responder” training, such as CPR and basic first aid. They plan to have a schedule available in the next few weeks.

Issues were also raised about response times and having information about the impact paid staff has, the frequency of ambulances other than Ludlow responding to calls, and time from call to response. Bob Glidden, Fire Chief of District #1 and Cavendish Select Board (SB) chair, pointed out that since the SB signs the contract with Ludlow Ambulance, these type of questions need to be addressed by that board.

Since many people don’t know which fire district they belong to, it was suggested that the Annual Report be made available on-line and a post card about the Annual Meeting, including the web address/QR code for the report, be mailed in a timely manner before the meeting.

 2. CAVENDISH INFO

• GM board offers Bellows Falls principal contract: After a public forum and an interview with two candidates on Monday night, the Green Mountain Unified School District board voted to offer Bellows Falls Union High Principal John Broadley the principal post at Green Mountain High when Keith Hill steps down at the end of June. Broadley has been the principal at Bellows Falls for the past two years and assistant principal for 12 years before that. He has been at BFUHS since 2002, beginning as a special education teacher, then as a math teacher. Chester Telegraph

• Tick Check: Many people in town are saying this is the worst tick season ever. People are getting tick borne diseases so follow the recommendations for prevention, removal and what to do if you develop symptoms by going to the VT Dept. of Health website Be Tick Smart

• STOP the Bleed:  As we head into summer, and a lot more people are on the road, camping, cycling etc., it's good to know what to do if you come across someone badly bleeding. We’re all first responders until help arrives. Chester Ambulance is  providing a great opportunity for anyone who may come in contact with someone badly injured. A Stop the Bleed class will be held on May 31st at 6pm to 7pm. The FREE Class will be located at the Chester Public Safety building. You can save a seat by either messaging them on Facebook or calling (802) 875-2160. Walk-ins will be accepted as well. If you can't make this workshop, check out the Stop the Bleed video. Free handouts and posters are available on-line. 

3. CAVENDISH FORUM ON SCHOOL RESTRUCTING 5/23: Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES), which was expanded/renovated in 2004 to accommodate 140 students (20 students per grade) is anticipating an enrollment of approximately 67 students in the fall. At the same time, Chester Andover Elementary School (CAES) has approximately 225 students and is cramped for space.

The per pupil cost (PPC) at CTES is $29,000 versus the PPC for CAES of $21,000 and $23,000 for GMUHS’s 328 students. Given the projected low enrollment at CTES, the coming year’s PPC is projected to be over $35,000. While the PPC does reflect enrollment and personnel costs, it also includes district wide costs.

A school restructuring committee (has been formed by the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board to address what type of changes can be made to bring numbers up at CTES while providing much needed space at CAES.  

A first meeting to discuss this issue was held on May 8 [read The Chester Telegraph’s report ]. While a variety of suggestions were made, and another meeting scheduled for Monday, June 5, at 6 pm at GMUHS library, the Cavendish representatives to the GMUSD board are looking to the Cavendish community to understand what residents believe is in the best educational interest of Cavendish’s children as well as the school’s role in our community. Note: Even though two of the representatives have resigned, all three will be at the meeting.

To that end, a Cavendish Forum has been scheduled for Cavendish residents, parents and teachers on May 23 (Tuesday) at 6 pm at the CTES auditorium. This meeting is not opened to the media and Zoom will not be an option. 

In preparation for this meeting, it is important to recognize that nationally the birth rate has been in decline since the 1970s with an even steeper decline in response to the 2008 recession. Vermont has the lowest birth rate in the country. This is a variable that has considerable impact, but one we have no control over.

4. EVENTS

MAY 23 (TUESDAY): 6 pm at CTES Auditorium, Cavendish Forum on school restructuring-see item 3 above.

MAY 26 (FRIDAY): Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) plant sale 5:30-7:00 in front of the CHS Museum.

MAY 27 (SATURDAY): CHS Plant sale 9-noon

MAY 29 (MONDAY): Memorial Day. Town Office closed.

MAY 30 (TUESDAY): Cavendish Memorial Day program. 10 am at CTES, immediately followed by a parade to Hillcrest Cemetery. Free and open to the public.

JUNE 5 (MONDAY): E Tools Workshop at the 6:00 p.m., at the Cavendish town office to demonstrate battery-operated tools for the yard and garden. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments. FMI: CavendishCommunityConservation@gmail.com.

JULY 29 (SATURDAY): Cavendish Town Wide Tag Sale

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