Cavendish Update 1/24/25: Fires/Chocolate/Education
/
CAVENDISH CONNECTS LINKS: CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE cavendishconnects.bsky.social or www.cavendishconnects.com
1/24/25
1. Put a Freeze on Winter Fires
2. CHS Talk: The History of Chocolate
3. Gov. Scott’s Education Transformation Proposal
4. Events Calendar
1. PUT A FREEZE ON WINTER FIRES: December, January and February are the peak months of heating fires, which is a leading cause of US home fires and home fire injuries and third leading cause of home fire deaths. Space heaters are the type of equipment most often involved. Candles, carbon monoxide, generators, electrical distribution (e.g. washer/dryers), lighting, and winter storms are also contributors.
Our firefighters have been very busy this winter providing mutual aid to structural fires in other towns. Please follow the following tips from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) to Put a Freeze on Winter Fires and keep our firefighters out of frigid conditions:
• Maintain proper distance from heat sources: Keep flammable items like curtains, furniture, and bedding at least three feet away from fireplaces, space heaters, and other heat sources.
• Regular chimney inspections: Have a professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents annually to prevent buildup and potential fire hazards.
• Proper appliance usage: Plug only one heat-producing appliance into an outlet at a time.
• Safe ash disposal: Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container and keep it outside, at least 10 feet from your home.
• Portable generator safety: If using a portable generator, always place it outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away from windows and doors.
• Working smoke detectors: Test smoke alarms monthly and ensure they are properly functioning.
And one last thing-thank a firefighter for being there in some pretty challenging situations.
2. CHS TALK: THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE: Valentine’s Day is when lots of heart shape boxes of chocolate overflow store shelves and one or more of them may even find their way to your home. So… Is chocolate the gift of ultimate luxury? Cavendish, Vermont chocolatier Maren Muter thinks so.
The owner of That Chocolate, Maren has been sharing her amazing skills at various Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) programs since December 2023. Many would agree she has the best hot chocolate they’ve tasted.
On February 15, Maren will be teaching/hosting a workshop on the history of chocolate. Sponsored by CHS, and with the support of a grant from the Cavendish Community Fund (CCF), she is opening her home (it’s a castle) for a tea, talk and tasting.
This event is free and open to the public for those 12 and up. Participants should arrive at the Cavendish Library, 573 Main St., Proctorsville on Saturday, Feb. 15, by 10 am so they can carpool to Maren’s house. For more information, please e-mail margocaulfield@icloud.com or call 802-226-7807.
3. GOVERNOR SCOTT’S EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION PROPOSAL: On January 22, the Governor issued A Plan to Build Stronger Schools, Stronger Students and Vibrant Communities. According to the proposal, Vermont’s education spending is among the highest in the nation per pupil expenditures. Compared to other states, Vermont has some of the smallest schools (ranked 46th in size nationally) and high staffing level (1st in staff-to-student ratios). However, this investment has not resulted in improved student outcomes, as evidenced by mixed results on the National Assessment of educational Progress (NAEP). While Vermont ranks highly in reading performance on the National Assessment of educational Progress (NAEP), math performance is only average, and both areas have shown a downward trend over time. .. Governance inefficiencies also contribute to the challenges. Vermont has a disproportionately large number of school boards and the highest ratio of school board members to students in the nation (1:75), leading to fragmented decision-making and resource management. These governance issues strain administrative resources and make it difficult to address the needs of a. declining student population strategically. In addition, VT’s public school enrollment has declined by 21.5% in K-12 between 2003-04 and 2022-23.
The plan will eliminate the 52 supervisory unions, replacing them with five school districts with one school board and one superintendent. Each district would have roughly 10,000-15,000 students, except for the Champlain Valley district, which would have approximately 34,000. The Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) currently has less then 1,000 students. Cavendish would be part of the Southeast Region which has 11,849 students.
The plan calls for “regional comprehensive high schools, central middle schools, local elementaries.”
Education funding will be done by a “Foundation Formula.” It calls for a single statewide education property tax rate, allowing districts to choose if they want to raise more. "This will reverse the way we budget by allotting an amount that is guaranteed to districts, and this starts with a very generous base amount, and understanding that we will need to add weights to account for different needs of students," Zoie Saunders, secretary of the agency of education, said.
By explicitly establishing funding levels based on expected educational opportunities for all Vermont students, the formula is designed to further key policy goals including: expanding early childhood education; Increasing afterschool and summer programs in underserved communities; Ensuring every student benefits from specials like art, music, and world language; Providing additional access to mental health services for students; Extending and enriching college and career pathways, starting in middle school and culminating in our graduates being prepared to take on critical jobs in high demand industries; and Raising teacher salaries to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality teacher and that teachers are valued as professionals.
The implementation of the plan would be phased in. The recommendation for this year would include holding property taxes level by infusing other state funds on a one-time basis. The new funding formula would begin in the 2026-27 school year with first year budgets for new school districts so that by July 1, 2027, new districts take over operation of district schools. By 2027-2028 school year the state will have moved to the new funding and governance system.
4. EVENTS
JANUARY 24 (FRIDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting, 5 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The Agenda will include: Discussion and Possibly Amend FY26 Selectman’s Budget; Approve Town Meeting Warning; Discussion on Selectboard Annual Report. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81312391910?pw
FEBRUARY 5 (WEDNESDAY): Cavendish Historical Society’s talk/workshop on Cavendish abolitionist Peter Tumbo and the role beads played in the African slave trade. Participants will have an opportunity to make a beaded bracelet following the talk. 6-7:30 pm at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
FEBRUARY 14 (FRIDAY): HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
FEBRUARY 15 (SATURDAY): Cavendish Historical Society’s program on the History of Chocolate with Cavendish chocolatier Maren Mutter. Meet at the Cavendish Library by 10 am to carpool to Maren’s home. This talk is for those 12 and up. FMI: margocaulfield@icloud.com or 802-226-7807
FEBRUARY 17 (MONDAY): President’s Day. Legal holiday Town Office and Schools Closed
MARCH 1 (SATURDAY): 2 PM Town Meeting Day at the Cavendish Town Elementary Multi Purpose Room. This is an informational meeting only with all articles voted on by Australian Ballot on March 4 at the Proctorsville Fire Dept.
MARCH 4 (TUESDAY): Voting Day. Polls are open from 10-4 at the Proctorsville Fire Hall.