Cavendish Update 1/17/20: SB/Education/Warning/Events

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1/17/20 Cavendish Update

1. Australia Relief Dinner

2. Preparation for Town Meeting Day

3. Select Board Action

4. Education News: Powden Resigns

5. Fire District 2 (Cavendish) Warning of Annual Meeting

6. Events

1. AUSTRALIA RELIEF DINNER: To help raise money to aid those most affected by the Australia bush fires, CTES students -part of the Carmine Guica Young Historians’ Preserve & Serve program- are partnering with the Ludlow Rotary and Murdock’s Restaurant. On February 6, from 4-9, Murdock’s Restaurant on the Proctorsville Green, will donate a percentage of the night’s profits to assist the Ludlow Rotary’s Australian Fire Disaster Relief. Funds will support both the people and wildlife devastated by the fires. You can call ahead for reservations at 802-554-0126.

In addition, throughout the area you will find Rotary donation boxes, some of which offer bracelets made by the students. Please consider supporting this effort.  All donations are tax deductible. 100% of the funds go to Australia. Checks should be written to Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Foundation (LARCF).

2. TOWN MEETING DAY: Town meeting is March 2 (Monday), 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School’s multipurpose room. The town budget is voted on at this meeting. There is a separate school informational meeting in February. Voting for elected positions and school budgets takes place by Australian Ballot on March 3 (Tuesday), 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Dept.

Register for Cavendish Elected Positions-File Petitions Now: Anyone interested in applying for a Cavendish Elected position, see list below, stop by the Town Office and pick up a petition from the Town Clerk, Diane McNamara. All petitions require 12 signatures from registered Cavendish voters and are due at the Town Office by Monday, Jan. 27., 2020.  Note: all positions are for one official, with the exception of Select Board, where there are two vacancies for one year terms: Town Moderator 1 year term; Town Agent 1 year term; Auditor 1 year; Auditor 1 year (remaining balance of 2 year term; Auditor 3 years; Select Board 1 year (2 positions available); Select Board 2 year (remaining balance of a 3 year term; Select Board 3 years; Town Clerk 3 Years; Town Treasurer 3 Years; Town Grand Juror 1 Year; Library Trustee 5 years; Trustee of Public Funds 3 years;; GMUSD Director 1 year and GMUSD Director 3 years.

While petitions have been filed for all of the Select Board positions, none have been submitted for the GMUSD board positions. FMI: Town Office 802-226-7291.

3. SELECT BOARD ACTION: The Cavendish Select Board is now working on the budget, to be voted on at the Cavendish Town Meeting, March 2 pm. Minutes are available at the Municipal Website for January 7 and January 9.

At the monthly SB meeting on January 13, the board took the following action and/or discussed:

• Approved the submission of the “Communities Caring for Canopy’ grant application, which will be used to prune trees on the Proctorsville Green.

• Tim Calabrese (Tree Warden) advised the board that the Emerald ash borer has been spotted in Londonerry. He recommended that additional funds be put in the budget as ash trees will need to come down.

• Agreed to a “Memo of Understanding” between the town, the Cavendish Historical Society and the Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Center (ASC) regarding the completion of the restoration of the Cavendish Stone Church and its ultimate use as the permanent home of the Solzhenitsyn exhibit as well as a small venue space.

• Approved a Special Event Permit for Groennfel Meadery LLC.

• Granted two requests from municipal utility users who wanted inactive status for sewer

• Discussed re-financing of the current ‘Delinquent Tax Anticipation Note, as it relates to FY 20-21 Budget.

For more information on this meeting, go to Cavendish Select Board Stifles Quarry Discussion (VT Journal); Okemo Valley TV website for the video of the meeting; or check the minutes of this meeting at the Municipal website.

4. EDUCATION NEWS: The biggest news item this month has been the resignation of Meg Powden, Superintendent of the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) at the January 13 TRSU monthly meeting. Effective June 30, 2020, Powden did not give a specific reason for leaving. The Chester Telegraph’s article Powden resigns as TRSU superintendent effective June 30 provides a good overview of her four year tenure as head of the SU, noting that Powden’s tenure with the school system, which began in the middle of the Act 46 merger process, has been marked by a number of issues revolving around transparency and trust. You can read. Powden’s letter of resignation by clicking here.

Other education news pertains to the developing school budget, which is voted on by Australian ballot on March 3, from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Dept., in Proctorsville.

• TRSU Postpones Budget While Districts Continue Work on Theirs (Chester Telegraph)

• TRSU Board Rejects Budget with a 9’5% increase (VT Journal)

• GMUSD Finance Committee reverses strict cost per pupil mandate (VT Journal)

• TRSU board mulls budget increases, LMH may lose transportation (Chester Telegraph)

• GM board restores priorities, bets on programs to attract more students: At least two board members will not seek re-election (Chester Telegraph)

5. CAVENDISH FIRE DISTRICT 2 ANNUAL MEETING: Fire District #2 (Cavendish) will hold its annual meeting on February 3 (Monday), 7:30 at the Cavendish Town Office. The official warning is available on-line and at the Town Office. In addition to electing officers, and voting on the budget, Article 5 states, “To see if the legal voters of District #2. Will authorize the closing of the Truck Fund and allow the District to apply said funds toward the hiring of two part time (2) EMTs or one full time EMT for daytime coverage.” This measure is being sought to help with the increasing demand for medical coverage. Further, CVFD is working on a methodical transition from fire department to medical Rescue Squad. The intent is to keep just one engine at the department for enough fire-fighting capacity to keep homeowner insurance rates lower on this side of town.

6. EVENTS

JANUARY 20 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day. Cavendish Town Office Closed

JANUARY 26 (SUNDAY): English Tea and the screening of Downton Abbey (the movie) at Cavendish Fletcher Community Library at 1 pm. Make it more fun and come in High Tea attire!

FEBRUARY 3 (MONDAY): Fire District #2 (Cavendish) Annual Meeting, 7:30 pm at the Cavendish Town Office. The official warning is available by clicking here.

FEBRUARY 6 (THURSDAY) : Australian Relief Dinner 4-9 pm at Murdock’s on the Proctorsville Green. See article 1 above.

FEBRUARY 10 (MONDAY): Cavendish Select Board Meeting

FEBRUARY 17 (MONDAY): President’s Day Town Office Closed

FEBRUARY 18 (TUESDAY): 3rd Quarter Town Taxes Due 

MARCH 2 (MONDAY): Cavendish Town Meeting, 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School. Note: The town budget is voted on at this meeting. There is a separate informational meeting about the school that takes place in February.

MARCH 3 (TUESDAY): VOTING DAY-Elected town positions and school budgets are done by Australian Ballot. The polls are open from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Volunteer Fire Department in Proctorsville. Handicap accessible entrance is available. Town office will be closed.

MARCH 28 (SATURDAY): A joint project of Cavendish Connects and the Cavendish Library, learn to make totes from feed bags. The workshop is free from 1-4 pm at the Cavendish Library in Proctorsville.

APRIL 10 (FRIDAY): Town office closed for Good Friday

APRIL 12 (SUNDAY): Happy Easter

SEPETEMBER 12 (SATURDAY): 8th Annual Vermont Golden Stage Honey Festival. 10-4 pm at the Golden Stage Inn, Proctorsville, corner of Depot Street and Route 103. Free Admission. FMI: 802-226-7744 or vtgoldenhoneyfestival@gmail.com

For information on upcoming events, go to the Cavendish Connects Calendar. For area events, check the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce calendar.  

IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE HELP SUPPORT CAVENDISH CONNECTS

Letter from CTES Principal Regarding the Budget

The following letter is from the Principal of the Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES). Please note that according to the “Grand List,” 71% of Cavendish property is owned by non residents.

CAVENDISH TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 

P✰TRIOTS

 573 Main Street  Proctorsville, Vermont 05153

802-875-7758 

Debra Beaupre, Principal  

                                                                                                            January 8, 2020

Dear CTES families and friends,

Budget season is in full swing and I want to be sure that you all are aware of the way things are proceeding. The board would like us to cap spending so that we are only spending $17000 per pupil. That means we have to cut certain things that we had asked for. The board is concerned about the tax impact of several fixed costs we have to incur, which is understandable. Health care is up, insurance is up and most regular items and services we buy have a price increase of one sort or another. 

Margo Caufield tells me that over 50% of the homes in our little school area are owned by non-residents. This means that not as many people live and work here as may in nearby towns.  I tried to create a budget that would pull from the tax base so that we would rely less on fundraising. For example, I added a line item for Keewaydin with that in mind. Fundraising is a lot of work and yes, we do make some good money, but the money mostly comes from the parents of the kids in the school. I think the budget can be a way to share some of the burden.

Jon Beamon and I created a 5-year plan of projects that need to be done to maintain the school. That is below:           

                             5 Year Facility Projects 

      YEAR 1

• Replace Sign - $8,500 (estimate)

• Replace Oil Tank -  $75,000 (estimate)

• Pave Dirt Parking Lot - $40,000 (estimate)

      YEAR 2

• Replace Playground Equipment - $150,000 (estimate)

• Add Extra Security Cameras Primary Entrance  - $5,000 (estimate)

·       Clean All Air Ducts - Unknown

       YEAR 3

·       Replace Both Boilers - $20,000 (estimate)

·       Resurface Gym Floor - Unknown

·       Resurface Stage Floor - Unknown

·       New Cabinets and Countertops in Kitchen - Unknown

       YEAR 4

·       Resurface Stage Floor - Unknown

·       Remodel Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops- Unknown

The board asked me to narrow it down to one that I felt was the most important. Since I have a lead on a donation for a sign with Betty M, I chose the parking lot. Rick Alexander- a board member on the facility committee- came by and we spoke about the need for the back parking lot to be done so that it isn’t dirt which does not take salt, thereby freezing and making a bumpy treacherous ice rink for the staff. He suggested the various materials that we could use. The board denied this request on the grounds that it seemed cosmetic. Pretty regularly, someone on staff slips or falls. The town plows and sands it but the weather is variable and the parking lot needs regular care. The mud freezes and then it is an ankle turning mess. In the course of this discussion, I shared that our school was the only one without a tractor/plow. The board said they should get us one but it won’t work since we are cutting to get to the $17k limit. We are the only school without a tractor.

CLASSROOM UPDATES: Jon and I also planned to remodel/fix up two classrooms a year in an effort to maintain the building. Jon would do all the work- painting, redoing the floors and repairing anything that needed fixing. That work was why we also asked for an additional summer helper so that we could accomplish more than stripping and waxing floors and doing a quick paint job in the most visible areas. The board did not support either of those ideas. I hope to engage in conversation with local partners to see if we can create a community workforce to help get some of this seen to.

MENTAL HEALTH

I asked for another day for the in-school clinician we currently have to help children who have needs in this area. This was denied. We had asked for a Home School Coordinator for the district which would give us more of a school counselor. Our school counselor, Kristen Billings, teaches classes, has groups for kids who are in need of some learning around social issues, sees children in a nontherapeutic setting.That was denied.

PLAYGROUND

The board would like us to create a playground committee to raise money and write grants for the playground to be redone. I am concerned about our ability to do that with our small base of volunteers, but we do have a grant writer in the district now who I am planning to reach out to about this idea.

SAFETY

They hope that we will find money in the shared safety grant that will help us add to our camera coverage. We get $10,000 total and share it with the three schools. At the moment, we have a few blind spots and no coverage indoors yet. The public safety team of staff, faculty and local law and safety officers will be meeting this week to discuss safety measures suggested by the recent audit we had involving our insurance company. It was prompted by the library incident but encompasses a whole lot more. There are several recommendations from the latest Safety Audit we are considering. Some that we have completed in the last few years are:

• adding cameras to the outside of the building in front, back and side, 

• securing bookcases to the wall to prevent tipping, 

• conducting emergency kitchen training plans, 

• Regular inspection of the elevator, 

• relocation of custodial office which cleared boiler room of all combustibles

Those we are working on at the moment are:

• inventory of all chemicals in the building,

• inspection of the hanging equipment in the gym, 

• a regular check of the fire extinguishers in the building, 

• creating enough clearance of the electrical boxes, 

• updating the labels on the circuit breakers,

• looking at a new floor scrubber, 

• looking for a tractor, 

• acquiring a stepping stool for every classroom and office with high shelves

Everything costs money, right? We have to figure out how to do the things we want and need with creative funding. If you have ideas, suggestions or feedback, please reach out to Kate Lampherekathleen.lamphere@trsu.org, Fred Marinfred.marin@trsu.org or Doug McBridedoug.mcbride@trsu.org who are the representatives for this community or Joe Fromberger joseph.fromberger@trsu.org, who is the chair. If you wish to speak to the entire board, please do come to the next meeting on Tuesday, Jan 14 at 6 at GM.

What follows below is a staff wish list for all the things we think would make this school even better.

·       sensory path                          

·       Sensory Room for all to access        

·       Updated Playground with specific sensory pieces of equipment                 

·       Preschool at our school                                             

·       Provide breakfast and lunch for our students on snow days and inservice days who struggle to have food in their homes.

·       Robotics                                             

·       Urban Fitness Equipment                              

·       Increase the arts

·       Indoor Rock Climbing Wall                            

·       Repair the Outdoor Classroom Trail 

·       Dance and Drama Teacher who can weave in poetry instruction, math instruction, and other content areas.

·       money for STEM equipment - digital sensors for light, temp; soil test kits

·        more field trip funding for science/STEM

·        projects that create interdependence between GMUHS students and CTES        

·       A dedicated fitness room

·       More seating options in each classroom

·       Artist in Residence to provide instruction and inspiration for an all-school project or maybe different versions of a project for all grade levels.             

·       PE 5 days per week 

·       Full-Time School Clinician

·       Full-time Counselor   

So that is where we are at the moment.

Please feel free to reach out to me with questions, comments or concerns. debra.beaupre@trsu.org

Deb 

Open Positions for Cavendish Elected Officials: File Petitions Now

Anyone interested in applying for a Cavendish Elected position, see list below, stop by the Town Office and pick up a petition from the Town Clerk, Diane McNamara. All petitions require 12 signatures from registered Cavendish voters and are due at the Town Office by Monday, Jan. 27., 2020. Note all positions, appearing below, are for one official with the exception of Select Board, where there are two vacancies for one year terms.

Town Moderator 1 year term

Town Agent 1 year term

Auditor 1 year

Auditor 1 year (remaining balance of 2 year term

Auditor 3 years

Select Board 1 year (2 positions available)

Select Board 2 year (remaining balance of a 3 year term

Select Board 3 years

Town Clerk 3 Years

Town Treasurer 3 Years

Town Grand Juror 1 Year

Library Trustee 5 years

Trustee of Public Funds 3 years

GMUSD Director 1 year

GMUSD Director 3 years

For additional information, please contact the Town Office 802-226-7291.

Letter to Cavendish Connects Users

January 3, 2020:

Dear Cavendish Connects Users

 Happy New Year!

 As we enter this new decade, changes are in order to better serve the users of Cavendish Connects (CC) which includes Facebook page; Website; Blog; Update as well as special projects (e.g. Town Wide Tag Sale).

The roots of CC began in the early 2000s with the Cavendish Update, a free subscribe to e-mail listserv. As new social media platforms became available, these were added. In 2014, the CC was formed to consolidate these efforts as well as provide a stronger web presence for Cavendish.

This has been a volunteer effort on my part, with any funds received for CC being used for web hosting, studies, projects and operational expenses.  Moving forward it’s important to understand how the community is using CC, where gaps exist in our community that could be met by CC, and the best use of my time.

Then and Now: Many of today’s news outlets and social media platforms didn’t exist when the first updates were e-mailed. With sites like the Chester Telegraph, The Vermont Journal, and VT Digger, all of which have paid staff, there is less need for me to cover local news. In addition, there are numerous Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds to say nothing of Front Porch Forums.

How CC is Being Used: The most frequently used CC component is Facebook, with around 2,500 users daily. The least used is the Cavendish Update, which has had little to no growth. Mail Chimp data shows that most weeks only about half of the subscribers actually bother opening it. These statistics are not surprising since  many follow Facebook daily,  and by the time the Update is sent on Friday, they figure they pretty much know what it contains. Note: Utilization of the Update is much higher in times of emergency.

Facebook has its fans as well as detractors. However,  this is a multi-administered and monitored site and we delete comments and ban those who misuse it. Fortunately, we rarely need to do that. It’s set up as a community page so those who aren’t Facebook subscribers can read it. If you do wish to comment, you must be a Facebook subscriber and “like” the page.

Many start their day checking Facebook. Therefore, every effort is made to have news, weather bulletins, events and other information posted in a timely manner. It continues to be a very effective way to keep the community informed, particularly during emergencies.

CHANGES

• Cavendish Update will be limited to:

-       Emergent & urgent situations

-        Issues not being covered by other outlets, e.g. lack of high speed Internet in Cavendish

-       The third Friday of each month will contain a summary update (instead of once a week, it will be once a month, unless circumstances dictate more frequent posts as noted above).

• The  Cavendish VT Facebook page will continue to function as usual. Expect to see more “event” posts and, with time and volunteers, we will consider hosting “Facebook Live” of important meetings.

• Website/Calendar/Blog:  Continue as usual

• Town Wide Tag Sale: Cavendish Connects will once again sponsor the 10th anniversary tag sale this summer on Saturday July 25.

• High Speed Internet: We continue to work at addressing the lack of high speed Internet town wide. This is challenging problem. However, we recently helped Twenty Mile Stream TDS customers reach speeds of 25/3 Mbps.

• Cares Project: With Cavendish’s increasing aging population, along with requests about how social media can be used to connect the community to support those in need, a planning effort will begin this spring for a “Cares” program. Note: There are now many digital technologies to help people remain independent. As part of this new initiative, CC will provide a new resource “Tech Options for Aging in Place.”

OTHER SOURCES OF LOCAL INFORMATION

• The Town’s Municipal website includes Meeting agendas, minutes, notices, & calendar. If you scroll to the bottom of the home page you can subscribe to the Town’s news feed that is e-mailed on Fridays.

• The Vermont Journal: Articles pertaining to Cavendish will be posted to Facebook. Note that the Journal now has an e-mail service in addition to their print publication, website and Facebook page.

• The Chester Telegraph: Articles pertaining to Cavendish will be posted to Facebook

• Okemo Valley TV Includes video coverage of Select Board and School Board meetings as well as Town Meeting. Relevant Cavendish videos will be posted to Facebook. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Volunteers are needed for the following:

• Maintain Instagram and Pinterest sites

• Planning the 10th anniversary Town Wide Tag Sale

• Assist with the planning of Cavendish Cares

• Donate

If you would like to volunteer or  have questions, e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807