Cavendish Update 2/24/23: ARPA Funds/School/News/Events
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2/24/23
1. How Should Cavendish Spend ARPA Funds?
2. Cavendish Info:
3. Covid/Flu update
4. Events
1. HOW SHOULD CAVENDISH SPEND ARPA FUNDS?: The members of the Cavendish ARPA committee have announced that they will hold an informational session at the Cavendish Town Meeting to discuss use of the town’s ARPA funds. Town meeting will begin on March 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Cavendish Town Elementary School on Main Street in Proctorsville.
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) distributed funds to all 50 states, providing resources needed to respond to the pandemic and its economic effects and to build a stronger, more equitable economy during the recovery. Vermont further distributed the money to all towns and cities and to many state departments and agencies to use for various purposes.
The Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under ARPA comes with rules and regulations on how the money can be spent. The guidance that accompanies the money runs to well over 437 pages. The Cavendish committee is working within these rules to establish a system for Cavendish to most effectively spend the $421,631 allocated to Cavendish.
The committee is interested in hearing from as many residents as possible to gather as many suggestions as possible for use of the money. The committee members will briefly explain restrictions on spending the funds as set forth by the US Treasury department and will explain how the committee will solicit and receive suggestions from the public. There will also be a timeline with deadlines for submissions. Final determination of spending will be made by the Cavendish Selectboard.
For more information on Town Meeting, please see the town website at www.cavendishvt.com or call the town office at 802-226-7291.
2. CAVENDISH INFO
• GMUSD school board to address use of three school buildings due to declining enrollment: At the Feb. 16 Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Meeting, three main topics were discussed: the reinstatement of the name “Chieftains” as the name for Green Mountain Union High School (GMUHS); the bullying of an African American junior high student that continues unchecked; and the beginning of discussions on shrinking enrollment of the schools that compromise the GMUSD (GMUHS, Chester Andover Elementary and Cavendish Town Elementary School-CTES). The Chieftains name was reinstated by the board. The bullied student read aloud a letter she wrote to Gov. Scott about how she was first exposed to major racism in the 7th grade and how it has continued. With declining enrollments and rising per pupil costs, various options are being discussed on how to use the schools of the GMUSD, including options such as splitting students by grade to create larger classrooms or converting CTES into school offices. Currently, CTES, which was renovated in 2004 to accommodate 140 students has an enrollment of 72 students, with 19 students graduating in June. Given that incoming kindergarten classes for the past three years have been around 7-9 students, CTES 2023/2024 enrollment is projected to be lower than 65 students. For more information on the meeting see VT Journal and the Chester Telegraph
• GMUSD Annual Report/Proposed Budget: In the GMUSD Annual Report of January 2023, CTES is listed as having 92 students, which is clearly not the case, as noted above. However, this number probably includes the number of students at Stepping Stones in the Essential Early Education program. How many of the EEE students would be enrolled in CTES in coming years isn’t known. On January 19, 2023 the Board voted to submit to the voters a budget of $15,837,173.00 which represents an increase of 7.7% over the current budget and a cost of $20,743.00 per student. While the Vermont Tax Dept. has not yet published a District wide education tax rate, we estimate that with the budget number, the District tax rate would be about $1.34/100, which is less than the current rate of $1.41/100 Even though student enrollment continues to decline, the costs continue to increase. Voting on the school budget takes place on March 7, by Australian Ballot at the Proctorsville Fire Hall from 10-7.
• ARPA Meeting Minutes Feb. 21: In addition to approving the press release, which appears in Item 1, the Committee discussed possible projects. Brendan said that the Town would like to use some funds for replacing the municipal water system meters and updating the billing system, which would make this system run much more efficiently. He said that purchasing the meters and hiring a company to install them would cost about $150,000. The Committee suggested it could be added to the water system budget or funded through state ARPA programs. Town Manager, Brendan McNamara, said that other potential projects could be digitizing the land records and/or parcel maps. The Committee suggested a half-court could be added behind the playground or at the old Town Garage site so that the basketball hoop could be moved out of the Town Office parking lot.
• 2022 Annual Town Report: These have been mailed, but a digital copy is available at the Town Website and can be picked up at the Town Office and at Town Meeting on March 6th.
3. COVID/FLU: For local information on Covid, please see the Cavendish COVID-19 Resource Guide.
Vaccination for Covid and Flu- Doctor’s office or pharmacy.
Free Covid Test kits/masks & hand sanitizer: Available Monday-Friday at the Cavendish Fire Dept from 9-4. For weekends and off hours, call 802-226-7807. Pick up free masks and sanitizer when picking up a test kit. Masks and hand sanitizer are available 24/7, 365 at the CHS Cares Closet, next to the steps of the Museum.
Schools: Schools are closed this week for winter break
Vermont Covid Surveillance Report: The 2/12-2/18 report indicates low community levels state wide with the exception of Bennington, which is rated “medium”. There have been 7 new Covid deaths, bringing the state total to 917. No outbreaks are reported for Windsor County.
Vermont Flu Surveillance Report. The 2/5-2/11 reports VT as continuing to have minimal levels of flu statewide.
4. EVENTS
FEBRUARY 24 (FRIDAY): Draw Impossible Animals! Cartoonist Rick Stromoski will show us how to draw "Platypussycats, Bengalbunnies, Kangorillapigs," and much more! The hybrid program begins at 1:00 pm. To join in person, just come to the library. To join using Zoom, please email Amy McMullen at cavendishlibrary573@gmail.com to receive the link. This is a free program for kids in 2nd grade and above. Adults will have fun, too! For more information please call 802-226-7503 or email the library.
MARCH 2 (THURSDAY): The Annual School District Meeting will take place on March 2 at 6 pm at the Green Mountain Union High School. Click here for a copy of the warning.
- Community Luncheon: Free Corned Beef & Cabbage, serving at Noon, Ludlow Community Center Cafeteria, 37 Main ST. Ludlow. Bingo follows the meal. Meal provided by Black River Good Neighbor Services. All are welcome.
MARCH 6 (MONDAY): Town Meeting (informational), 7 pm at the Cavendish Town Elementary School in Proctorsville. There is also a Zoom option. How Cavendish should use its ARPA funds will be discussed.
MARCH 7 (TUESDAY): Voting takes place from 10-7 at the Proctorsville Fire Hall.
MARCH 12 (SUNDAY): Daylight Savings Time Begins. Set clocks ahead one hour
MARCH 17 (FRIDAY): HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
APRIL 7 (FRIDAY): Good Friday. Town Office Closed
APRIL 8 (SATURDAY): Free Easter Dinner. The Ludlow & Proctorsville Fire Depts., in conjunction with Black River Good Neighbors are providing an Easter Dinner, which can be picked up curbside at the Ludlow Community Center from 12-2. The meal includes ham, potatoes, gravy, corn, roll and dessert. To reserve your meal, call Angela at 802-356-3823 by April 1. Maximum 125 dinners provided
APRIL 9 (SUNDAY): HAPPY EASTER
