GMUSD Minutes/Agena

Unapproved Minutes from the Nov. 14, 2017 Green Mountain Unified School District  (GMUSD) are now available in PDF format by clicking here.

The Agenda for the Dec. 12,  board meeting is as follows:

Location: GMUHS – Library Learning Commons
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Time: 6:00 PM

AGENDA
I. Call to Order-Roll Call

II. Approval of Agenda-Additions and Deletion Action

III. Approval of Minutes Action
a. Minutes of November 14, 2017-Regular

IV. Public Comment

V. Old Business
a. Ludlow-Mount Holly Unified Union School District
b. Committee Reports

VI. New Business
a. Proficiency Based Education
b. TRSU Board Representatives (3) Action
c. Food Service Committee Members Discussion
d. Recommendation of Transportation Bid Action
e. FY2018-19 Budget Possible Action
f. Renewal of Limited School Transfer Program Action
g. Newspaper of Record Action
h. Administration Reporting
i. Principals – CAES – CTES – GMUHS
ii. Superintendent

VII. Other Business

VIII. Set Agenda for Next Meeting-Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at CTES

IX. Executive Session
a. Personnel Action

X. Adjournment Action

Cavendish Update 12/1/17 News/Events

CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS www.facebook.com/cavendishvt You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.

12/1/17 /Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Events

1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

CTES and GMUHS Principals Retiring: George Thomson of Cavendish Town Elementary School and Tom Ferenc of Green Mountain Union High School have both recently announced their retirements at the end of this school year-June 2018.

Cavendish Christmas Spirits and CHS News: The Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) has posted their December News Briefs at their blog, which will keep you up to date on what’s happening with CHS. This December they are collecting Cavendish Christmas stories, which if they receive enough of them, they will hold a Christmas Spirit Walk close to Christmas.

Ludlow Municipal Manager Plans to Step Down: Longtime Municipal Manager, Frank Heald has announced his plans to step down from his position on May 1 after more than 15 years piloting the town and village of Ludlow. Heald’s plans were announced after the Select Board, Village Trustees, and Water Commission meeting in November. V Journal

Vote on Unified School District for Ludlow Closes BRHS in 2020: Ludlow and Mt. Holly residents went to the polls Tuesday Nov. 28 and approved a plan that will merge all their schools into one district but will close Black River High School by June 2020 and tuition those students to other schools. The voting was 344 for and 172 against the merger in Ludlow and 341 for and 62 against in Mt. Holly. Chester Telegraph

GMP Rates Expected to Rise 5 Percent: Green Mountain Power’s electric rates are slated to rise by 5 percent in 2018 if the Public Utility Commission approves a deal the state’s largest utility reached this month with the Vermont Department of Public Service. The deal incorporates approximately $18 million due to GMP customers as a result of terms the company agreed to when it purchased Central Vermont Public Service Corp. in 2012. VT Digger

Scott Administration Recommends 9% Property Tax Increase: The Scott administration is recommending a nine-cent increase in the statewide property tax. The administration is required to make a rate recommendation to lawmakers each year. It released its recommendation letter Thursday.  The residential rate recommendation is an increase to $1.59. The nonresidential rate recommendation is an increase to $1.62.

2. EVENTS

DECEMBER 2 (SATURDAY): 16th Annual Community Holiday Fair 9am-3pm at the Proctorsville Fire Dept on Main St in Proctorsville. Crafts, food, raffles, handmade gifts, trees and wreaths all available! FMI (802) 226-8107 or SHANNONJDEVEREUX@GMAIL.COM

• Stuff-A-Bus: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Shaw’s Market parking lot in Ludlow. Food shelf volunteers will hand out holiday dinner menus and will ask shoppers to help with the foods most needed: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, tea, cereal, candy, canned carrots, peas, green beans and corn, gravy, stuffing, soup and coffee.

• Archer Mayor at Cavendish Library 2-3 pm

DECEMBER 2-3 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY): Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale at the Proctorsville Fire Dept. Trees are VT grown and range in size from 5ft to 10ft and start at $30. Christmas Tree sale will also be taking place at the Cavendish Fire Dept.

DECEMBER 5 (TUESDAY): Gethsemane Church Community Lunch at noon will feature choice of chili or potato leek soup, corn bread, salad and fruitcake bread pudding.  Everyone is welcome. The Church is located off of Depot Street in Proctorsville.

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

Cavendish Update 11/24/17: Black Friday/News/Events

CHECK THE CAVENDISH VT FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY FOR THE LATEST NEWS You don’t have to be a Facebook subscriber to see this page.

 11/24/17 /Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Related News

2. Cavendish Black Friday Specials

3. Kick off to Winter Fest & Ski film

4. Events

 1. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

A Brief History of Cavendish: The Cavendish Historical Society has written a brief history of Cavendish, which is available at their blog.

Crisis Fuel Assistance available starting 11/27: For low-income households SEVCA’s Crisis Fuel program will be available starting Monday, Nov. 27. SEVCA may also be able to arrange an emergency furnace repair or replacement for qualified homeowners whose furnaces stop working or become unsafe to operate. To be eligible for Crisis Fuel assistance, households must have had extenuating circumstances that led to the heating emergency (defined as being very close to being out of fuel or out of fuel without money to buy more), and income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), which is based on household size; e.g., $4,100/month (gross) for a family of four. For Crisis Fuel Assistance on weekends and holidays ONLY, call 1-866-331-7741, and for furnace repair or replacement assistance on weekends, holidays, or for after-hours emergencies, call 1-877-295-7998. Eagle Times

 How VT Plans to Get You to Pay Up on Use Tax: How much does the state of Vermont know about your online purchases? Right now-- not much. Up until now, the tax department had no way of knowing how much you spent online. Now, they will. Lawmakers passed a measure that requires online retailers with more than $100,000 in sales to Vermonters each year to report to you and the tax department how much you've spent with them. This applies to anyone who's spent more than $500 with an online retailer. The state hopes you'll use that information to calculate how much tax you should have paid. "It is focused on folks with a lot of online activity with larger vendors. WCAX

 Why Property Taxes May Go Up in Vermont Next Year: Vermont officials are bracing for a large increase in property taxes next year. "It's kind of unprecedented," Vermont Tax Commissioner Kaj Samsom said. "It's the biggest forecasted jump that we could find, at least in recent history." The Legislature's nonpartisan Joint Fiscal Office has estimated tax rates could rise 9-10 cents in fiscal year 2019. The Scott administration generally agrees. Resident homeowners would see a jump from about $1.50 per $100 of home value to nearly $1.60. For nonresidential properties, the rate would increase from about $1.53 to about $1.63. Half of the projected increase is the result of decisions made by lawmakers and the governor earlier this year. They used $36 million from two different sources to lower the residential property rate and keep the nonresidential rate flat-- $9 million taken from reserves plus $27 million the result of a surplus. Half of the projected increase is the result of decisions made by lawmakers and the governor earlier this year. They used $36 million from two different sources to lower the residential property rate and keep the nonresidential rate flat-- $9 million taken from reserves plus $27 million the result of a surplus. WCAX

 2. CAVENDISH BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS: It’s that time of year where people are frantically trying to find gifts. It’s important to think about shopping locally since doing so helps to keep money locally and supports the growth of other businesses as well as the region’s tax base. Interestingly, there is growing economic research that shows entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Bottom line- Think small, avoid the mall and shop Cavendish who’s got it all! Check out the holiday specials from the Cavendish Historical Society; dG Body Works, the Golden Stage Inn and Old Cavendish Products along with other local shopping tips at The Dish.

 3, KICK OFF TO WINTER FEST & SKI FILM: The Big Barn Farm and Matchstick Productions presents Kickoff to Winter Fest & Ski Film-Drop Everything by MSP at the BBF Outdoor theater, Friday, Nov. 24 from 5-9 pm. BBF Outdoor Theater is located on the corner of Twenty Mile Stream and Chapman Rd in Proctorsville. FMI: FB@thebigbarnfarm or www.k2wf.rocks

4. EVENTS

NOVEMBER 23 (FRIDAY): Kickoff to Winter Fest & Ski Film-Drop Everything at the BBF (Chapman & Twenty Mile Stream Rd in Proctorsville) Outdoor theater from 5-9. FMI: FB@thebigbarnfarm or www.k2wf.rocks

 NOVEMBER 25 (SATURDAY):  Holidaypalooza at Black River Good Neighbors in Ludlow. 10:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m. a special Holiday Décor and more sale featuring all things holiday including treasures galore to put you in a spirit of celebration. FMI: 802-228-3663.

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

CAVENDISH BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS

It’s that time of year where people are frantically trying to find gifts. It’s important to think about shopping locally since doing so helps keep money locally and supports the growth of other businesses as well as the region’s tax base. Interestingly, there is growing economic research that shows entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Bottom line-Think small, avoid the mall and shop Cavendish whose got it all!

Local Holiday Specials:

• Cavendish Historical Society: Order one of their books Nov. 22-28 and they’ll gift wrap and wave the shipping and handling fee. Books that have considerable appeal to anyone who loves Cavendish include: Barbara Kingsbury’s History of Cavendish; Sandra Stearn’s (Cavendish’s own Laura Ingalls Wilder) Cavendish Hillside Farms 1939 to 1957; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: The Writer Who Changed History; Carmine Guica’s Autobiography and Linda Welch’s Families of Cavendish series. FMI: 802-226-7807, margocaulfield@icloud.com

• dG Body Works: Bootcamp punch cards normally $80/10 Holiday special: $70/10 ($7 per class) who couldn't use that special!?! Their one year anniversary will be on Dec. 9 at 1 pm. All are invited.

• Golden Stage Inn: Purchase your tickets for the Dec. 2-3 Inndulgence Tour "Passports" are $15 per person and gain you entrance into ten inns from noon til 5 to taste their INNdulgent treats and enjoy their holiday decor.  Visit Golden Stage Inn to purchase your tickets or call for more information. Makes a great gift for a group of friends. FMI: 802-226-7744.

• Old Cavendish Products Fabulous fruitcakes and other delicious treats. 10% off for locals, if you call them at 226-7783.  

Local Non Profits: In addition to getting your Christmas tree from the local fire departments, shop the Holiday Fair on Dec. 2 from 9-2 pm at the Proctorsville Fire Hall. The 6th graders are making lunch and there are all sorts of special gifts and treats available.

• CCCA is selling their 2018 Cavendish Calendar at Crow’s Bakery, the Village Clipper and at Singleton’s Market.

• Fletcher Farms School for the Arts and Crafts has a gift shop, which many local artists contribute to, as well as offering an array of classes-perfect for the arts/crafts person in your life. Remember Cavendish residents/property owners get discounts on classes

Food is a popular gift so consider gift certificates to places like Crows Bakery, Murdock’s, Neals, Singleton’s and American Pie. Order on-line for Old Cavendish Products-fruitcakes, chews or Cavendish Gamebirds and consider gift certificates to other local food producers. Check out the Cavendish Pinterest site for local food & drink options.

Massages, hair cuts, work out classes, and even spa retreats are all available from local businesses such as dG Body Works, the Village Clipper and the Aveda Spa & Resort at Castle Hill.

Finally, check out the Cavendish Business Directory for a wide array of services that would make for terrific gift certificates.