GMUSD’S BUDGET: Did it deliver on its Act 46 promise?

At the Jan. 17 Finance Committee and Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board meetings, the Finance Committee was tied in approving the budget with two no, two yes and one abstaining. Throughout the budget meeting, Cavendish representative Doug McBride pointed out issue after issue on the budget showing how it didn’t conform to the Act 46 promise and asking the hard questions. When the GMUSD board met, they ignored the Finance Committee’s deadlock and went ahead and voted in the budget, minus $30,000. The only dissenting vote was McBride’s.

When asked why he voted no, McBride stated that the budget is not what we promised the voters. It does not conform to Act 46’s promise of enhancing the education of students and there is no economic savings.

With an 11% increase in administration, only an interim principal for CTES but a Dean of Students added at Chester Andover Elementary and no programs to “enhance education,” Cavendish residents attending the meeting were not pleased with the outcome.

To have approved the first budget under GMUSD in such a callous way is an insult to our students, teachers, schools, and taxpayers.  What’s the true mission of this board?  After the last few meetings I’ve witnessed, I find it hard to believe the mission is at all about the children we are trying to educate. Denise Hughes, Cavendish resident mother of three students in Pre K and CTES

“I am dismayed at how the Superintendent seems once again to be bullying us into making hasty decisions about the future of our schools. While she has backed down temporarily, she makes it clear that everything is on the table for next year, which is not that far away. I appreciate the work the board did to get a few positions reinstated, including the principal at CTES, but I do not understand why the overwhelming majority them voted on a budget that included an arbitrary $30,000 cut at the end, in spite of an passionate plea last week to consider asking voters for more time. The process of consolidation was divisive. Now we are divided again, rather than being united for our schools and communities, and it seems to be all to comply with something we aren’t sure we agree with in the first place. The time to push back is now.” Sara Stowell, Proctorsville resident, parent of two students at GMUHS

If this is the process for improving educational outcomes more efficiently and at a lower cost, then our system is broken and the result is offensive.   -Trevor Barlow, Proctorsville resident, parent of two students at CTES

After the two meetings this week-last night's meeting and the January 16th Combined CTES and CAES Board Meeting: Moving 6th Grade to Chester -there is a real concern that a movement is a foot by the TRSU to ultimately squeeze CTES inch by inch until it no longer exists.  It is important that the Cavendish community pay attention as if the goal, stated or not, is to do away with CTES, the impact will include the devaluation of property, the continuing decline in census (a town without a school is not attractive to young families), and ultimately end in the loss of the heart and hub of the community as we know it.

You can watch these meetings on line at Okemo Valley TV and on Comcast. Check the Okemo Valley TV website for scheduled times.

COMBINED CTES AND CAES BOAD MEETING: Moving 6th Grade to Chester

Before reporting on the discussion at the combined school board meeting of Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES) and Chester/Andover Elementary School (CAES), there is a correction to last week’s article GMUSD: Are we getting what we voted for?

Cavendish’s Town Clerk, Diane McNamara, spoke to the Secretary of State’s office after the article was posted. Contrary to what was discussed at the Select Board on Monday, January 8, there will be school business segment at this year’s Town Meeting. However, at last night’s meeting, the Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) superintendent Meg Powden said that the informational meeting for the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) is in February in Chester-Feb. 27.

Why is it being proposed to move 6th grade to GMUHS?: Given the tension about GMUSD, people wanted to know why this issue was being brought up now. Marilyn Mahusky, the chair of the CAES board, said that she thought it was relevant to ongoing discussions.

The idea was suggested to the CAES board by administration while they were on retreat a year and a half ago. No one from CTES was present, yet the CAES board thought it could be good for both elementary schools to have their 6th grades move to GMUHS for a middle school 6-8.

Do middle schools make a difference?: While articles being posted on the CTES PTO Facebook page questioned the value of middle school, both boards said they didn’t know very much about the issue. Some of the articles suggest that students attending middle schools actually do worse than the traditional K-8/9-12 model. In an effort to understand more about performance, data on GMUSD schools was obtained from School Digger.

For 2017, CTES ranks 23 out of 169 elementary schools in Vermont while CAES ranks 102. CTES has 56% of its students on reduced or free lunch, an indication of how many students live at or below the poverty level, and on Average Standard Score (2017) scored 77.8. CAES has 51.2% of its student population on reduced or free lunch and scored 40.5 on Average Standard Score (2017). For high school, out of 55 schools in Vermont, GMUHS ranks 44th with 43.6% of students on free or reduced lunch and has an Average Standard Score of 24.6.

Why fix what isn’t broken? CTES’s 6th grade teacher, Robin Long, spoke about how well CTES 6th graders do, which was echoed by parents . An audience member working in the middle school at GMUHS was clear that they were in no way prepared for any type of changes of this magnitude and were pretty clear it wouldn’t save money. The audience sentiment before, during and after the meeting was not in favor of moving the 6th grade to Chester.

What would be the impact on CTES if the 6th grade was moved? What was clear to many in the audience is that if the 6th grade was moved, it was the beginning of the end for CTES. If the school were to close, the impact on the town would be devastating. As one parent noted after the meeting, Why would you jeopardize the one asset Cavendish has?

Do we have local control? Act 46 protects the school for four years. After that it’s up to the GMUSD to determine its fate. Given that there is sufficient voting power on the GMUSD board and in actual voters, it’s very simple-whatever Chester wants Chester gets.

Savings? At the April 25 ACT 46 informational meeting, which took place prior to the vote for joining the GMUSD, tax information was presented as follows, Tax rates for the unified district were presented to show that Cavendish would experience an initial drop from 1.5153 in FY 2017 to 1.4699 in FY 2019. This would then increase slightly each year so that by FY 2022, the per pupil cost for all schools in the district would be 1.6751

 Any savings that were to be experienced disappeared almost immediately after the GMUSD was voted in-health insurance for teachers. Now there is an additional $225,000 required so that the elementary school staffs will receive the same benefits as the high school staff. Clearly, if there was a policy within Act 46 requiring that all participating schools in a district provide equal benefits, then this $225,000 should have been part of the discussion back in April. It wasn’t.

At the Finance Committee-which will meet on Jan. 17-a budget will be released. While much discussion has been about doing what’s best for students, there has been little evidence of that. In fact, it appears to be more about jobs than students.

Read the report on the April 25 meeting.

Trust: CTES board member Fred Marin made a plea for people to be patient so we can learn to trust one another. Unfortunately, many of the older residents who were around at the formation of the GMUHS felt they were short changed in that process- e.g. the school was to be located on the Cavendish/Chester border but instead was moved to its current location, far more convenient for Chester than Cavendish. The creation of the TRSU was to save money, improve services etc. none of which have been realized.

Some audience members were surprised to learn that the replacement of retiring CTES principal George Thompson with another principal will be a temporary position for one year. They felt this was a switch from the previous week’s discussion at the Finance meeting.

Trust is going to be difficult to establish even though members of the audience very much want to overlook history and move forward.

Hold off on the Budget: Fred Marin encouraged the TRSU to hold off on producing a budget that could be easily defeated and instead take the time to produce one that could be voted on at a separate time other than Town Meeting Day. There was strong support among the audience for his suggestion.

Attend the Finance Committee and GMUSD Meeting: Tonight, January 17, there will be a Finance Committee at GMUHS at 5 pm. This will be followed by a GMUSD board meeting at 6 at the same location. All meetings are being filmed by Okemo Valley TV and live notes are being posted via the CTES PTO Facebook page.

Regardless of whether you have school age children, the decisions being made effect everyone not only because of taxes but also because anything that jeopardizes the school endangers the community as we know it.

Cavendish Update 1/12/18 SB/Flu/GMUSD

                 Yucky Weather Ahead

Today’s Cavendish Update has been made possible by donations from Peggy Svec and two donors who wish to remain anonymous. Cavendish Connects thanks them for their support, as without it, the various forms of digital outreach to Cavendish would not be possible.

A Winter Weather Advisory (9 pm this evening Jan. 12 to Sat. Jan 13 at 4 pm) has been issued for our area, by the National Weather Service in Burlington. Sleet, snow, and freezing rain expected. Scattered power   outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel will   be hazardous. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches and   ice accumulations up to one quarter of an inch are expected. In addition a flood watch from 7 am on Friday Jan. 12 to Sat. Jan. 13. A combination of moderate to locally heavy rainfall, snow melt,   and potential for ice jams may cause flooding on rivers and   streams.

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

 1/12/18 Cavendish Update

1. Cavendish Select Board Meeting

2. Town of Cavendish: Ballot Positions Open for Election

3. Cavendish Related News

4. Got Flu? Cavendish Cares Packages

5. CTES in Need of Mentors

6. Home Weatherization Workshop

7. Events

1. CAVENDISH SELECT BOARD MEETING Select board (SB) meetings are recorded by Okemo Valley TV and are available at their website and on Comcast Television.  Written minutes are available at the town’s website.

The focus of Monday’s meeting was preparing for Town Meeting Day (March 5). Voters should be aware that for the first time there will be no informational meeting for the school. Instead, this will be covered by an informational meeting for the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD), which Cavendish is part of, on Feb. 27 (Tuesday) in Chester. Voting for school budgets is by Australian ballot. Other items discussed at the meeting included:

• TDS did not respond to request to attend the January meeting

• Town manager Brendan McNamara will be contacting VTrans regarding calming measures for the intersection of 103/131 as a result of a recent accident involving a school bus.

• Agreed that a Town Constable position is no longer necessary. It will be up to the voters to decide at town meeting whether to eliminate this position. Reviewed other positions for election. (see item 2 below)

• Set date for warning adoption of Town Plan (Jan. 27 at 5:30 pm at the Town office) and removed two Planning Commission members who have not been active on the committee.

For a more in-depth report on the SB meeting see The Dish.

2. CAVENDISH BALLOT POSITIONS FOR ELECTION: If you are interested in seeking an elected office, petitions are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, Monday-Friday, 9-4. Deadline for filing with the Town Clerk nominating petitions for town offices to be voted on by Australian ballot is January 29, 2018 by 5pm. Election will take place on March 6 by Australian Ballot. Positions open are as follows:

Town Moderator                    1 year

School District Moderator      1 year

Select Board                            3 year and 2 openings for 1 year term

Town Agent                            1 year

Lister                                       1 and 2 year terms

Auditor                                   1, 2 and 3 year terms

Library Trustee                       5 year

Trustee of Public Funds         3 year

Town Grand Juror                  1 year

Constable                                1 year (Need for this position to be voted on)

Town School Director             2 positions for 3/6/18-6/30/18

GMUHS                                     1 position for 3/6/18-6/30/18

Note that the school board positions end June 30 as the Green Mountain Unified School District goes into effect on July 1, 2018.

3. CAVENDISH RELATED NEWS

GMUSD: Are we getting what we voted for? As part of Act 46, Cavendish voters were encouraged to vote for the formation of the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) in order to save money and improve educational opportunities for students. As the GMUSD is being formed-it takes effect July 1, 2018- not only are there no savings, the per pupil cost is increasing and none of the increases are in programming to benefit students. Read the full story at The Dish

 Cumberland Farms in Ludlow No Longer Serving Gas: The gas pumps at the Ludlow Cumberland Farms are no longer operational. As of Jan. 1, all gas tanks in VT must be double lined and their tanks are single lined. There was a rumor that they would be relocating to Sam’s Steakhouse, which closed this past summer. However, that appears to have fallen through.

Shovel off your roof before cold returns: Warm temperatures now and freezing rain on the way. Experts say if you haven't gotten your snow off your roof yet, you're going to want to soon. Keep in mind-Snow drifts, so some parts of the roof may have more than others. Clear your pipes. That helps your appliances work correctly. Have working alarms. This could save your life if there is a carbon monoxide buildup or a fire. WCAX

Frigid Temperatures May Reduce Tick Population: Even in the dead of winter, ticks stay deep in the woods hiding until much warmer months return. But when faced with sub-zero temperatures, like much of our region is experiencing now, there's a good chance quite a few of them won't make it to spring. "We're cautiously optimistic that the severe cold and the dryness is going to have some sort of negative impact on the tick population," Vermont Agency of Agriculture's Eliza Doncaster said. MYNBC

4. GOT FLU? CAVENDISH CARES PACKAGES: This year’s flu is off to a roaring start, and early indications are it’s going to be a banner year-and not in a good way.

To help with both flu awareness and to provide some comfort to those affected, the Cavendish Homeschool community in conjunction with the Cavendish Historical Society, Cavendish Connects and the Cavendish Baptist Church are preparing Cavendish Cares Packages (CCPs). The packages contain items to help prevent the spread of flu as well as provide comfort to those who already have it. These are available now through April (flu season).

Packages are available by e-mailing cavendishconnects@gmail.com or calling 226-7131. Please specify if a child is ill.

If you would like to help with this project, you can drop off the  items below for the CCPs at the Cavendish Baptist Church between 7am and 7pm every day through the side entrance at the back of the church - through the double doors under the porch supported by crosses.  There is a bin labeled "Cavendish Cares Donations" just inside those doors.  

• Tissues, toilet paper, paper towels

• herb teas

• honey 

• cough drops

• lip balm

• hand sanitizer

• disinfectant

• Water

• Electrolyte solutions, such as Gatorade and Powerade

• ibuprofen

• acetaminophen

• children’s acetaminophen

If you would like to help in other ways, such as being a distribution or collection point, please e-mail cavendishconnects@gmail.com or call 802-226-7807. See the Dish for tips on flu prevention.

5. CTES IN NEED OF MENTORS: Cavendish Town Elementary School is seeking mentors. Mentoring shows young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter. Research confirms that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. You can be the difference in a child’s life.

Mentoring is a two-way street. You can learn just as much from your mentee as they learn from you. You can also have new experiences and pass on what you’ve learned in your life.

Mentoring is friendship-based, meaning that matches choose fun activities to do each week like play outside, arts and crafts, board/card games or just sit and talk. Matches meet one hour a week throughout the year, while school is in session, either during the mentee’s lunch hour or after school between 3-5:30 pm at the school

CTES provides mentors with ongoing training and support. If you interested in becoming a mentor, contact Kristen Billings, CTES School Counselor Kristen.billings@trsu.org or call (802) 875-7723

6. HOME WEATHERIZATION WORKSHOP: The Cavendish Energy Committee will host a weatherization workshop on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the town office meeting room, 37 High Street in Cavendish.  Residents of Cavendish or any other town are invited to attend.

The workshop will consist of a presentation and discussion by Steve Spatz, Residential Energy Consultant with Efficiency Vermont, who will speak on weatherizing homes and how to finance projects. Spatz's presentation will be both informational and educational. There will be plenty of time for questions. Information will also be provided on how to secure a home energy assessment or audit.

Refreshments will be served. FMI:Cheryl Leiner 802-226-7820 or Peter LaBelle 802-226-7250.

7.  EVENTS

JANUARY 15 (MONDAY): Martin Luther King Day. Legal Holiday Town office

 JANUARY 16 (TUESDAY): Joint school board meeting of CTES and Chester Andover Elementary, 6 pm at CTES

JANUARY 17 (WEDNESDAY): GMUSD Finance Committee Meeting (5 pm) and board meeting (6pm) both at GMUHS

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

GMUSD: Are we getting what we voted for?

Cavendish is now part of the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD), which becomes operational on July 1, 2018. Instead of there being three boards and budgets for Cavendish Town Elementary School (CTES), Chester Andover Elementary School (CAES)and Green Mountain Union High School (GMUHS), there is now one GMUSD board, and budget, that reports to the Twin River Supervisory Union (TRSU).

There are several big changes between the current Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) that Cavendish is part of and the GMUSD. For starters, the Ludlow Mount Holly Unified Union School District (LMHUUSD),  also part of the TRSU, is not part of the GMUSD. However both GMUSD and LMHUUSD will continue to be under the supervision of the TRSU.

In years past towns voted on their own school’s budget. Now there is one budget for the GMUSD that is voted on by Australian ballot by the members of the GMUSD (Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish and Chester). There will no longer be a school informational meeting as part of Cavendish’s Town Meeting. Instead there is one for the GMUSD, which will take place in Chester on Feb. 27.

The recent GMUSD Finance Committee and board meetings have brought up considerable concerns for Cavendish residents. One looming question is how much administration is needed at the district level to oversee two preschools, two elementary schools and a high school?

According to the TRSU’s staff directory, -noting that it covers the schools of the GMUSD along with Ludlow/Mt Holly-they have in addition to the superintendent Meg Powden,  six administrators at central office (Directors of Finance, Information Technology, Student Support Services, and Educational Advancement/CPF Team Leader; Curriculum Coordinator; and Early Education Collaborative Director). The administrative support team includes eight additional staff (two administrative assistants; three bookkeepers, human resources, operations and Medicaid Clerk). 

Special education is included under the TRSU budget. This currently includes 27 teachers and nine support staff. In addition there are four other staff -2 IT support-technicians, TRSU Mail Courier and Bus Driver/Coordinator-Plymouth. Each school has a principal, teachers and support staff, including paraprofessionals who provide one on one for students with special needs.

No where is there any mention of programming for those students who are gifted and talented. As one parent noted, “It’s as if they are catering to the bottom and ignoring the needs of the top.” As it is, two new opportunities that would benefit all students are also being rescinded; second language instruction for the elementary schools as well as increased technology options. 

While voters were promised a tax break if they voted for the formation of the GMUSD, it turns out any savings have evaporated due to changes at the state level.  In addition, there are a number of additional costs to address the multi tiered administrative system of GMUSD/TRSU, none of which translates into direct benefits to student education.

While discussions have been underway regarding where economy of scale can be achieved for GMUSD,  the proposed budget doesn’t appear to be offering that. In fact there is concern by some parents that the newly formed GMUSD and TRSU are not adequately leveraging technology to find administrative efficiencies.

Among proposals discussed was one principal for the elementary schools in the GMUSD along with a Dean of Students at CTES and CAES. However, the decision was recently made to replace retiring principal CTES principal George Thompson with a full time principal along with adding $72,659 to the budget for a “teaching dean of students” at CAES. This is being done so CAES Principal Katherine Fogg can “improve instruction and improve outcomes.”

The per pupil costs appears to be going from $14,800 to more than $16,000. This has been explained in part by the increase in health insurance benefits for the elementary school staff being brought up to the level of the high school staff, which will add more than $200,000 to the budget.

Ultimately, the voters were sold on the formation of GMUSD by saying it would save money and provide more educational opportunities for students. As the GMUSD is unfolding, it is doing neither as the budget is increasing to support functions that have nothing to do with educating students.

At Tuesday night’s GMUSD Finance committee meeting, no budget was passed. The next Finance Committee meeting will be on Jan. 17 at 5 pm followed by a GMUSD meeting at 6 pm both at GMUHS. To follow the GMUSD meetings-including agendas and minutes, go to https://sites.google.com/trsu.org/greenmountainunifiedschooldist/home