CVSD Update February 2024

 

Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers,

We know that a lot of information has been coming your way in the last few weeks about the proposed 2024-2025 budget. There are other exciting things to celebrate about our district.

This edition of the CVSD Update, our monthly district newsletter, contains information about the proposed budget and much more. We hope you'll take the time to check it out.

Some highlights: 

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• Budget resources
• Celebrations
• Upcoming events- don't miss the DEI event in March to learn about the Somali community in Vermont
• Announcements and updates from our partners
• and more!

We hope you can spend time next week with family and friends. Please remember to vote on or before March 5!

Feel free to reach out using Let's Talk with any questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, or kudos.

Understanding the Proposed 2024-2025 Budget

At Tuesday night's Champlain Valley School District's school board meeting, the board voted to adopt the finance committee’s recommendation to move forward with the originally warned budget that they spent more than six months reviewing and evaluating.

• At the meeting, CVSD Board vice chair and finance committee chair Meghan Metzler read this statement to begin the discussion. https://bit.ly/FinanceCommStatement

• After the meeting, Superintendent Sanchez shared this letter as well. https://bit.ly/SuptFeb2024

• Here are some budget highlights to help our community understand important elements of the proposed budget. https://bit.ly/FY25BudgetHighlights

If you are able, please attend tonight's CVSD Virtual Budget Town Hall to get more information about the proposed budget and your questions answered. To join, please find the Zoom link on the left side of the district's homepage. https://www.cvsdvt.org/

We deeply appreciate the support this community has shown us and we hope you can continue to do so.

All of the documents above are also shared on the Budget page of the district's website:
https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget

Congratulations to the CVU Robotics Teams!

 Here's a guest post from CVU Robotics Coach, Olaf Verdonk: 

Both of CVU's robotics teams competed at the Vermont State Robotics Championship held at Lamoille Union High School. Both teams performed with excellence!

The Varsity RoboHawks earned 1st place in the Inspire Award once again due to their outstanding work in STEM outreach to CVSD and the community and their ability to clearly and effectively communicate their engineering design process and growth both in writing and presentation. This most prestigious award qualifies them for the World Championships in Houston in April!

The JV RedHawks earned great reviews from judges as a rookie team and they earned the prestigious Judges Award and a 3rd place in the Connect Award.

In the competition the JV robot performed flawlessly and never had a breakdown!

The Varsity robot performed excellent in all areas and working together in an alliance with South Burlington's robot they were able to win the tournament! They sailed through the semis beating an alliance between Mater Christi and MMU. Winning best of three (in two) 193 to 68 and 103 to 55. They then went on to dominate the finals beating an alliance between Saxton River and Manchester! Winning best of three again in two 137 to 64 and 153 to 65.

EXTRA KUDOS go to James Haines for being selected as a FIRST Robotics Dean's List Finalist to represent Vermont at the World Championships! A well deserved honor!

Congratulations to both teams! 

CVSD Budget Town Hall

 

Earlier this week, the CVSD School Board's Finance Committee had a productive meeting to discuss the options and implications for the district and taxpayers regarding the proposed 2024-2025 budget. At next week's school board meeting on Tuesday, 2/20 at 6:00 pm, the full board will come together to discuss the budget and work toward a decision on how to move forward.

On Wednesday, 2/21 at 6:30 pm, the district's administration and school board will host a virtual Town Hall at which they will provide the latest information available about the proposed budget and answer questions.

We hope you can join us for these events. See the calendar on the left side of the district's homepage for details about how to attend. https://www.cvsdvt.org/ 

 We will share another update next week.

WCS School Counselor in the Spotlight

 

Williston Central School's school counselor, Chris Ford, is in the Vermont School Counselor Association's Spotlight this month. Chris answered a few questions below. Congratulations on this honor and well-deserved recognition, Chris!  

What influenced you to become a school counselor?

In reflecting on this question, I think three things influenced my path to becoming a school counselor: 1. Always enjoying and having fun with kids in all parts of my life; 2. Having a high school counselor that was supportive, kind, and helpful; 3. Seeking a career path that is meaningful and rewarding each day.

What's your favorite part about being a school counselor?

Definitely connecting with kids in my role as a school counselor. Whether it is in classes, groups, or individual meetings, the days I work more with students are the days that seem more satisfying (even when the work is challenging).

What’s unique about your school community?

I appreciate all the student leadership and extra-curricular opportunities that our students have available to them during the school day, and after school, to help them connect with others, find their passions, and contribute to making our school community better for all students.

We are proud to call Chris a colleague and thankful for the work he does on behalf of students.

CVSD Schools Take the Plunge

The annual Penguin Plunge event, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Vermont, took place on February 10. Once again, CVSD schools came through! The total raised by teams representing all of our schools came in at over $41,000! 

All funds raised through the Penguin Plunge support Special Olympics Vermont’s local and school-based programs that foster awareness and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities by using the power of sport to showcase their gifts and abilities.

Thank you to the organizers, students, faculty, staff, parents and caregivers who dedicated their time to raising funds and to those who created alternate events to keep the spirit strong.

Here are updates from each of the CVSD schools who participated this year. 

Charlotte: 5 people participated this year representing CCS. We raised $1,840 this year and it was a great time!

CCS

CCS

Hinesburg: The Hinesburg team was made up of 38 5th-8th grade students, along with teachers Paul Lasher and Alyssa Wieland and board member Cassandra Townshend. We raised $11,500, the third most for all teams. 5th grader Nora Cudney raised $1700 herself!

HCS

HCS

Shelburne: SCS had 14 members and collectively raised $8,370. SCS team was the fourth highest fundraising school, coming in just behind CVU and Hinesburg. SCS also had the highest student fundraiser of all the Cool Schools (Gray Latka $3,270)!

SCS

SCS

CVU: We had 55 plungers for the CVU team and raised $19,486! This was the most raised by a school team.

CVU

CVU

Congratulations and thank you all for your effort and dedication to this incredible event, and thank you to all who contributed in support of it as well. 

Author Jason Chin Visits CVSD Schools

Science teachers across the district have been looking for ways to integrate science into reading and writing classes while also creating a shared experience for our PreK-8 students. This week, CVSD's PreK-8 buildings are welcoming Jason Chin to share his experiences and insights into writing and illustrating children’s books. Jason Chin, a local author and illustrator, is a diverse author and a Caldecott Medal winner who has written and illustrated a series of children’s books including many on non-fiction science topics.

“I love meeting readers and sharing what I love, and I hope that my visits will help young readers see themselves as artists, scientists, readers and writers.” -Jason Chin

These visits were funded through a grant, the school district, and each school's PTO/family organizations supported it as well.

Thank you, Jason, for such enriching and engaging presentations! Here are a few photos from the visit with Williston students yesterday. He was in Charlotte today and will be in Shelburne and Hinesburg this week as well.

February 12 CVSD Proposed Budget Update

We wanted to follow up on the email and notice we sent last week with another update about the Champlain Valley School District’s proposed budget. Last week, Vermont's lawmakers discussed making a significant change to Act 127. They're considering getting rid of the 5% cap on pre-CLA tax rates and replacing it with a tax-rate discount (as outlined in H.850). It's an unusual discussion. Nothing has been decided yet.

The new bill also includes language about potentially delaying school district budget voting if districts choose to do that.

It's important to know that any changes to Act 127 have to go through the whole legislative process. If this law is changed, it would start affecting things from the 2024-2025 school year onwards, and it could impact the tax rate increase we proposed.

CVSD’s finance department, superintendent, and the Board’s chair and vice-chair have been closely monitoring the meetings in Montpelier. On Tuesday, February 13 at 6 pm, the Board’s finance committee will meet to discuss options for CVSD. Information to view that meeting is posted on the district’s website calendar on the left of the homepage. https://www.cvsdvt.org/ The next full Board meeting is scheduled for February 20th.

These articles may provide some helpful information.

• Lawmakers move to replace controversial property tax cap with targeted ‘discount’, VTDigger, February 9, 2024 
• With Large Tax Hikes Looming on Town Meeting Day, School Districts Ask the State for Help, Seven Days, January 31, 2024 
• Story from Vermont Public on the rising cost of education, January 12, 2024 

We will do our best to keep all members of the CVSD community informed about the next steps for our district’s proposed budget.

Rene Sanchez, Superintendent

February 5 Proposed Budget Update

The CVSD School Board approved the proposed 2024-2025 budget to present to voters on Town Meeting Day ballots at the January 23, 2024 school board meeting. The proposed budget is now a warned article on the ballot.

However, the Vermont legislature is currently considering changes to Act 127, the new education funding law. Their review may require us to modify our proposed school district budget and possibly when we vote on the upcoming school year’s ballot articles.

We wanted to let all of our community members know that we are aware of this and will do our best to keep you informed as we learn more. We will reschedule community presentations about the proposed budget and will update associated materials when we have clarity.

Rene Sanchez, Superintendent