CVSD Capital Construction Bond on the Ballot

On the ballot for Town Meeting Day, March 3, not only will there be articles about the school district’s proposed budget, fund balance, and school buses, but this year there will also be an article about the proposed Capital Construction Bond. We will be providing more information about the other articles in upcoming posts, but we wanted to share details about the proposed bond with our communities as soon as possible. We hope to answer some immediate questions below. More information about the proposed budget and bond can be found on the Budget page of the CVSD website, www.cvsdvt.org/budget.

What is the process used to determine capital improvements? How does it get determined what work fits in the regular school district operations budget and what needs to be on a bond?

Long-range capital maintenance plans and priorities for each school are developed and refreshed by the district’s Property Services Team. These plans are reviewed each September with building principals for completeness on maintenance items and any additions related to instructional delivery

The CVSD Property Services Manager and district COO review the list in October determining which items can be:

• funded through the operational budget
• funded with existing construction funds
• large projects grouped for potential biennial bond requests

Priorities are reviewed with facilities managers and building administration.

The entire 5-year plan is reviewed with the Finance and Facilities committee during budget development. A summary of the capital projects is reviewed with the Board during the operations budget presentation.


CVSD is a consolidated district. What does that mean for homeowners in each of our towns?

As a consolidated district, residents in all CVSD towns share responsibility for all district facilities; approving and paying for all bonds. Deferring these necessary maintenance repairs will only delay them to another year when they will be more expensive. The proposed bond is projected to cost a homeowner $10 per year for each $100,000 of assessed value before accounting for income sensitivity adjustments or CLA. (Common Level of Appraisal)


What is included in the proposed bond? How are schools in all of our towns impacted?

• At Hinesburg, we are addressing deteriorating parking lots and sidewalks, and upgrading the air quality on the second floor of the main building.
• At CVU, the bond will fund energy efficiency improvements in the 1981 wing, overdue field drainage improvements on two natural grass fields and a resurfacing of the 15-year-old track.
• At Shelburne Community School, funds will be used to bring the cafeteria’s kitchen into compliance with current code and to repave the parking and drop off / pick-up lot on School Street.
• And at the Allen Brook School, the bond will fund a fire alarm system upgrade to current life/safety code and additional multiple improvements needed to improve security.

The remainder of the bond will focus on critical repairs and upgrades at Charlotte Central School needed to maintain the health of students and staff and eliminating an astonishing waste of energy. The project consists of sealing the envelope of the main classroom wing – new windows, doors, insulation and cladding – and replacing the existing outdated air handling units with high-efficiency energy recovery ventilators. We encourage everyone to go to the CVSD Capital Construction website and view the presentation shared on January 21, 2020, by architects Dore & Whittier, along with other materials. There you will find infrared photos where you can almost see gallons of fuel oil being wasted as heat flows out through single-pane windows and uninsulated structural beams.

Additional information can be found on the Capital Construction website, linked from the CVSD Budget page. www.cvsdvt.org/budget


Why are voters just hearing about this bond proposal now?

The CVSD Board has committed to putting the district on a path to a sustainable capital funding strategy to minimize costs and stabilize tax impacts. After a period of catching up, the vision is to present district voters with consistent, small investment requests – stewardship bonds – prioritized to eliminate the need for the large construction projects we have seen in the past, and our neighbors are experiencing now. In the short term though, the investment requests will be a bit higher as we clear up deferred maintenance problems.

Our physical assets are managed by a team of highly-skilled, and very busy, facilities managers. One of the CVSD School Board’s first acts after consolidation was to centralize the facilities team in order to achieve operational efficiencies and take advantage of economies of scale. The board also addressed how to manage and prioritize capital needs.

While Shelburne Community School and Williston Central School had significant deferred maintenance problems that were addressed with their recent bonds, the CVSD board has directed that we respect the tax burden already in place in our community by holding the cost of the first phase of the Charlotte project to a minimum. We are not alone in facing the reality of a backlog of deferred maintenance as Burlington ($70M), Winooski ($58M), South Burlington ($209M) and in fact, the rest of Vermont are all struggling to maintain school facilities in the face of the 13-year moratorium on school construction aid. We are grateful that our own needs are on a much smaller scale.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please direct any further questions to the CVSD School Board cvsdboard@cvsdvt.org

Berlin City Supports Literacy

Berlin City Auto Group, announced its January grant donation of $83,845 awarded on behalf of its “Drive for Education” (DFE) program. The program, in its tenth year, uses proceeds from area car sales to fund grants awarded to neighboring schools.

This year 46 schools in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will be receiving grants. Two Champlain Valley School District Schools, the Allen Brook School and Hinesburg Community School, were among the grant recipients.

At the Allen Brook School, librarian Cara Clopton was awarded $1000 for the purchase of new library books and will host a Family Reading Night this spring.

ABS librarian Cara Clopton and students

Hinesburg's kindergarten teacher, Miranda Johnson, was also awarded $1000 which will be used to purchase books for HCS kindergarteners to bring home and read over the summer, helping them practice and maintain the wonderful skills they have learned all year long. 

Miranda Johnson and her kindergarten class from HCS

Congratulations!

Annual Legislative Breakfast

Early yesterday morning, we were honored to have a number of Vermont legislators that represent towns in our district visit for breakfast and conversation. Seven legislators and seven school board members from the Champlain Valley School District joined CVSD leaders for a rich discussion on a variety of topics that impact our schools.

Attending this year were: Terry Macaig, Mike Yantachka, Bill Lippert, Jessica Brumsted, Kate Webb, Jim McCullough, and Debbie Ingram (not pictured).

CVSD School Board members included: Lynne Jaunich, Ray Mainer, Jeff Martin, Angela Arsenault, Brendan McMahon, Colleen MacKinnon, and Kelly Bowen.

The CVSD leadership and Board asked questions about Act 46 consolidation, Health Care, School Choice, and the weighting study. There was discussion around Act 77, specifically focused on proficiency and personalization.

Representative Kate Webb, who is also the chair of the House Education Committee, shared some issues before the legislature. These include:

• Act 166 - PreK
• Literacy
• Oversight of the Agency of Education
• Status of the State Board of Education
• Construction
• The weighting study
• A focus on funding after school programs, which was just announced by the Governor in his State of the State address. 

Representative Jessica Brumsted serves on the House Health and Human Services committee. She shared that they are working on children's integrated services (occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology, etc.), as well as looking at official programs that support foster children. She also stated that they are exploring the ban of all flavored cigarettes, including e-cigarettes.

The legislators were very positive about the great things happening in CVSD schools and feel that there are many examples that warrant sharing with their various committees and constituents.

We learned a great deal and gained valuable perspective from the conversation. We truly appreciate the time and hard work that all of our visitors contribute on behalf of the staff and students across the state.

Electric Buses in CVSD

Superintendent Pinckney, COO Jensen, and CVU student Ethan Lisle

Ethan speaks on behalf of CVSD

Ethan and DEC commissioner, Emily Boedecker

The Champlain Valley School District has been selected to be a partner in the Agency of Natural Resources Electric School and Transit Bus Pilot Program! The announcement reads:

"Champlain Valley stood out in both your level of support for and engagement around this pilot and our confidence in your capacity to be a great Project Partner in deploying electric buses."

 At an event announcing the grant recipients on December 19, CVU student and Environmental Action Club (ENACT) member, Ethan Lisle, spoke on behalf of CVSD. The Commissioner from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Emily Boedecker, presented the grant award to Ethan. Superintendent Pinckney and COO Jeanne Jensen were present as well. CVSD is one of three Vermont school districts that are recipients of this grant.

On Town Meeting Day, voters will see a ballot article for our share of the cost of two electric buses (our share is the equivalent of two diesel buses, with the grant making up the substantial difference.) The purchase of two school buses is proposed as part of the continual replacement cycle to ensure that buses in our fleet are no older than 15 years. If approved, the electric buses will be based at the Allen Brook School in Williston.

The Champlain Valley School District community prides itself on being a leader in sustainable practices.This opportunity allows us to not only transport students more safely and efficiently, but to make a concrete example of living up to our values. We are excited to take such an important role in helping Vermont reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. We hope to see the electric buses rolling through CVSD next fall.

Outstanding Teachers in CVSD

"Every year, the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) at the University of Vermont, together with Vermont supervisory unions and school districts, the Vermont Agency of Education, and the Vermont NEA, join to honor the accomplishments of our state’s outstanding educators."
(from the Outstanding Teacher's Day website)

Today is Outstanding Teachers Day. CVSD's two outstanding teachers this year are Leanne Morton (CVU) and Miranda Johnson (HCS).

   

Miranda with HCS Principal, Suzan Locke

   

Leanne with CVU Principal, Adam Bunting

Principals from their schools shared the following about each of them for the ceremony.

Leanne Morton

Leanne Morton:
To observe Leanne’s classroom is to witness a collaborative, engaged, inspired community of learners. Deep Latin study is punctuated by laughter and joyful exclamations from students and teacher alike. Since 2000, Leanne has been a champion of Latin and--more importantly--teaching that puts relationships at the center of learning. To describe her classroom alone, however, is a disservice to the global education students have discovered under her guidance. From initiating trips to Italy or sustaining travel to France, Leanne has ensured that dozens of students discover a larger world. She is a model of collegiality and professionalism and lives the values of CVU. 

Miranda Johnson

Miranda Johnson:

Miranda Johnson, a Hinesburg Community School Kindergarten teacher, has been selected as a 2019 Vermont Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Miranda continuously demonstrates a commitment to creating an inspirational and harmonious classroom that supports student development and achievement! She demonstrates characteristics of inspiring teaching which include enthusiasm for teaching; empathy and warmth towards all students; fostering positive relationships with all students; creating a positive learning environment; and recognizing student strengths.

I honestly do not know what I would do without Miranda as a teammate. She is organized, educated, and honestly one of the nicest people I know. I love my job, but I love it even more because I get to work side by side with one of my best friends. Miranda goes above and beyond for her students. She is constantly finding highly engaging and educational lessons. When you walk in her tidy classroom, you observe students having so much fun, they don't realize they are learning. I am so very lucky to call her my teammate and my friend. I am so proud of her and honored to work as her teaching partner!" ~ Alyssa Lasher

CVSD congratulates and thanks Leanne and Miranda for their hard work, compassion, and dedication to all students. 

CVU Sleepout for Spectrum

Thank you to Mia Brumsted, student co-president at CVU, for sharing this post and photos with us.


On Thursday night, 61 CVU students and faculty (and two dogs) slept outside in solidarity with the homeless youth in our community. Despite some rain and intense wind in the morning, the sleep out was a major success. We raised over $7,000 for Spectrum Youth and Family Services and their efforts to support homeless and at-risk youth. After the rain died down at about 11pm, many students reemerged from their tents to sing and play games around the campfire. After a chilly night with little sleep, everyone woke up early the next morning to get to clubs and classes on time in order to experience the difficulties that students with home insecurity face every day.

Here's a link to the WCAX story about the Sleepout.

CCS 7th and 8th Graders Work with the Clemmons Family Farm

CCS Omega students had a wonderful afternoon earlier this week! This visit was a collaboration around the Vermont Reads book March, Book 1, and was made possible by the Clemmons Family Farm with the support of a Schip's Grant.


Social Justice Workshop with Clemmons Family Farm

All seventh and eighth grade students participated in a workshop that touches on social justice include themes like identity, diversity, courage, and helping one another in the face of injustice. This work connects to the earlier field trip this year to CVU and the reading many did this summer of March (and other books). Four artists came in to share their own experiences and skills with the students.

Group 1
Mr. Desmont, Visual artist #1/Painting activity: The students engaged in a painting activity. He added in stories of his childhood in Haiti

Group 2
Miss Hannon, Visual artist #2/Drawing activity: The students did a line-drawing activity.

Group 3
Mr. Dyke, Musician/Musical storytelling activity: Mike brought some musical instruments and told stories of Jamaica and how music was used to combat poverty and achieve education for many young people growing up there

Group 4
Ms. Edsomwan, Poet/Poetry activity: She shared a presentation about her own story and did a poetry activity with the students.

Thanks to Karyn Lunde for the photos in this slideshow and to Heidi Huestis for sharing the details for this post.