News & Citizen

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FMarch 3, 2010 Thursday                           Morrisville, VT 05661                        Web Edition

Belvidere’s selectboard (Ken Adams, Hugh Tallman, and Bob Granger confer during Town Meeting. Belvidere Dips into Reserves by Mickey Smith BELVIDERE – It took a lot of debate and an amendment to an amendment, but the voters in Belvidere decided at Town Meeting, March 2, to chip $50,000 from the amount to be raised by taxes by dipping into their cash-on-hand.Continued on Page 2 Hot Topics at Cambridge Meeting: Delinquent Taxes & State Police Contract by Katherine Quimby Johnson             At Cambridge’s Town Meeting, two issues were visited repeatedly: delinquent taxes and the number of hours the town should contract with the state police. Continued on Page 2 The Lamoille Union Lady Lancers swatted the Milton Yellowjackets for the D2 Championship.  Pictured, back row: Coach Tim Messier, Emily Slayton, Carley Ackley, Ashley Vanat, Annie Wells, Chelsea Dunham, Ashley Jones, Katie LaFreniere, and Asst. Coach Greg Stokes.  Front row: Nikkie LaFreniere, Alyssa Machia, Erin Stokes, Shaunna Haley, and Jillian Emery.  Missing: Alex Cattelona and Asst. Coach Mark Cattelona. Smith photo Eden Level Funds Town Budget by Mickey Smith EDEN – Voters in Eden decided last year's budget would be enough to run the town this year, as they voted to trim nearly $23,000 from the proposed budget and leveling it at $325,000. Continued on Page 2 Hyde Park to Study Clock Options by Amy Kolb Noyes HYDE PARK – With much discussion, Hyde Park voters passed a $3,498,470 school budget, which is a 10.66% increase over current spending. The measure, which was the last to be considered at Hyde Park’s annual meeting, passed by a paper ballot vote 58 to 28. Only about four percent of the town’s registered voters participated in that vote. Continued on Page 2 Former Town Clerk Gary Anderson received a standing ovation, as he was presented with a plaque that included a “key to the town” and a Vermont State Parks gift certificate. The plaque commemorated his “dedicated service and commitment to Hyde Park as Town Clerk and Treasurer 1989-2009.” Afterward, townspeople joked the key actually went to the Town Clock – which Anderson would now be responsible for winding! Noyes photo Lamoille Area Cancer Network officers (l to r) Mary Hoisington, Cindy Lowell, Ron Ridlon and Peg Demars, gathered Monday morning, March 1 to write checks to help defer the expenses of local cancer sufferers. In just under 10 years the group has distributed over $1 million, and they still run the organization out of Mary’s dining room in Elmore. Noyes photo Read all the News, Sports and More Click Here To Subscribe Today Copyright © 2004 News&Citizen Inc. All rights reserved. Have a press release? edit@newsandcitizen.com e-mail correspondence concerning advertising should be addressed to news@newsandcitizen.com

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Editorial by J.B. McKinley 2-18-10

Three Days Off

This editor perceives the current situation with the Morristown school budget as having thrown taxpayers a bone that comes off more like a sound bite than a genuine concession. But it does appear to solve the immediate conflicts between saving and spending.

I’m talking about the fact that the union and administration compromised by lopping off three days of teaching, cost/savings – $70,000.  Yes, Morristown teachers will get three days less pay (presumably so will paras, custodians, etc.), but the union will save several .4 positions and everyone will get three days more vacation. Is this a concession bearing anything close to what some folks in town are experiencing as they visit the food shelf, stop their prescription to pay for fuel, or look for a job while drawing unemployment?

Let’s not look too far for comparisons; let’s look at Stowe. Teachers postponed a hefty raise to save other teachers’ jobs, though presumably other motives were involved, too.

One ponders other questions... there is the 4% already negotiated pay raise in the the Morristown contract. Might it be large enough to effectively cause no pay cut for Morristown teachers?

One remembers that former Lamoille Superintendent Alice Angney wanted Morristown to go to school longer than other schools in the area, partly to raise test scores. Thinking about this, one can’t help but remember the recently announced NECAP scores. I am not casting the blame on superintendents, or anyone in particular, for the state of affairs as regards NECAP results anywhere in our area. For example, it seems absolutely ridiculous to blame Ms. Wrend for scores in Morristown, without praising her to the skies for scores in Stowe. And this column is not about blame it’s about money.

Where to squeeze the budget was this year’s really important question and ultimately requires a decision by the taxpayers. Unfortunately by Town Meeting time, this is only a yes or no question. Tough decisions on the relative importance of sport, art and academics will definitely be coming down the pike if budgets continue to take a beating. There’s only one day left to strike from the school year in Morristown and it’s worth about $25,000. It’s pretty clear that this year’s fix won’t work next year.

A question to consider, when looking at cuts in the future, is where or how, or do pay scales affect test scores? Test scores are complexly affected beforehand. For example, is it the teacher cadre that has the most effect, is it student demographics,  or is it the money spent per pupil?

 We are certainly going to hear rationales for why some schools don’t appear to be performing as well as others. It will be up to us if we agree with those arguments. Ultimately it will be up to voters and their elected school boards to consider the big picture as both contract time and budget time roll around again. It’s clear money availability is no longer open-ended. How will we apportion what we have?