The Vermont Journal 12-06-17
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Permit #90 every White River Jct., VT week! @VermontJournal Pups of the Week on page 8B POSTAL CUSTOMER FREE DECEMBER 06, 2017 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 17, ISSUE 49 Residents look to possible Black River independent school BY SHARON HUNTLEY committee in their mission since stu- ing to Donohue “the biggest hurdle gating implementing River Academy, the name The Vermont Journal dents from middle school and high will be getting approval with the state a 1 percent option the school was called be- school will have school choice, with since there seems to be resistance tax,” said Donohue. fore being made a public LUDLOW, Vt. - Ludlow and Mount their tuition dollars following the stu- within the Agency of Education to With an option We are Black River. school, though they are Holly residents voted “yes” on the pro- dent to their selected school, includ- accommodate schools beyond the tax, 1 percent addi- PHOTO BY SHAWNTAE STILLWELL still exploring the feasibil- posed unified school district vote on ing an independent school. public school model.” The application tional tax would be ity of this option. Nov. 28 with Ludlow voters tallying According to Uli Donohue, com- therefore must be a thorough and in- applied to rooms and meals within guidelines will be coming from the Donohue is pleased with the addi- 344 yes vs. 172 no votes and Mount mittee member of BRISC, “the fact depth proposal that will likely take the town and those dollars would go State Board of Education on special tional support and interest in BRISC Holly coming in with 341 yes vs. 66 that it was such a clear vote for yes many, many months to develop. back to the town, to then be passed education issues that will impact fi- she has seen since the yes vote last no votes. With the eventual closure of was encouraging to us” since the es- One of the biggest challenges for onto the independent school. This nances as well. “We would like to week but welcomes even more com- Black River Middle High School by tablishment of an independent school an independent school is to generate option would need to be presented cater to as many students as possible, munity involvement. “I would en- 2020 being a key component of the would need to attract those student additional income to help bridge the to and approved by the town voters that’s our goal. The difference be- courage everyone to come and edu- new unified school district, residents dollars. “I want to make sure that ev- gap between what the district will pay however, and there would need to be tween our goal and the realities will cate themselves and get involved,” she now turn to a possible establishment eryone is aware that we really are very for each student and the actual cost a commitment from the town to for- play themselves out as we go along.” said. The Black River Independent of a Black River Independent School serious about wanting to establish an of running the school. According to ward these dollars to the school. Of As for immediate next steps, BRISC School Committee meets every Tues- as the one possible avenue left to keep independent school,” said Donohue. Donohue, based on the information some note, this same tax option had will be working on logistical barriers day at 6:30 p.m. at Ludlow Elemen- a local school option open in town. The committee will begin the ardu- they have gleaned from other inde- been proposed and defeated several such as registering a non-profit busi- tary School in the library. The Black River Independent ous task of applying for approval by pendent schools, they would need years ago, but Donohue notes “there ness with the state, and registering For additional information con- School Committee (BRISC) was es- the State Board of Education. This is anywhere from half a million to one had been no clear idea of how that for federal non-profit status. These tact blackriverindependentschool@ tablished in recent months to explore a lengthy application process that in- million dollars annually to cover money would be used for that pre- are necessary since an independent gmail.com or visit www.blackriverin- that possibility of turning Black River cludes many factors including a solid their projected shortfall. “We’re look- vious vote.” Although independent school is set up and run as just that, dependentschool.org. Middle High School into an indepen- financial plan, viable school gover- ing at a variety of fundraising options schools have more flexibility when it a non-profit business. Donohue also Donations can be made to www. dent school in order to keep it oper- nance structure, a mission statement, including crowd funding websites, comes to special education, accord- mentioned that the committee would gofundme.com/blackriverindepen- ating in town. The yes vote helps the and community acceptance. Accord- private donations and we’re investi- ing to Donohue additional rules and like to go back to the name Black dentschool. SB discusses fiscal approach to Ludlow Municipal Manager unified school systems announces his departure LUDLOW, Vt. - Longtime Mu- job,” commented Howard Barton, managers in my 30 years serving on BY LYZA DANGER GARDNER that meant.” nicipal Manager, Frank Heald has Jr., chair of the Select Board. “We are the Village Board of Trustees.” The Vermont Journal The state’s new energy standards are announced his plans to step down sorry to see him leave us and are grate- “We have been very fortunate for ambitious, including a “90/50” goal from his position on May 1 after ful for his many years of service and Frank’s steady leadership of the Vil- LUDLOW, Vt. - The Ludlow Select (90 percent of energy from renewable more than 15 years piloting the dedication to our community and its lage Water Department over the last Board deliberated over portions of resources by 2050). Jason Rasmus- town and village of Ludlow. Heald’s citizens.” 15 years,” commented David Rose, the town’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget sen, director of planning at Southern plans were announced after the Heald has been instrumental in chair of the Village Water Commis- and voted to adopt the Municipal Windsor County Regional Planning Select Board, Village Trustees, and securing federal and state funds to sion. “I’ve enjoyed working with him Plan on Monday, Dec. 4, amidst un- Commission (SWCRPC), has aided Water Commission meeting in No- finance a number of large projects and I wish him the best.” certainty and complexities raised by Ludlow’s Planning Commission in vember. in both the town and the village and “Over the next five months I plan to the recent voter approval of a unified the chapter rewrite, helping the town “Leaving this position was a dif- save taxpayers and residents money. remain fully engaged until my last day school district with Mount Holly. navigate the complexity. ficult decision,” Heald said. “I do so In addition to his sense of community on the job,” commented Heald. “I look At present, Ludlow has two active As the meeting turned to the dis- with a great sense of accomplish- spirit by giving back to the communi- forward to seeing through a number Ludlow discusses unified school. plans: a village plan and a town plan. cussion of 2019 budget appropria- PHOTO PROVIDED ment and with the confidence that ty through his volunteerism, Heald is of projects and activities that we have The new, merged municipal plan has tions, a theme emerged that would I am leaving the municipality in a passionate about education, commu- been working toward.” Heald also been adopted by the Select Board but persist during the much of the eve- strong financial position, and in the nity events, and Ludlow’s youth. He urged residents to remain optimistic still requires the approval of the Vil- ning: what should the town’s fiscal ap- closing of Black River High School, hands of capable and talented staff was a fixture at school athletic events about their future and the future of lage Board of Trustees. proach be to the upcoming closure of slated for 2020, should result in a members.” Heald added, “With and was one of Black River’s biggest the Ludlow. While most of the amendments to Black River High School and the uni- net savings for Ludlow taxpayers. several major projects planned fans. The members of the Select Board, the proposed municipal plan were fied school district with Mount Holly? But there are as yet many unan- over the next three to seven years, “Frank has done an outstand- Village Trustees, and Water Commis- small - syntax or data tweaks - the Ludlow foots the bill for an assort- swered questions about how bud- this is a good time to hand over the ing job managing our municipality,” sion expect the search for a new Mu- energy chapter has been rewritten. In ment of school operating expenses, geting will work - how expenses reins to a new manager to oversee.” commented Robert Gilmore, chair of nicipal Manager to last several months 2016, State Act 174 introduced new like library books, sports, and men- will be apportioned between the “Frank has been a real asset to the Village Trustees. “He’s one of the and hope to have a candidate in place standards for municipal and regional toring programs. While Mount Hol- town and the Two Rivers Super- Ludlow from his first day on the hardest working, and most competent in the spring.