Fletcher Family Festival - June 8
Friends of Fletcher
Elementary (FOFE) is thrilled to announce that its 4th annual Fletcher Family
Festival will be on Saturday, June 8 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Fletcher
Elementary School. This year’s Fest
promises an old-time country fair atmosphere, with activities for young and old
alike. There’ll be a frog jumping
contest (bring your own amphibian), pony rides, a traveling storyteller, arts
and crafts projects (including tie dye, so bring an article of clothing), a
supervised climbing wall, pie eating contest for grown-ups, watermelon eating
contest for kids, field games galore, food and beverages, music, and more.
Free Fishing, State Parks & State Historic Sites! – June 8-9
Break out the picnic basket, pack up the kids, and head outside for an early dose of summertime. For two day (June 8-9), all State Park day areas and Historic Sites are open to the public at no charge.
Plus, June 8 is Free Fishing Day throughout Vermont. For one day only, the whole family can fish statewide without a license. A free fishing clinic is being help at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station on Rt. 314 in Grand Isle on June 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Instructors will teach spin, bait, fly, and line and lure fishing. For more information, call the VT Fish and Wildlife Department at (802) 241-3700. Free fishing clinics about the basics of fishing are also being held the same day and times at Button Bay State Park in Vergennes, Lake Carmi State Park in Franklin, and Lake St. Catherinen Poultney. The clinics are geared to families. All equipment and materials will be provided. Participants for these three clinics must pre-register by June 1 by calling Vermont State Parks at (802) 241-3665 Breakfast and lunch will be provided
. 
Success By Six
Fletcher Success by Six offers a Community Playgroup which meets on Fridays from 9:00- 11:00 a.m. in the school gym, following the school calendar. This is open to children ages birth through age six and their parents or caregivers. We have free play, craft, and snack for all those who are interested. If there are any questions please call Pam Farmer 849-2995 or Joan Sweet 849-2429.
Healthy Vermonters 2010
Do your kids have health insurance? Your kids may be eligible for Dr. Dynasaur, Vermont’s health insurance for kids from birth to age 18. Even if you are working or you have other health insurance, your kids may be eligible. Income guidelines include: a family of 2 can make up to $34,830 a year; a family of 3 - $43,890 a year; a family of 4 - $52,950 a year; and a family of 5 - $62,010 a year. To find out more, call the Office of Vermont Health Access at 1-800-250-8427.
Listers News
The Listers are still at it, that is, reappraising the entire town although we are coming to a close. Notices of changes of appraisal should be mailed during the next few weeks. You will also receive a list of all taxable properties in the town with both the previous and current values.
We are still awaiting the results of our school equalization appeal with the State. A copy of all sales used in the school equalization study will be available at the Town Office. A copy of the Listers’ information about land sales in Fletcher, surrounding towns, and the State’s evidence for the appeal with be available too. The State values for the Current Use program are $210 per acre for agricultural land, $105 per acre for forestland, and 30% of farm buildings.
Town Office News
UPDATE on the birth of my grandson! Kristy and Joey had a baby boy on May 1st, which just happens to be my birthday!!!! How’s that for a birthday gift? His name is Chase Donald Pigeon and weighed in at 8.5 lbs! Now…what happened to Spring? As I write this…. the forecast is snow for tonight, isn’t it the middle of May?????
The Listers are getting close to the end of the reappraisal and everyone will be notified of their new values shortly. If you have any questions as to the “process”, please feel free to give us a call at the office at 849-6616.
Now…speaking about the office, after many, many years, I’ve decided to change the office hours. The new hours, effective June 1st, 2002, will be: Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM and Monday evenings 6:30 to 8:30. CLOSED FRIDAYS. There will be a notice on the front door of the office, and I will also post the hours in the Transcript and the Buyers Digest. Until next time…could we all think…WARM!!!
Select Board
Meeting
Excerpts
April 8 (Approved):
w John Cross requested an access permit (curb cut) for a 4-lot subdivision off Oustinoff Road. The new access will need to be a new road not a driveway based on E-911 guidelines, so the matter was referred to the Planning Board.
w Members of the Planning Board discussed the probable formation of a Development Review Board (DRB). The DRB would have representation from the Planning and Zoning Boards and new members.
w Cheryl Vreeland asked about parcels of town-owned land and whether the Town might be interested in buying the top of Gilson Mountain for a conservation/recreation area.
w The Health Officer received a report of a failed septic system on Shaw Road and will act on it.
w The new Road and Bridge Policy was discussed; it was agreed that laying road fabric should be a mandatory part of all new roads.
w A traffic count will be conducted for Rugg Road.
w The Board will consider changing the speed limit through the center of town to 35 mph.
April 22 (Approved):
w Continued discussion of forming a Development Review Board. Details have been worked out. Janet Young was appointed to the DRB; Steve Robbins was appointed to the Planning Board.
w A request by the Friends of Fletcher Elementary that a road be temporarily closed for a parade was approved.
w Several items were deferred to the next meeting so the full Board could be present for the discussion.
May 6 (Unapproved):
w A request by John Cross for an access permit for one building lot off Oustinoff Rd was approved.
w The Board will review a draft brush cutting policy at the next meeting.
w Signs on paved roads have been inventoried (103 signs). The road crew will straightened ones that are crooked as they have time.
w Signs for horse crossings on Howrigan Road and Fairfax Road were approved.
w A continuing dog complaint resulted in the involvement of the State Police. A barrier fence is being installed, which may alleviate concerns.
w Discussion on need for a Road Commissioner.
w
David Clark was appointed as the NW VT Solid Waste
Management District Supervisor.
Principal’s Corner
President Bush recently signed the Leave No Child Behind (LNCB) legislation, an 1100 page bill purported to lay out the framework for school improvement for years to come. The regulations which will interpret LNCB are being written; I shudder when I imagine how long they will be. The Vermont Department of Education has brought former commissioner Marc Hull out of retirement in order to interpret the LNCB and negotiate Vermont’s compliance issues with the Feds. It seems that our school systems are far ahead of the pack in the area of school improvement, so far ahead that we may be financially penalized when our schools, which are already making progress in student performance, are expected to grow at the same rate as other, less progressive systems across the country.
At a recent conference in Burlington Dr. Hull presented his summary of the ponderous bill by saying that it sugars down to a handful of goals.
1) By 2014, all students will read and perform mathematics at or above a yet to be determined standard.
2) All students will attend a school whose environment is conducive for learning and is free from violence and drugs.
3) Students whose native language is not English will be English proficient.
4) By 2006, all students will be taught by qualified teachers
5) All students will graduate from high school.
Of course, a sweeping bill such as LNCB creates a sea of questions in its wake. Which tests will we administer to our students? What impact will a national assessment program have on locally controlled curriculum areas? Where will the Federal dollars flow ( there will be definite winners and losers)? How will we move from our current evaluation system to the new one?
Have you noticed how many politicians appear to use children’s issues as a stepping stone. I mean, who in their right mind would ever come out against children and expect to have a chance of winning an election? The trouble is that most politicians know little about the realities of public school and seem to care nothing about local community decision making. They believe that schools will run more efficiently in a competitive business environment rather than a public service model. So, they saddle school systems with mountains of paperwork, endless meetings and centralized decision making processes which, in my opinion, undermine our efforts towards continual school improvement. They rarely seem interested in consulting with real teachers and administrators about the impact of their proposed legislation. That really puzzles me. Most people consult with their doctor when they’re feeling ill; their attorney when they need legal advice, their accountant when they have financial decisions to make. Most people even consult with the clerk at the gardening center when they can’t decide on which kind of fertilizer they should use. It seems to me that legislation about education ought to rely more heavily on the informed opinions of our professional educators.
Is LNCB a good or bad bill? The jury is out. What we need to realize is that schools cannot rest upon their laurels- there is always room for improvement. We need to continually search for excellent teachers, the best teaching techniques and ways to collect meaningful measurements of the job that we are doing . The big question is whether we need Washington to be legislating the necessary changes or can the states and their local communities make those determinations?
School Board Meeting Excerpts
April 10
(Unapproved):
w
Possible sites were reviewed for a mobile
classroom.. A request for proposal was
approved for a reconditioned single and double wide unit and a new unit that
would meet square footage requirements.
w
The Technology Committee will meet on the first
Wednesday after Spring Break involving teaches and community members. A plan will be developed.
w
Damage to the driveway and curbs needs to be repaired.
The principal will contact the Selectboard to request repairs as well as bids
for paving the driveway along with town roads.
w
Plowing will be put out to bid next year.
w
Board will review AIDS and HIV policy at the next
meeting.
w
Live Wires will set up a table at the Science Fair; the
fee for the program has decreased.
w
Numbers for preschool registration were reviewed. A decision will be considered in executive
session. The Board voted a .5 position
and accepted a 3 year old and a 4 year old class.
w
A Substitute Teaching Policy was presented and will be
warned for a second time at the next meeting.
w
Timeline for future building project reviewed.
June 1, 15, & 29 -- Recycling and Trash Drop-off from 9:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. at Fletcher Town Garage.
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Cambridge, VT Permit No. 4