Williston Observer

No services or programs added

By Kim Howard
Observer staff

The $15 million price tag of the first draft of the 2006-2007 Williston School District budget includes no additions or reductions in programs or services. The $1.373 million increase is nearly 10 percent higher than this year’s budget.

The actual bottom line for taxpayers, however, would be an increase of 8.19 percent; nearly $250,000 of the increase is due to a change in accounting practices. Additions or reductions in programs and services will be considered in the coming weeks.

Williston School District officials presented the first draft of the budget to the school board and four community members last Wednesday night. The meeting – what district principal Walter Nardelli called a “10,000-foot overview” – was the first of four to develop a budget that will be adopted on Jan. 19.

The Williston School District serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades; Champlain Valley Union High School has a separate budget process.

“Even though this is a flat budget, a lot of expenses are up – expenses that we have no control over,” said Williston School Board Chairwoman Marty Sundby, citing as examples health insurance and heat. Figuring out how to offset those increases will be a piece of the board’s job, said Sundby.

A large chunk of the coming year’s budget increase is already settled due to previous negotiations of the current teacher contract. About 35 percent of the draft budget’s itemized increases fall under teacher salaries and benefits, which runs through this coming fiscal year. A 4.55 percent teacher salary increase is required under the current contract, according to Bob Mason, chief operations officer for the Chittenden South Supervisory Union. Health insurance and dental insurance costs are estimated to be up 12 and 10 percent respectively.

Special education and early education for students with disabilities also carry about 35 percent of the itemized increases. A higher number of students are being identified as requiring special education services which, by law, must be provided to all eligible children. State and federal governments reimburse the school district for some special education spending according to regulations: Some expenditures are 55 percent reimbursable; some are 90 percent reimbursable.

Fuel and electricity rates, too, have seen increases – estimated at 10 and 6 percent respectively. Though the rate hikes are unavoidable, total costs may be contained.

“We are working to conserve energy,” Nardelli said, noting that the school is doing an energy audit to determine ways to minimize cost increases.

A change in accounting inflates the budget nearly $250,000. In previous budgets, certain funds, such as Medicaid – for which there are equal expense and revenue – have not been included. Those funds will now be recorded, but as the revenue cancels out expenses, there will be no bottom line increase to taxpayers.

The draft budget also shows itemized decreases. For example, debt payments for construction of Allen Brook School become smaller each fiscal year.

In coming weeks, school officials will present details on potential budget additions. Nardelli presented 25 items of which teachers and staff have requested consideration. Costs range from a couple hundred dollars (for example, additional supply funds for guidance staff) to thousands of dollars (examples include personnel for extended day kindergarten; transportation to lengthen the school day).

School board members will have to prioritize those requests, said Sundby. Nardelli acknowledged the possibility that none of the items might make it into the budget.

Budget affects daily life

Even the smallest of decisions made by the board – both cuts and additions – affect daily life at both schools. Last year, cuts were made across the board in school supplies.

“We have no more supply money; our supply budget is gone,” said Al Myers, a teacher in Swift House at Williston Central School. The Swift House supply budget was cut by about 20 dollars per student. Myers said the team, which serves 87 students, is out of pencils, graph paper, lined paper and index cards – all supplies they’ll need in the spring.

In response, students may need to bring supplies from home, said Myers. He also said that Swift teachers are asking parents who plan to give a teacher a holiday gift to consider giving to the Swift House supply fund instead.

Myers said only one other Williston Central School team has expressed any concern about their supply budget; the other four teams expressed no concerns at a recent meeting.

Margaret Munt, a teacher on Discovery team, said the cuts also have been felt at Allen Brook School in several teams. She emphasized, however, that “the teachers here absolutely appreciate the resources that we have.” In other schools, Munt said, she knows teachers are forced to pay for supplies out of their own pockets.

Both Myers and Munt reflected on the benefits students in both schools have realized as a result of an addition to last year’s budget – the addition of a full-time teacher for the enrichment program. The enrichment program provides activities for students that cultivate special talents, build on individual interests, and extend learning experiences.

Two years ago a part-time enrichment teacher position was eliminated. Last year it was reinstated and made full-time. Munt said that among the benefits to students are the addition this year of a new critical thinking skills program, “great books” literature groups and special math groups.

“Dick Allen was pretty much straight out,” said Myers of the only enrichment teacher last year. “We had very little flexibility if we wanted to collaborate.”

Myers gave as an example the Swift House one-act play festival. In past years, Allen ran a six-week script writing program for students interested in writing. Last year, as a result of the enrichment reductions, the program could not be offered, said Myers.

What’s ahead

Last year the school board approved a nearly 6 percent increase over the 2004-2005 fiscal year budget. Sundby said it is too early for her to predict what the cap should be for the coming year.

“We’ll understand our revenue stream better in January,” she said. “When I have all the pieces put together in front of me, that’s really when I’ll be able to say whether we have a viable budget to bring forward to the community.”

Diane Frank, one of two parents who attended on Wednesday, said the school budget is “not a simple thing. That’s what I got out of it. It’s very multi-layered. I look forward to being able to delve into the particulars.”

Sundby said she hopes to see more community members – parents as well as those without kids in the school system – at future meetings.

“We’re spending the town’s money, and we’re doing the best we can to do so effectively but we can’t read people’s minds,” Sundby said. “So please call or come to the meetings. We need to know what people are thinking. And we want to have a conversation.”

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By Kim Howord
Observer staff

Eighth grader Katie Macuga wasn’t very much of a runner when she got involved with Girls on Track last spring. Within eight weeks, she was running a 5K race with hundreds of other girls.

Katie attributes some of her newfound interest in running to her coaches: “It always seemed like they were really happy and that they had a lot of fun with it,” she said.

Girls on Track and Girls on the Run are programs that help girls ages eight to 13 build self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. The objective is to reduce risky behavior like eating disorders, depression, teen pregnancy, and alcohol and other drug use. In Vermont, 600 girls participated last year.

In Williston, twice a week from April to June, volunteer coaches help girls prepare for a 3.1-mile non-competitive race. Each group of 14 to 18 girls also explores values, body image, friendship and community through a set curriculum.

“It’s sad to see girls falling into the traps of eating disorders,” said Mairead Harris, a Williston native who helped get Girls on the Run started here. “I’d like to hope that the program can prevent a lot of body image problems in the future.”

Harris, now a freshman at Middlebury College, made Girls on the Run the focus of her high school graduation challenge project, which she started her junior year at Champlain Valley Union High School.

“One thing that’s great with running, especially distance running, is you improve just by doing it,” said Harris. “You can build your own self esteem by running more.” Girls run between one and three miles at each practice, depending on age and how far they are into the training program.

Harris’ younger sister, Laura, 10, has benefited from her sister’s efforts. Laura has participated in Girls on the Run for two years.

“I like running with my friends and I liked how I felt really good about myself when I finished off my last lap,” Laura said.

About 36 Williston girls participated in Girls on the Run – serving grades three through five – last spring; fourteen Williston girls in grades six through eight participated in Girls on Track.

“There could be more girls if there were more coaches,” said coach Robin Harris. “We had to turn away girls last year.”

Executive director Nancy Heydinger said she hopes new coaches will come forth to fill demand in Chittenden County. Being an experienced runner is not a prerequisite. At least two coaches are required for each group.

“It’s an excellent program,” said Tracey Barth, whose daughter Lauren, 12, participated last year. “I think it helped her become more confident in herself.”

Lauren said the program is fun. Her coaches taught “the correct form to run so you don’t get shin splints or injure yourself,” she said.

Katie Macuga said she also learned more about running. “But, I also learned a lot about friendship and how to deal with certain situations in the best way,” she said.

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By Kim Howard
Observer staff

Five-year-old Kaitlin Scherber was a bit reluctant to get on The Polar Express train Saturday afternoon.

Though it was to be Kaitlin’s first train ride, her mother, Lori Aldrich, thought the reticence had to do with the movie of the same name which Kaitlin saw last year.

“There were some scenes in the movie that were pretty scary” for a four-year old, said Aldrich. “She was afraid of the wolves.”

Perhaps it was the thought of seeing Santa Claus that gave Kaitlin her courage. Or perhaps it was the mystique of the conductor who breezed into the lobby to see if the children were ready. But when the conductor hollered out “all aboard to the North Pole!” the kindergartener from Richmond – dressed in multi-colored pastel pajamas, black rubber boots and a purple bathrobe – grabbed her mother’s hand and with hundreds of other people, boarded The Polar Express.

“The Polar Express,” a 1985 illustrated children’s book and a 2004 movie, tells the story of a young boy who one night rides a train with other children – all in their pajamas — to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus and his elves.

The real-life Burlington version loads children – most between three and five years old – and families onto a train from the Wing Building next to an empty-looking Union Station. The train drives 10 minutes into South Burlington, and returns to a Union Station filled with elves dressed identically in red shirts and hats. Inside the building, families listen to a reading of “The Polar Express,” then follow Santa Claus upstairs to receive a bell from his reindeer sleigh.

The event is the largest annual fundraiser for the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation, according to project coordinator Fagan Hart, who created the event in 2002. Over $60,000 is raised for community-based prevention programs for children and families in Vermont. Literacy, mentoring, teen leadership, parent education and afterschool activities are among the programs the Foundation supports. Hart estimated that more than 600 books would be collected this year, too, as families are asked to donate a book to support literacy programs.

“We try to do the programs that keep things magical for kids after school, day in and day out,” Hart said of the Foundation. “This event (The Polar Express) just works two days a year to make this magical moment, and we want every kid to feel like this every day of the year,” she continued.

In its fourth year, the event has grown increasingly popular. Last year organizers turned away 700 families, Hart said. This year 40 percent more train rides were offered and organizers still ended up turning away 100 families. Tickets are sold by lottery.

The event is a logistical feat. Over fourteen hours – from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday – 3,300 people move from Burlington to the North Pole on 14 train rides on the hour. There are more than 600 volunteers: “conductors” lead a Christmas carol sing-along and “chefs” serve cookies and hot cocoa on the train; “elves” greet children by first name (they wear nametags) upon their arrival to the North Pole; a choir sings as families enter Union Station.

For the last two years, a number of students and chaperones from Williston Central School’s Swift House (grades five through eight) have volunteered.

“You get to make the little kids happy when they get off the train making them think they’re in the North Pole,” said Leah Leister, 11, who was an elf for the second time this year.

Swift House teacher Al Myers estimated that about 40 students and 25 chaperones helped this year. Myers helps with lighting effects. On Saturday afternoon, Santa Claus bore a striking resemblance to Swift House teacher Gary Howard.

Jacob LaCroix, 10, said that it seemed he’d make a good elf because “everybody else is taller than me.” His favorite part was saying hello to the kids and shaking their hands.

“It’s really fun,” said Jacob

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Longtime Williston resident revels in family, friends

By Kim Howard
Observer staff

Williston had reason to celebrate last Friday, and most people probably didn’t even know it: Jeneva Peterson, a long-time resident, turned 90 last week.

Who is Jeneva Peterson? Most people know her as “Pat.”

“I’m ‘Pat’ because I was ‘Patterson’ before I was ‘Peterson,” explained Peterson in an interview on her birthday.

Regardless of how she is known, Peterson has contributed much to Williston. In addition to being a charter member of the Williston Historical Society, Peterson worked in the town library for 41 years.

Rickie Emerson, who retired as library director after 30 years this fall, said Patterson was “instrumental” in building the library.

“She always had her finger on the pulse of the town, and she knew everybody,” said Emerson. “She represented long-time residents in town. She kept their interests in mind. She would help me buy books, talk about programs.”

Peterson moved to Williston in December 1944, when she says there were fewer than 1,000 names on the voter registration list.

“We sort of got to know everybody in town,” Peterson said of herself and her husband, Dr. Oscar Peterson Jr. who went by the nickname Pete. “There were a lot of farms there then, and itinerant workers.”

The Peterson family lived in a big brick house at the corner of Oak Hill and Williston Roads before purchasing what the family called North Williston hill in 1946. The Petersons raised five daughters, three of whom still live in Williston. Brenda Perkins, the youngest daughter, lives in the house in which the children grew up on Peterson Lane; Jeneva Burroughs lives on the same road; Karen Shastenay lives in the village. Two additional daughters live in Michigan and Tennessee.

All of the daughters, many friends, and a good number of Peterson’s 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren gathered at the First Baptist Church in Burlington on Saturday to celebrate Peterson’s milestone.

Peterson, born in Milton, said her father often told her it was 20 degrees below zero the day she was born, and that they were butchering hogs.

“I’m a true Vermonter,” said Peterson last week. “I think I’m the sixth generation.”

Peterson graduated from high school in 1933, during the height of the Great Depression. As a result, she said, “my dreams of going to college were put on hold” – a dream she still regrets never pursuing. She got a position at the wholesale house of Hagar Hardware and Paint Co. on the corner of King and St. Paul Streets in Burlington where she worked for four years – first as a stenographer and eventually as a billing clerk.

In 1936, Peterson married her husband, a medical student in residency at Mary Fletcher Hospital. The couple moved briefly to Whitingham, back to Burlington, and then to Massachusetts as Peterson’s husband pursued additional studies in radiology.

After settling in Williston in 1944, the couple became involved in town activities. The beginning of a school hot lunch program was one effort to which Peterson devoted time. Another was the new library.

“We had very few books,” said Peterson. “We weren’t sure how to catalog, but we did our best. We were only open three days a week and one evening. So we took turns for evenings and Saturdays.”

Peterson said that of her time in Williston she is most grateful for the goodness of residents and the friendships she has had.

Gertrude Urie, who said her family grew up with the Petersons, said she has known Pat Peterson since 1946 or 1947. Urie recalls her and Peterson’s reupholstering furniture together. And once or twice a year, she said, the two friends would dress in formal gowns for a special dinner just for them and their husbands.

Peterson isn’t sure to what to attribute her longevity, though she said it runs in her family; her father lived to be 95.

Several friends interviewed mentioned Peterson’s love of people, her seamstress skills, and the fact that she made all of her daughters’ wedding dresses. They also spoke of her personality.

“She is a woman of great moral character,” said Emerson. “A lot of depth, with a wicked sense of humor. To me she stands for all the good qualities that women are supposed to have.”

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By Greg Elias
Observer staff

The Williston Observer will relocate later this month, making room for the newspaper’s growing staff.

The new address will be 300 Cornerstone Drive, suite 330, in office space above Artists’ Mediums in the Taft Farms Village Center. The shopping center is located about a mile east of Taft Corners off U.S. Route 2.

“We are very excited about the move in that it affords us the opportunity to expand, as we continually strive to make the Observer the premiere source of local news and information for Williston residents,” said co-publisher and managing editor Marianne Apfelbaum. “It was also very important that our new office be easily accessible to the community, and this location near Taft Corners is just that."

Over the past several years, the Observer has added several editorial, advertising sales and administrative employees. Not including publishers Marianne and Paul Apfelbaum and freelance reporters, the newspaper now has 10 full- and part-time workers. The Observer had just two employees when it moved to its current location at 2141 Essex Road in 1998.

Though the Observer needed more space, the move was prompted by the pending sale of the building to Judge Development Corp., which already owned the land where the structure is located. Peter Judge, the South Burlington-based company’s principal, confirmed that he has signed a purchase agreement with the current owner, Yankee Farm Credit. The sale is scheduled to close Jan 10.

Rumors have circulated that the building will be torn down and replaced with a drug store. Williston Town Planner Lee Nellis said he has met with representatives from Judge’s company about plans for a drug store at the site. “We expect to see plans for a drug store there within the foreseeable future,” Nellis said.

Judge, whose company owns the adjacent Taft Corners Shopping Center, said he has not decided what to do with the building. He acknowledged talking with Brooks Pharmacy, but the chain’s proposal could not fit under the town’s zoning rules. He said no agreement would be struck until all tenants move out and the building sale closes.

The building’s other tenants plan moves to other Williston locations. Green Mountain Video and Economic & Policy Resources will also relocate to Taft Farms Village Center. Yankee Farm Credit is moving to Hurricane Lane.

The Observer will move during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The new office will be open starting Jan. 2.

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