Williston Observer

May 28, 2009

Rachel Gill

Observer correspondent

As a bassist, Andrew Smith has performed on stages in Turkey, Asia and, yes, even at local Burlington hot spots. Offstage, as a music teacher at Williston Central School, Smith brings his experience and passion for music into the classroom. Smith will soon take those skills to Charlotte Central School, as the new music teacher.

The position opened with the pending retirement of Tony Pietricola, the CCS music teacher for the last 23 years who is also an avid music performer throughout Vermont. Pietricola will step down from his position at the end of the school year.

“I don’t believe you can teach music without performing,” Smith said. “It sharpens our skills as educators, listeners and communicators.”

Smith will go to Charlotte after teaching music for 11 years at Williston Central School. Prior to Williston, Smith taught middle school music in New Hampshire for four years. Smith currently lives in Panton with his wife, Teresa, and two children, Hunter and Madeline.

“Kids, kids and kids, I look forward to working with them and making new connections with the Charlotte community,” Smith said. “It’s a great school and faculty and it will be a great place to work.”

In terms of what he will miss about Williston, just press rewind.

“It’s the same thing, the kids,” Smith said. “I have already experienced kids cycling through and moving on to CVU and always check in with them so in moving to another town in the district, I look forward to continuing to watching these kids’ musical careers grow.”

Working for Chittenden South Supervisory Union is something Smith is excited to continue.

“I love CSSU and all of the active music departments within the district,” Smith said. “We all work very closely with one another and I am very proud to work with such a fantastic group of individuals.”

Charlotte Central School Vice Principal Catrina DiNapoli, who is in her final weeks at the school, said Smith will be a welcome addition to the school’s staff.

“We are very excited about Andy, as kids and parents alike have responded very positively to him over the years,” DiNapoli said. “We know him to be energetic, creative and fun.”

Smith’s annual involvement with the Vermont Jazz Camp at the Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College has given him some Charlotte rehearsal time.

“The camp actually gave me the fortunate opportunity to work with Charlotte students and Tony Pietricola, both very positive experiences, “Smith said. “Tony and I had made it a tradition that I take the Charlotte kids and he takes the Williston kids.”

Making Music

Smith’s performance career includes playing the upright bass and the electric bass while touring with such acts as The Neville Brothers, an American rhythm and blues group, and Mighty Sam McClain, a Grammy nominated rhythm and blues performer. Smith toured with Sam McClain from 2002 to 2006, visiting five Russian cities and 15 Turkish cities.

“It has been an experience of a lifetime playing for tons and tons of people, and meeting some of my musical heroes,” Smith said.

It all started with Smith’s childhood passion.

“I had a box of 45s that I listened to over and over. I remember those 45s speaking to me. That’s what music does, it speaks to us,” Smith said. “It’s hard to put into words and I haven’t figured it out. The power of music, how music can bring tears to our eyes, how it deepens your soul and can make us to go out on the field and compete against any team.”

Smith said no matter the stage, it’s always about the music.

“It’s not that much different if you are playing on a stage to a huge crowd in Istanbul or to a group of your peers. Regardless of where you are, just try to pay homage to the song and do the very best you can,” Smith said.

For Smith, performing music is key to music education.

“It shows kids that music can take you wherever you want to go,” Smith said. “I hope that my experience on stage can be inspiring to students to keep it up and that they can do the same.”

Williston Central School Principal Jacqueline Parks said Smith has already accomplished that goal.

“He is not only a stellar teacher but also contributes to the greater school environment,” Parks said last week. “Just this morning we had an official opening of a new school courtyard and he organized student musical performances and the entire sound system. He is constantly going above and beyond.”

Smith will no doubt be missed.

“His leaving will leave a big hole in our school,” Parks said. “He is a prestigious educator and we wish him well.”

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May 28, 2009

Fraud alert

The Williston Police Department is warning the public about a phone scam in which a caller is requesting people’s credit card numbers. Police have received several complaints from people who reported receiving a recorded message from a person claiming to represent New England Federal Credit Union. The message indicates that the person’s account has been deactivated due to suspicious activity. It then asks the person for his or her credit card and PIN numbers. The message claims this information is necessary to re-activate the account.

Police ask that residents not provide any information to this recorded message and to report any suspicious activity to Williston Police at 878-6611.

Domestic assault

Deron B. Elliott, 41, of Williston was cited on a charge of domestic assault on May 25, according to police reports.

Theft

• Jamie S. Green, 38, of Burlington was cited on a charge of retail theft from Wal-Mart on May 24, according to police reports. No other information was available.

• Someone broke in through the roof of Three Tomatoes in Maple Tree Place and stole a safe on May 25, according to police reports. The case is under investigation.

Wanted person

Following a motor vehicle stop on May 20, Raymond E. Utton, 19, of Hinesburg was arrested on an outstanding warrant, according to police reports. Utton was also cited for numerous traffic violations, the report notes. No other information was released.

Vandalism

• A car was “keyed from end to end” and on the hood and roof while parked at Maple Tree Place on May 19, according to police reports. Anyone with information is asked to call Williston Police at 878-6611.

• Police received reports of mailboxes being vandalized during the night of May 25, according to police reports. The case is under investigation.

Driving under the influence

• Following a motor vehicle stop on May 23, Brian D. Clark, 28, of Colorado was cited on a charge of driving under the influence, according to police reports. His blood alcohol test registered .222, according to the report. The legal limit for driving in Vermont is .08. He was lodged at Chittenden County Correctional Center on $750 bail, the report notes.

• Following a motor vehicle stop on May 24, Arnel Horic, 20, of Barre was cited on a charge of driving under the influence, according to police reports. His blood alcohol test registered .100 at the police department after he refused a roadside test, according to the report. He was cited to appear in court.

• Following a motor vehicle stop on May 25, Timothy F. Huber, 23, of Williston was cited on a charge of driving under the influence, according to police reports. His blood alcohol test registered .082, according to the report. He was cited to appear in court.

Driving with suspended license

Following a motor vehicle stop on May 20, Devin J. Quinn, 26, of Richmond was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license, according to police reports. Quinn was cited to appear in court.

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Treats from Hawaii

May 28, 2009

By Ginger Isham

Recently, on vacation in Hawaii, we ate at an outdoor restaurant on Waikiki Beach where you selected meat or fish from the menu and cooked it yourself on the big outdoor grill on the beach side of the restaurant. Included with the meal was a buffet of salad ingredients, cold fish and other choice items such as poi, which is a purple sauce made from the taro plant, a longtime island staple. Also, there were small blocks of a white coconut pudding called haupia. Haupia is a traditional Hawaiian dessert. It is a staple dessert at all luaus. A luau is a large buffet that includes pork from a pig that is cooked in a ground oven, called an imu. Since I am fond of coconut, I researched haupia and found that it is served plain most of the time and is often used as a topping for a white wedding cake. I can’t wait to add it to my dessert list, along with the Kona Coffee Latte Pie.

Haupia Pudding

2 cups coconut milk

1 cup whole milk

6 tablespoons sugar

5 tablespoons corn starch

dash of vanilla (optional)

Put 1 cup of coconut milk in a saucepan. Combine sugar and cornstarch and stir into pan. Cook until mixture thickens. Add rest of coconut milk and whole milk. Cook until thickens. It should have a shiny look. Remove from heat and pour into an 8-by-8-inch dish and chill until firm. Cut into squares and serve.

Haupia Pie

Make a piecrust with 1/2 cup butter, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts of your choice. Mix together and gently press into an 8-inch pie plate and bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Pour cooled, cooked coconut pudding into baked pie shell and chill. Serve with whipped cream sprinkled with toasted coconut. I would be tempted to serve it with a raspberry or other fruit sauce.

Kona Coffee Latte Pie

(Kona is one of the world’s best pure coffees, and is grown in Hawaii.)

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup ground Kona coffee, dark roast (use coffee of your choice)

1 pound of white chocolate chips or chunks

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 9-inch chocolate cookie piecrust

In saucepan, combine cream and coffee. Scald over medium to high heat. Remove from heat and strain coffee grounds. Add white chocolate and let sit a few minutes and then whisk until smooth. Add cinnamon and whisk again and pour into pie shell. Place in fridge until firm. Serve with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

NOTE: Pure Kona coffee is best. A Kona blend means 1 out of 10 beans is a Kona bean and the rest of the beans come from anywhere in the world.

Ginger Isham was the co-owner of Maple Grove Farm Bed & Breakfast in Williston, a fifth generation family farm on Oak Hill Road where she still lives.

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May 28, 2009

Thanks, everyone!

We wish to thank our families, friends and neighbors who signed petitions in support of our opposition to a roundabout in our village.

Thank you to all of you who did not get to sign a petition and verbally expressed your support.

A thank you to all those people outside of Williston who could not sign a petition but still expressed their support to us in person or with e-mails.

We were overwhelmed!

Last, we thank our Selectboard members for their willingness to review their decision at their next Selectboard meeting on June 1.

Marie Lareau

Ginger Isham

Williston

Listen to students and teachers

Watching the town of Williston grapple with the issue of multiage classroom configuration causes me to reflect on my own experience. In one month I will graduate from eighth grade after four years in a multiage team at Williston Central School. Multiage classrooms build strong relationships, enhance learning and create a supportive culture.

The classroom creates an ideal place for students to learn real life skills. Eighth graders regularly assist younger students and develop mentoring skills in the process. The fifth graders look up to older students as models of appropriate behavior and academic achievement. Students collaborate often, with every age group bringing different skills.

Multiage classes also support valuable relationships. Students get to know teachers well and become more comfortable with them and their teaching style. In turn, teachers get to know students and their individual strengths and needs. The multiage environment also creates meaningful peer relationships. I have friends in all different grades, enriching both my academic and social experience in middle school.

Multiage classes produce strong leaders and communicators, skills students will carry with them through life. When fifth graders see motivated older students, they strive to behave similarly. Multiage education creates a helpful, open environment. As a student, I know any time I need help with an assignment, someone will be there. We become accustomed to working with peers with different abilities.

As the town struggles to find the right configuration for our school district, I hope the voices of students and teachers are valued. They are the ones most affected by the choices to be made.

Laura Harris

Williston

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Meeting the education challenge

May 28, 2009

By Rebecca Hurley

In his first presidential speech broaching the topic of education, President Barack Obama said, “Despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we’ve let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short and other nations outpace us. … What’s at stake is nothing less than the American dream.”

He wasn’t exaggerating — in 2006, the Program for International Student Assessment found that 15-year-old American students place 25th out of 30 developed nations in mathematics, literacy and problem solving.

Many find comfort in the knowledge that $1 billion from the economic stimulus package has been allocated to education, and that even in the midst of the economic downturn education is not being overlooked. Indeed, lack of funding and resources has long been used as an excuse for failing school systems. But more dollars can’t buy the reform our schools need.

In the 1990s, the struggling Kansas City school district was given an additional $2 billion to build the ideal school system. The resulting Olympic-sized swimming pool, new computer labs, taxis for students and even a zoo didn’t improve educational outcomes. Instead Kansas City schools worsened to the point they eventually lost their accreditation.

If money were the solution, then the Washington D.C. school system should far surpass most other public school systems in the nation. During this past year, D.C. schools spent $13,848 per student, the third highest in the United States and more than $4,000 above the national average. The result was that only 14 percent of fourth graders scored at or above proficiency in mathematics and reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP.

In contrast, Minnesota spends $9,180 per pupil, slightly less than the national average, but produced the best results of any state. In fact, 50 percent of Minnesota fourth graders scored at or above proficiency in math, and 37 percent scored at or above proficiency in reading, according to the NAEP. This was the best in the nation and it is still far from acceptable.

Locally, Vermont spends an average of $13,090 per student. According to the NAEP, 49 percent of fourth graders scored at or above proficiency in math, and 41 percent did so in reading.

The results for all 50 states were analyzed in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s publication, “Report Card on American Education,” which for 15 years has ranked states based on test results, financial inputs and other factors. Vermont received the second best score in the country.

This report also considers the correlations between student performance and such factors as teacher-pupil ratio and teacher salary. The result is that there is no consistent relationship between per-pupil expenditure, class size or teacher salary and students actually being able to read or do math at grade level.

What does appear to produce results is parent involvement, teacher dedication and school-by-school autonomy in setting curricula. Consider the American Indian Public Charter School. Once among the worst schools in Oakland, Calif., it is now the highest-scoring middle school in the city under the leadership of Ben Chavis. The transformation occurred despite spending $2,000 less per pupil than the district (and having no computers for the students). Charter schools, such as American Indian Public, are free to select their own staff and are given more autonomy to tailor their style and curriculum to meet the needs of their students.

Subscribing to what has been coined the “money myth,” the belief that more money will lead to better education, is a costly mistake. Taxpayers are forced to pay for something with little to no results. What is worse is that other solutions are avoided despite their promising potential. We cannot afford to keep overlooking these options while dumping more and more money into the current education system.

Obama has clearly stated his support for greater accountability and flexibility, and called on states to open new, innovative charter schools. There is hope that our schools will take up this challenge. After all, it is the American dream that is at stake.

Rebecca Hurley is a research associate at the American Legislative Exchange Council in Washington, D.C.

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