Chuck Lacy and Tom Cheney, candidates for the Jericho School board tried Ice fishing in front of MMU on Town Meeting Day. Ice fishing, voting: There is seemingly no connection. But folks stopped to talk, Chuck noted.
(Author's note: Chuck caught the same amount of fish at MMU as he did on Lake Champlain, Ice Fishing).
740 (17.5%) registered voters cast a ballot - out of 4235 registered voters.
Mount Mansfield Lodge #26 Served breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
The generosity, caring spirit, and actions of community members are highlighted by the non-profit displays, community members discussions therein, and the many volunteers who spoke at the Town Meeting about the non-profit volunteer work they enjoyed doing. As one community member stated, I consider this work, "Paying Forward" and hope the same services are available if I need them when I am older.
And how many other town meetings result in community members offering an amendment to the proposed budget to raise the dollar amount contributed by the town above the amount requested, to a non-profit - as Jericho community members did for Age Well.
Caring and sharing plus contribution = Community: genuine relationships, trust, place of belonging.
Transition Town Jericho
Jericho Energy Task Force. FB: JerichoEnergyTaskForce
Jericho Conservation Commission
Our Community Cares Camp Serving under-resourced children between ages 5-16 from the towns of Richmond, Bolton, Huntington, Jericho, and Underhill. Facebook.com/OCCCVT
Howard Center Helping with mental health, substance abuse, and developmental needs.
Jericho Library: A little library with a lot of heart.
Lisa Buckton, Library Director. Librarian, Writer, Innovator.
B A K E S A L E - Goodies Galore
Civics discussion and lessons real-time at Town Meeting.
Winooski Valley Park District - Cooperative partnership of seven member communities who share a common interest in protecting natural resources in the Winooski River Valley.
No Photo available: Mount Mansfield Villages - Launching April 2019. Non-profit to provide services that will help members to remain active, socially-connected, and in their homes and communities as long as possible. Providing volunteer opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors.
Jericho / Underhill Land Trust Conserving our productive landscape, scenic vistas, and important wildlife habitats.
VT State Representatives George Till, Trevor Squirrell, and Chittenden county senator Senate Chris Pearson.
Cub scouts waiting for the cue to walk into the auditorium onto the stage to lead the community in the reciting of The Pledge of Allegiance.
Jericho / Underhill Fire Department representatives.
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Visit Jericho's New Interactive town website @ https://www.jerichovt.gov/
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Here are the links to MMCTV recordings of Town Meeting
Day videos:
Resolution below passed:
Whereas extreme and erratic temperatures, increasingly severe
storms, a rise in tick-borne diseases, and threats to farmers and maple sugar
makers clearly demonstrate that climate change is one of the most urgent
problems facing our state, nation, and the world, and
Whereas the state of Vermont
has a goal in the Comprehensive Energy Plan to achieve 90% of its energy from
renewable resources by 2050, yet is making insufficient progress towards
achieving that goal;
Now, therefore, be it resolved:
The voters of the town of
Jericho urge the state of Vermont to:
a. Halt any new or expanded
fossil fuel infrastructure, I.e. transmission pipelines, electrical generation
plants and/or industrial storage facilities.
b. Commit to 100% renewable
energy by 2030 for all people in Vermont, with firm interim deadlines; and,
c. Ensure that the transition
to renewable energy is fair and equitable for all residents, with no harm to
marginalized groups or rural communities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tom Cheney (Elected to School Board)
Dear Jericho Residents,
As a product of Vermont public
schools and a member of a family of educators, I understand that one of the
most meaningful and impactful commitments a town makes to its citizens is
providing for enriching schools. Over the years, our community has fostered an
excellent public education system for our children.
Despite many successes, our
district is facing multiple challenges: from the ongoing district merger
implementation, to a declining student population, and growing budget
pressures.
We need budgets that live
within our means, forward-thinking and innovative leadership, and strong community
engagement.
My professional life has been
devoted to public service, with a focus on improving educational outcomes for
children and adults. I bring to the Board experience working on education and
workforce development policy at the state and federal levels. That and my
current role leading an initiative (based out of VSAC) to increase the number
of Vermonters who complete career training or a college degree, has reinforced
the notion that innovation and strategic investment within existing budgets is
often more effective than simply increasing spending.
The tone and vision the Board
sets have a lasting impact on our children. We need leadership that demands that
all students, no matter their background or aspirations, feel at home in our
schools. It must be an expectation that each high school graduate is prepared
for life after high school, whether it be to pursue a credential,
apprenticeship, or degree, or to go straight into a career. Our students should
be receiving a first-rate education that is constantly evolving with the times.
I am committed to bringing
these perspectives to the MMMUSD School Board to help ensure that our schools
remain strong and vibrant for my two young daughters, their friends, and all of
the students in Jericho and the surrounding towns. I ask for your support.
To learn more about my vision,
please check out my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/Tom-Cheney-for-School-Board-283161589037475/
Tom Cheney
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Chuck Lacy (Elected School Board)
I served on the Jericho School Board some
years ago and hope to serve again in the merged MMU district. Our three
children went through the MMU schools. They were well prepared for their next
steps and I want the coming generations to be prepared for their futures.
For thirty years I've cared about the
success of our students and getting value for money. My strength is planning
ahead and raising the tough questions before they become emergencies.
My priorities for board work are:
MAKING THE MERGER WORK. I served as a
Jericho representative negotiating with the other towns to create a single merged
district to cut bureaucracy. Now our schools can work together. We can adjust
our capacity to fit our enrollment. The merger bent the curve on budget
increases. Parents can pick the right elementary and middle school for their
children. Jericho Elementary School started a Spanish immersion program open to
children from all the towns. With the merged district we can make common-sense
decisions on spending and sharing resources between schools.
DEALING WITH A SMALLER ENROLLMENT. The student population is down across New England. Families are having fewer children.
Elementary school enrollment in Jericho and Underhill is down 40% since the
early 2000s. MMU is down over 200 students and could be down another 100
students when our current smaller elementary classes reach high school.
Preparing for that future is an educational and fiscal imperative.
To build more opportunities with the budget
limits of a smaller enrollment – we need curriculum innovations, distance
learning, and joint programs with other districts and colleges. Nothing
replaces a good discussion led by a great teacher. But with smaller enrollments
new ideas are needed to drive an ambitious curriculum – for all students not
just for the college-bound. The latest generation of MMU district teachers is
very strong. With the School Board setting clear educational and fiscal goals,
I believe our faculty can lead the innovation we need to succeed.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Historically our
school boards have taken a passive interest in technical education. The MMU
School Board must do more than delegate technical education to Essex and
Burlington Tech and forget about it. The school board boundaries between
technical and academic education should be erased – all students need both to
succeed. The School Board should be as focused on technical education and
preparation for the trades as it is on AP classes and college acceptances. I
will do that.
HUMAN RESOURCES. Currently, the MMU
district has one part-time HR person for 500 employees in ten locations.
Recruiting and hiring one great teacher helps hundreds or thousands of students
over a career. Upfront investment in hiring has a huge payback. I want to be
sure we're doing everything possible to find the best people and then helping
them build great careers.
MY BACKGROUND: A School Board needs a mix
of skills among its members. I bring a mixed bag of mostly business experience
and a commitment to planning and decisiveness. My work history includes: President
of Ben & Jerry's, President of Barred Rock Fund, Treasurer of Gonofone
(which started the largest cell phone company in Bangladesh with over 50
million customers), Founder of Hardwick Beef (marketing cattle for New England
farmers), Executive Producer of "The War Tapes" for the Discovery
Channel, and President of Money in Motion (which provides banking services low-income people in Bangladesh). After years of producing beef on farms in Jericho
and St. Albans, I sold my cows giving me the time to serve on the MMU Board. I
never missed a meeting while serving on the Jericho Elementary School Board.
I live in Jericho Center with my wife Gaye
Symington where we raised our three children. Please reach out with questions
or suggestions.
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