September 20, 2018 • The Essex Reporter • 1
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{ Thursday, September 20, 2018 }
ALL ABOUT THAT BASS
Essex High School wins inaugural bass fishing tournament PHOTOS BY KYLE ST. PETER
Essex High School topped teams from 14 other high schools in Vermont's inaugural bass fishing competition last Saturday aboard Lake Champlain. Making its debut in Vermont high schools as an exhibition sport this year and next, fishing could eventually become a Vermont Principals Associationsanctioned varsity sport. Clockwise from top: 1) A fleet of boats heads out onto the lake. 2) EHS students pose with their bounty. 3) An Essex team weighs in their catches.
School district faces wrongful termination suit By COLIN FLANDERS
near and far convene at the recreation center to dance from 7-9 p.m. Some carry on a family tradition, while others are new to the scene. Pierce has danced since her parents took her to practices as a child. She met her husband, Wayne, at a square dance gathering when the two were in high school. They danced until he went away to college, and then started a family. After several years’ hiatus, the couple squared
A new lawsuit claims the Essex Westford School District discriminated against a longtime school custodian, who was handicapped with a work-related injury, by misguiding her into accepting a layoff. Kim Mitchell alleges the district refused to accommodate her work placement requests that would have allowed her to avoid further aggravating a previous injury sustained on the job. The district later advised Mitchell has better chance of receiving unemployment benefits if she resigned with “dignity,” according to a complaint filed in Chittenden Superior Court on August 23, which names EWSD but notes Mitchell worked for one of the unified district’s former entities. The suit accuses the district of pursuing its own economic interests while acting in “reckless disregard” for Mitchell’s rights. It asks for compensatory damages including lost wages, medical benefits, compensation for permanent impairment, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and punitive damages. Sean Toohey, an attorney for EWSD, expected the district would prevail because Mitchell’s allegations are “without merit.” Superintendent Beth Cobb declined to comment on what she called a personnel matter. In a motion to dismiss filed Monday, the district claims Mitchell never provided documents that verified her “serious health condition” and says the former custodian – who knew she could be fired if she took additional leave after using up nearly all her time – voluntarily requested to be laid off. The district adds the agreement waived Mitchell’s right to grieve her departure, and even
See DANCING, page 3
See LAWSUIT, page 3
PHOTO BY MADELINE CLARK
Square dance pros and novices alike dance the night away at the Green Mountain Stepper's first rehearsal of the season.
Do-si-do with the best of them By MADELINE CLARK
Men and women in pairs and solo sauntered into the Maple Street Park Recreation Center last Thursday. Some brought baked goods and snacks they placed on the gingham-clothed table; others shuffled over to a corner to mingle and purchase raffle tickets. In the front of the room, a bespectacled man stood with sound equipment. Suddenly, banjo-dominant music
echoed around the room, and its occupants organized themselves into two squares. The man at the front of the room began uttering instructions into a microphone. “Load the boat; promenade; do-si-do and bow to your partner,” he called out. “Some things sound like what they are,” Susan Pierce president of the Green Mountain Steppers said of the calls. “Others, not at all.” Each Thursday, square dancers from
Federal education officials visit EWSD, talk flexibility and support in special education By AMANDA BROOKS Members of the U.S. Department of Education visited the Essex Westford School District as part of the department’s national back to school tour last Wednesday. Johnny Collett and Kimberly Richey, assistant and deputy secretaries of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, respectively, toured Hiawatha Elementary School, visited Little Ones University and participated in a listening session with parents, educators and policymakers in the special education in the area.
In the listening session, Collett noted U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is focusing on rethinking education, and he, too, is working on what that means for special education. “What are some things that we need to help support states, to help support schools, districts, communities, to do the work that you know best how to do?” Collett asked. “The best answers in innovations don’t come from us sitting in Washington, D.C.,” he added, noting the DOE wants to take a hands-off approach when it comes to special education on the state and local
levels. Collett and Richey listened to parents and educators talk about what was and was not working for special education here in Essex and Vermont. A major issue that came up involved the copious amounts of paperwork involved in special education administration. “It kind of pains me when the conversation moves to be efficient, funding, and those kinds of things, because when I first started getting into special education … it was about families and relationships, and it’s moved to monSee EDUCATION, page 2
PHOTO BY AMANDA BROOKS
Johnny Collett, assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services, high-fives Hiawatha student, Max, during his visit to EWSD.