ECRWSS PRSRT STD US Postage
PAID
Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
OCTOBER 17, 2019
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Golfers break the ice on fall state titles CVU foursome leads Redhawks to repeat Lauren Read Observer correspondent
Observer photo by Jason Starr
School administrators are working with teachers at Williston Central School to implement a new safety protocol to be standard throughout the Champlain Valley School District.
Empowering schools with new safety options By Jason Starr Observer staff
Champlain Valley School District administrators have given much thought to the unthinkable — what to do if an armed intruder enters a local school. This year, they begin empowering students and teachers with a new safety protocol to handle such a scenario. Williston Lead Principal Greg Marino and district Chief Operating Officer Jeanne Jensen led a committee of stakeholders over the past year in researching different active shooter responses. They settled on an options-based response called “run, hide, fight,”
which has been promoted nationally by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The protocol gives teachers a lead role in choosing to have their students hide in their classroom, attempt to escape the building or, as a last resort, fight the attacker. “We have to get adults in the buildings comfortable with making that choice,” Jensen said. Students are familiar with practicing the “hide” response, which, under current school terminology is known as a lockdown. The school district currently practices lockdowns four times a year, according to Marino. Arming students and teachers with the run and fight options will
take practice and discussions, Jensen said. Last week, CVU held its first schoolwide drill of the new protocol. “We are doing age-appropriate implementation,” Jensen said. The district is not ready to practice the protocol at the elementary and middle school levels and is unlikely to ever practice the fight option, according to Jensen. But teachers are being asked to inventory their classrooms for ways to barricade doors and to locate tools that could be used in a “fight” scenario. “Run, hide, fight is a big step, and we hope the way we are apsee SCHOOLS page 2
The Champlain Valley Union High School boys golf team packed plenty of drama into last year’s Division I state title. This year, the Redhawks made it a little easier. Four players shot in the 70s last Thursday as CVU cruised to its second straight D-I state golf title at The Quechee Club. “It’s a cool thing to go two in a row in anything,” said CVU coach Seth Emerson. “I am really happy for the guys.” Nate Godbout led the way for the Redhawks, finishing with a 74. Evan Forrest came in just behind with a 76, Alex Leonard added a 76 and Kyle Rexford rounded out the top four scores with a 78. “At that point, I was feeling pretty good,” Emerson said of watching his team come in with all 70s. “Kyle had locked down the four spot all year, but he had never come in under 80. To see him shoot at 78 was really, really cool.” With four players shooting so low, CVU finished 10 points ahead of second-place Rice despite the Green Knights’ Michael Walsh (72) earning medalist honors. “Rice gave us some really good matches,” Emerson said. “I knew that they were good. I was sort of hoping that player-for-player we were going to be a few strokes better.” Godbout’s 74 set the tone for the day. “He was our anchor all year,” Em-
Observer photo by Al Frey
Nate Godbout chips during an early season practice. Godbout finished his senior season with a 74 to lead CVU to its second straight state title last week.
erson said of the senior. With Forrest, Leonard and Rexford all coming in with scores in the 70s, the coach knew the Redhawks had sealed up the title. “I was more nervous than they were,” Emerson said. “They just saw a golf course that they could deconstruct.” With the win, the Redhawks send out Godbout — a senior — in style. “He’s such a great player, he’s going to play in college for sure,” Emerson said. “He earned every bit of it.” With one state championship under their belts, the Redhawks now turn their attention to the rest of the fall sports teams, which begin their title hunts next week. “If we can be the first, start all the CVU teams off, that would be great,” Emerson said.
Get your tickets now! Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 TWO SESSIONS: 12 - 4 p.m. & 6 - 10 p.m. Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits • Music • Games Food Truck Fare - ALL INDOORS! Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Jct., VT
www.winterbrewfestvt.com PRESENTING SPONSOR
DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, SOUTH BURLINGTON