Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 24, 2019

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. ECDC and Elementary Schools – School Improvement Plans

• ECDC School Improvement Plan 
• Davis Thayer School Improvement Plan
• Jefferson School Improvement Plan
• Keller School Improvement Plan
• JF Kennedy School Improvement Plan
• Oak Street School Improvement Plan
• Parmenter School Improvement Plan

b. School Start Times Update – Dr. Ahern

3. Discussion / Action Items

• a. Elementary School Improvement Plans

I recommend approval of the 19-20 School Improvement Plans for Davis Thayer, Jefferson, Keller, Kennedy, Oak Street and Parmenter Elementary Schools and ECDC as presented and discussed.

• b. Policy – First Readings

I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading at the next School Committee meeting as discussed:

• BEDB – Order of Business 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/current-bedb

• BEDH – Public Participation

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/current-bedh
 
 4. Discussion Only Items
a. Revised FY20 Budget
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/revised-budget

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)

b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; MASC)

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 10, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. Executive Session Minutes
I recommend approval of the executive session minutes from the September 20, 2019 School Committee meeting to be released as detailed.
c. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,560.50 from the Parmenter PCC for supplemental supplies as detailed.
d. Remington Middle School Trip
I recommend approval of the request to take the RMS Adventure Club to Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH for a recurring field trip on October 19, 2019 as detailed.
e. Budget Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence

11. Executive Session

a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the ESP/LPN unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

12. Adjournment

The documents released for this meeting can be found on the School District page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-24-2019-school-committee-packet  Additional documents will be added to this page post meeting (generally during the business day after the meeting)

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 24, 2019

Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Largest Harvest Festival - October 5

More than 160 vendors, crafters, exhibitors and groups will participate in this celebration of the arrival of autumn! The festival will take place on Main Street, Dean Avenue, West Central Street, Depot Street, and the large parking area be- hind Rockland Bank. Dean Bank will be selling cider doughnuts and warm cider, with proceeds supporting Partnership events, in front of the bank. 

“The Harvest Festival is our opportunity to invite people to gather in downtown and have fun experiencing the local businesses throughout our community that are unique to this area,” said Scott Martin, president of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and event chairperson. “The mix of activities and entertainment we have for this year’s festival will make this community event special for all ages, while showcasing the wonderful shopping and dining opportunities in downtown.” 

There will be an abundance of entertainment at the Harvest Festival. Dean Bank will host Dancing on Dean, featuring the bands Ben Gardner’s Boat and The Noyz. Other entertainment includes fashion shows by Dynasty Models and Talent, performances by Feet in Motion Dance Studio at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM, and live broadcasting by MyFM 101.3. 

During the Harvest Festival, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open and serving seasonal favorites. The Franklin Art Association will host “Autumn Splendor,” a fine art painting and photography exhibit in the Rockland Trust building next to the bank. Attendees may vote for a “People’s Choice” award. 

The Children’s Area, located in the parking lot behind Rockland Trust, will feature a petting zoo and Ruby’s Ice Cream Truck. Additionally, the Franklin Fire Department will host its always-popular Touch-a-Truck event, and Bobo the Clown will be creating balloon animals.
During the Harvest Festival, Main Street, and portions of Dean and Depot Streets, will be closed to vehicular traffic. 

“We fully expect this year’s event to be our largest-ever Harvest Festival. This year, we have more vendors, a wider variety of foods and an Oktoberfest celebration,” said Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. “As always, we have lots of live entertainment lined for this fun, family event. We thank our local sponsors who make this event possible!” 

Silver sponsors for the Harvest Festival are Dean Bank, Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust. 

Bronze sponsors are Atria - Franklin, Arcadia Dental, Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill, Bernon Family Branch YMCA, Chestnut Dental, DCU, Dynasty Models and Talent, Fenton Financial Group, Franklin Ford, Franklin Cultural District, Glen Meadows Apartments, Keefe Insurance, and LaCantina Winery. 

Friends sponsors are Bank of America, Beaux Regards Photographic Art, Cam- ford Property Group, Charles River Bank, D.G. Ranieri Real Estate, Encore Mu- sic Academy & Recording Studios, Franklin Glass Company, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Mint Dental of Franklin, MyFM 101.3, Rescom Exteriors, and Simon’s Furniture. 

Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Largest Harvest Festival - October 5

FHS girls soccer top Billerica 1-0

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter we share the results of the FHS fall sports action on Saturday, Sep 21, 2019


Girls Soccer = Franklin, 1 vs. Billerica, 0 – Final


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-21-19/

HUGE 1-0 win against Billerica. Excellent work all around!
G2 goes to Erin for hard work throughout the full game 💙💙

— FHS Girls Varsity Soccer (@fhsgvsoccer) September 21, 2019

Such a nice visit to the Umass Memorial Hospital. We delivered the blankets we made to some of the children staying at the hospital. So glad we got to pay it forward in this way♥️ #fullhearts pic.twitter.com/fDvqeSr3nc

— FHS Girls Varsity Soccer (@fhsgvsoccer) September 21, 2019

FHS girls soccer top Billerica 1-0

THE BLACK BOX Local Artists Series: Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza - Sep 27

THE BLACK BOX Local Artists Series will present Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza on Friday, September 27 at 8:00 PM.

Radio Daze has been playing together for about 12 years. They started out as "Naked Wednesday," then changed their name to "10k shimmer," before finally settling on "Radio Daze." The band includes Joe Rivet on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Tighe on bass and vocals, and Zac Casher on drums and vocals. Together they are able to weave tight grooves while incorporating hip changes and melodic lines. They have played in hundreds of clubs, bars, and venues in the northeast and across the country.

THE BLACK BOX Local Artists Series brings some of the area’s most beloved musicians to the stage at the region’s premier music venue. 

Tickets are available at www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370. The venue features a full bar. 

THE BLACK BOX Local Artists Series:  Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza - Sep 27

For a sample of their music, here is the link to their Soundcloud channel

MBTA Franklin Line: Through October 3 - Monday-Thursday between Forge Park and Franklin

Weekdays, Monday - Thursday, September 16 - October 3, from 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM, shuttle buses will replace Franklin Line service between Forge Park/495 and Franklin due to track maintenance. Passengers may experience delays due to shuttle bus connections.

This necessary tie job replacement project will improve service and reliability on the Commuter Rail. Additional weekdays may be added as work progresses on the Franklin Line. Please visit https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork for more details about bus shuttle schedules.

Please note the pickup/drop off locations for shuttle buses:

• Franklin: Please board in the main station parking lot near the shelter.
• Forge Park/495: Please board at the end of the driveway to the parking lot.

Affected trips:

703 (8:04 am from South Station)
710 (9:22 am from Forge Park/495)
705 (9:40 am from South Station)
712 (10:55 am from Forge Park/495)
707 (11:00 am from South Station)
714 (12:20 pm from Forge Park/495)
709 (12:20 pm from South Station)
716 (1:35 pm from Forge Park/495)
711 (1:35 pm from South Station)
718 (2:57 pm from Forge Park/495)

For more information: https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork

Last Updated: Sep 20 2019 11:02 AM

MBTA Franklin Line: Through October 3 - Monday-Thursday between Forge Park and Franklin

Franklin voters will have a choice for some positions in the Nov 5 election

The candidate listing was finalized this week. There had been a total of 40 people who had stepped up to draw nomination papers. 8 subsequently withdrew or did not return their papers leaving 32 candidates for 27 positions. 

Franklin voters will have a choice for 3 of the 7 positions up for election. 3 positions have the right amount of candidates. One position is short (Board of Health).

COMMITTEE/BOARD/POSITION OPENINGS	Candidates	Positions
BOARD OF ASSESSORS - 2 SEATS  (4Yr.Term)	2	2
BOARD OF HEALTH -2 SEATS  (4 Yr.Term)	1	2
CONSTABLE - 3 OPENING       (4Yr.Term)	4	3
PLANNING BOARD - 3 SEATS   (4Yr.Term)	3	3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE - 7 SEATS   (2Yr.Term)	10	7
TOWN CLERK - 1 Position    (4Yr.Term)	1	1
TOWN COUNCIL  - 9 SEATS      (2Yr.Term)	11	9
Totals	32	27

Download your copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YsaLzrQD8q6S99HVlHis4uaUOiB1CKz2/view?usp=sharing

or the Town Clerk page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/final_candidates_-_2019_biennial_town_election.pdf

All precincts vote on Nov 5, 2019 in one location, Franklin High School

Franklin Public Schools: An Important Message from the Superintendent

September 20, 2019

Dear Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

I am writing as it is a good time to provide some information about school security and safety.

Some Information Related to the Newly Issued PSA

You may have heard about or seen the Sandy Hook Promise PSA that was issued within the last day or so. This video contains some content that is very difficult to watch. It reminds us all of the importance of our safety and security practices in the unlikely event of an active shooter situation.

As parents/guardians, you may wish to prohibit your child from viewing the PSA. New research is pointing to negative mental health consequences including increased anxiety and hypervigilance among children from exposure to active shooter training and media coverage. As a school system, we try to strike a balance between informing/preparing our students with tools to keep them safe while shielding them from overexposure.

Children's belief that adults around them know what to do to protect them helps them cope with their anxiety and stress related to school safety worries. You can assist them and us by providing reassurance, as developmentally appropriate, to your children in this regard. At the end of this letter, we provide an informative reminder about our safety practices.

You may be looking for resources to assist your child. This resource, from the American Psychological Association, may be of assistance to you: http://www.apa.org/topics/violence/school-shooting.aspx

Counselors, teachers, and administrators are available to help any student who may be experiencing difficulty. Please reach out to any member of the administration if we can be of help in any way. The School Resource Officers are also an avenue of support for questions and concerns from families.

Information about How We Respond When We Receive a Report of a Threat

We have seen an increase in students and families exercising the "see it-say it" aspect of our safety protocols and we thank you for that. It reflects on the positive relationships and supportive culture of our schools. When we receive a report of an alleged threat, the school administrators launch an investigation in collaboration with the Franklin Police Department. The credibility and seriousness of the threat must be determined by this team, who are trained in making this determination.

Based on the nature of the facts determined from the investigation, the school administrators will take appropriate steps. The police may, as well, if appropriate and based on their investigation. Administrative measures often include support and safety plans for the students involved. Interventions are put in place and may include therapeutic support. Disciplinary consequences may also be applied, if appropriate. When communications are issued to families, privacy laws require us to keep certain information confidential.

We are balancing providing the community with information and assurances of safety with the privacy rights of those involved. In all cases, we wish to assure you that we take these reports with the utmost seriousness and collaborate with our school resource officer partners to investigate and respond appropriately. We are so fortunate to be supported by a stellar team of five School Resource Officers and their supervising officer.

An Informative Reminder of Safety Practices in FPS

The safety and well-being of Franklin students and staff are our highest priority. Our buildings remain locked and well-supervised when school is in session; all visitors must check-in at reception upon arrival and present identification. Organizations that use our facilities after hours are required to have a door monitor that supervises the entry and exit of guests to our buildings.

Security cameras provide coverage around all of our buildings. Additionally, we have a capital plan in place to upgrade and add to our security cameras and other security features to enhance coverage. We have open communication with the Franklin Fire and Police Departments, and our response teams regularly review and practice safety protocols and procedures through training with staff and students.

We continue to refine our practices through continuing education on best practices within the field of school safety. Last year (the 2018-19 school year), the entire faculty and staff across the district engaged in deeper training with experts in the field based on new information and practices. We will continue to reinforce this in 2019-20.

We also stress climate and culture in each of our schools, centering our work around core values and relationships. It is important that each student feels connected to an adult and we strive to ensure we have supports in place to help students in crisis. We emphasize the importance of speaking up when there is a concern, and we have examples when students, parents/guardians, and staff have come forward to bring a concern about a friend or classmate to an administrator's attention.

As always, parents/guardians or staff members with concerns about safety should contact the building principal with specific questions.

Sincerely,

Sara Ahern
Superintendent of Schools

Sara Ahern, Superintendent of Schools - presenting at a recent School Committee meeting

FHS field hockey and volleyball teams posts wins

Via HockomockSports.com we share the results of the FHS fall sports action on Friday, Sep 20, 2019

Field Hockey = Franklin, 6 @ Taunton, 0 – Final
– After holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, Franklin exploded for five tallies in the second half to grab a big win on the road. Amanda Lewandowski scored a hat trick, with Stephanie Bell and Olivia Mazukina notching assists. Bell also had a pair of goals, including the game-winner at 14:00 of the first half. Kaitlyn Carney also scored for the Panthers while Neilee Hess made three saves for the shutout.

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final



For the other results around the Hockomock League on Friday
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-09-20-19/

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!! Guess what???? Another 3 TEAM SWEEP for Franklin Field Hockey!!! Varsity wins 6-0, JV wins 9-0, & Freshman win 8-0.... #ProudCoach. #PantherPride pic.twitter.com/DUhyB6PUdC

— Franklin HS Field Hockey (@FHS_FH_02038) September 21, 2019

FHS field hockey and volleyball teams posts wins

MBTA Franklin Line notice weekends - bus shuttle to Readville

Weekends, Sept 7 - Nov 24, Franklin Train service is replaced by free buses between Forge Park/495 and Readville for a Fairmount Line connection while PTC is installed. There will be no service at Back Bay, Ruggles, Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot.

Please visit https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork for more details about bus shuttle schedules. Visit MBTA.com/PTC for more information on how this project will improve commuter rail safety and travel. Passengers may experience delays of up to 30 minutes as a result of shuttle bus connections.

There will be no Franklin line service at Back Bay and Ruggles stations on weekends. Please travel to South Station to reach a Franklin Line station. If you are travelling inbound, please board a Worcester/Framingham line Train for direct connection to Back Bay or a Providence/Stoughton line Train for a direct connection to Back Bay or Ruggles.

We also recommend the subway: board the Red Line at South Station and transfer to the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing to reach Back Bay or Ruggles.

Due to proximity of adjacent stations, bus shuttles will not serve Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot stations:
-Endicott station customers, please use Readville or Dedham Corp stations.
-Islington station customers, please use Dedham Corp station.
-Norwood Depot customers, please use Norwood Central or Dedham Corp station.

8:40pm and 10:40pm departures from Forge Park as well as 11:20pm departure from South Station will be accommodated by a bus for the entire trip between South Station and Forge Park (including the portion between South Station and Readville).

Additional weekends may be added to the train service suspension between Forge Park/495 and Readville as work progresses on the Franklin line.

Thank you for your patience while we improve the signal system on your Commuter Rail line.

For more information: https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork

Last Updated: Sep 20 2019 05:10 PM

MBTA Franklin Line notice weekends - bus shuttle to Readville