Thursday, April 24, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, April 24, 2025 ???

Thursday, April 24

Library & Senior Center events
Library & Senior Center events
** Franklin Art Association Art Show and Sale Exhibit (Norfolk Public Library)


10:30am Animal Affair! (Franklin Public Library)
4:00pm Rockin' Rhythms (Franklin Public Library)
5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)
6:30pm Running Your First 5K (Pond Street Recreation Facility)
7:00pm An Exploration of French Wines (333 E Central St)
7:00pm Dance Company (Dean College Main Stage Theater)
7:00pm An Evening of Conversation Regarding Food Sovereignty and Access (First Universalist Society Franklin)
7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)



For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   
 
 
**  Meetings today   **

Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA Meeting

Thursday, April 24 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04242025-1676


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What's happening today in Franklin?
What's happening today in Franklin? 
Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

Celebrate Spring on April 26 at 3rd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk

Residents of Franklin and beyond are invited to celebrate Spring on Saturday, April 26. Come and explore downtown Franklin at the Ladybug Cultural & Historical Trail Spring Walk. Rain date is Sunday, April 27.

Get your trail map at the Franklin Historical Museum at 80 West Central Street, Route 140. The trail map guides you on where to find the ladybug sculptures tucked among buildings and other points of interest along the trail. The museum will be open 9 AM to 3 PM on April 26, and open 1 PM to 4 PM on April 27.

Many activities are planned: Learn why Franklin celebrates the ladybug at the Historical Museum; create a project showing the ladybug’s lifecycle at Dean College; enjoy games, crafts and snacks at Franklin Public Library. Plus, businesses will be offering ladybug-themed food and drinks, games and activities, and special deals.

More formally known as the “Ladybug Cultural & Historical Trail Spring Walk”, the Ladybug Trail is located in Franklin’s Cultural District on Main Street and neighboring streets. Walkers search for 2-foot-wide fiberglass ladybug sculptures tucked among buildings, businesses and residences, tying together approximately 25 historical and cultural sites. The Ladybug Cultural Trail was initiated by the Franklin Cultural Council and The Rotary Club in 2022.

The walk is also fun way to see murals painted by members of the Franklin Art Association. Joining the trend toward public art, many uninviting alleyways have become canvases for many local artists to create colorful murals.

While April 26th is the town’s official start date, the trail is open year-round. Enjoy the trail at your leisure any time of the week. “The Ladybug Trail Spring Walk is the perfect time to celebrate spring and see all that downtown Franklin has to offer. Visit the shops or take a break at one of the many restaurants along the trail for lunch or dinner,” said Lisa Piana, Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Executive Director.


For details about the Ladybug Historical & Cultural Trail, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/franklindowntownpartnership/  and  
https://www.facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org/


Celebrate Spring on April 26 at 3rd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk
Celebrate Spring on April 26 at 3rd Annual Ladybug Trail Spring Walk

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501c3 organization made up of more than 350 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll, the Harvest Festival, the Ladybug Historical & Cultural Trail, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, greenspace, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.

Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary

Dear Franklin Community,

I am honored to serve the Town of Franklin as Superintendent of Schools. Together with the leadership team, I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of our district, which serves 4,589 students and employs over 1,200 dedicated professionals, including educators, support staff, and administrators. Our collective mission is to foster academic excellence, social and emotional well-being, and equitable opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and welcoming environments.

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Superintendent’s Recommended Budget, totaling $80,395,338, represents a 3.78% increase over FY25 and is structured to balance rising costs with strategic resource allocation. This year’s budget cycle is framed by our guiding principle: “Laying a Foundation for Success.” This tagline underscores the critical connection between a well-structured, sustainable budget and the long-term prosperity of our students and community.

Strategic Priorities and Fiscal Responsibility
Our approach to budget development is mission-driven and informed by Franklin’s Portrait of a Graduate, which defines the essential skills each student will develop throughout their PreK-12+ experience. We remain steadfast in our commitment to:
Optimizing Resources – Allocating staffing and financial resources to maximize student impact.
Supporting Reorganization – Ensuring a smooth transition for students, staff, and families following significant structural changes.
Stability and Sustainability – Building a future-ready system that meets current and evolving needs.

In FY26, we continue to right-size our operations by aligning staffing and expenditures with student needs. This budget reflects savings from our district reorganization, which includes:
The unification of Franklin Middle School, consolidating all grades 6-8 students into one building at Oak Street.
The restructuring of elementary schools into two K-5 complexes at Washington Street and Lincoln Street.
The expansion of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at Pond Street will increase early childhood capacity and generate additional revenue.
These bold decisions allow us to preserve recommended class sizes, maintain a high-quality educational experience, and create efficiencies without increasing full-time staff. The reorganization achieves economies of scale, ensuring we maximize impact while maintaining financial sustainability.

Budget Drivers and Investments in Student Success
Several key financial drivers shape the FY26 budget:
Staffing Adjustments – Reallocating existing staff to maintain class sizes and meet student needs without increasing overall FTEs.
Student Support – Continued investment in behavioral, mental health, and academic interventions.
Compliance & Costs – Rising expenses in transportation, special education, and health insurance.

While staffing costs account for most of the budget, we have strategically reallocated personnel to support student success. We are also maintaining Franklin’s commitment to academic and co-curricular opportunities, ensuring all students have access to:
Rigorous and engaging curriculum
Special education and intervention services
Extracurricular activities, including clubs, arts, and athletics
Essential student support, including counseling and wellness resources
 
Additionally, our focus on financial stewardship includes:
Classroom-Level Analysis – Ensuring optimal teacher FTEs and class sizes.
Historical Spending Review – Reducing or eliminating non-essential expenditures.
Technology and Equipment Review – Prioritizing essential tools and minimizing inefficiencies.
Special Education Forecasting – Accurately projecting out-of-district tuition and transportation needs.
Transportation Evaluation – Optimizing bus routes to mitigate cost increases.
Franklin in Context: Comparisons and Challenges

Despite fiscal constraints in recent years, Franklin Public Schools has made a series of bold decisions to maintain the success of a high-quality public education.

Looking Ahead
As Superintendent, I remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the Franklin School Committee, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, the Town Council, and municipal leaders to ensure fiscal stability and educational excellence. This budget reflects our shared vision for the future—one that prioritizes student success, supports educators, and strengthens our schools while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and investment in Franklin’s students and for your unwavering commitment to our schools, families, and community.

Sincerely,

Lucas Giguere                           Janaina Melotti
Superintendent of Schools           Interim School Business Administrator

The full School District "Budget Book" for FY 2026 can be found ->

Additional Budget documents can be found in their FY 2026 Budget page ->

Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary
Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary

Deadline to sign up is April 30 -> Franklin PorchFest 2025

LAST CALL to Join the Music! 

Franklin PorchFest 2025 is hitting the streets on Saturday, June 7th from 12–6 PM, and this is your last chance to be part of it!

Are you a band or solo performer ready to rock the block?
Do you have a porch and want to be a part of the biggest outdoor music celebration in Franklin?

Then don’t wait — register now at Franklin.PorchFest.Info!

Deadline to sign up is April 30th!

Be a host, be a performer, be part of the music and community that makes Franklin shine.

Let’s turn our porches into stages and our streets into a celebration!

Date set for Franklin’s 2nd Annual PorchFest - June 7, 2025
Date set for Franklin’s 2nd Annual PorchFest - June 7, 2025

2025 Hockomock League Boys Swimming All Stars: FHS' Chandaria, Collins, McCarthy, Pecora

Below are the official 2025 Hockomock League Boys Swimming All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Kelley-Rex Division MVP
  • Owen Chandaria, Franklin

Hockomock League All Stars
  • Owen Chandaria, Franklin
  • Brendan Collins, Franklin
  • Ollie McCarthy, Franklin
  • Zack Pecora, Franklin

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

2025 Hockomock League Girls Swimming All Stars: FHS' Pecora, K Baghdasaryan, McKinnon, O’Neil, S Baghdasaryan, Birali, Ferreira, Travers

Below are the official 2025 Hockomock League Girls Swimming All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Kelley-Rex Division MVP
Zuri Ferguson, Attleboro

Hockomock League All Stars
  • Ava Pecora, Franklin
  • Kseniya Baghdasaryan, Franklin
  • Molly McKinnon, Franklin
  • Taylor O’Neil, Franklin
  • Sasha Baghdasaryan, Franklin
  • Harikalal Birali, Franklin
  • Elise Ferreira, Franklin
  • Bridget Travers, Franklin

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

**RESCHEDULED** Rachel Childers and Beethoven, May 4


LiveARTS is thrilled to announce a
rescheduled performance for:


Boston Symphony Member     
Rachel Childers

Sunday, May 4th, at 3:00 PM
Murray Unitarian Universalist Church,
505 North Main St. Attleboro, MA
Be sure to join us for this stellar concert to close out our season, with Boston Symphony horn player Rachel Childers and pianist Ann Sears.
This concert is a rescheduled performance of our February 16th concert, which was cancelled due to snow.
This concert will be held at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main St. Attleboro.

Join us SUNDAY, MAY 4th, at 3:00 PMin Attleboro!

Rachel Childers joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as second horn at the start of the 2011-12 season, becoming the first female member of the BSO brass section in its history. Childers received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in music from University of Michigan, followed by an artist diploma from the Colburn School in Los Angeles.

She is on the faculty at the
Longy School of Music of Bard College, and the New England Conservatory of Music, where she is chair of Winds, Brass, and Percussion Chamber Music. Childers also develops and performs programs for the BSO's "Concerts for Very Young People" at local libraries and children's museums. During summers, she teaches at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Tickets: Adults: $25.00
All students: free with ID
Tickets available at the door
Accessible parking and building
Visit our website liveartsma.org to purchase tickets on-line and for more information.

Copyright © 2022 LiveARTS, Franklin, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
LiveARTS, P.O. Box 678, Franklin, MA 0203


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Letter from MAVA Officers to the BOE re: Admissions

April 18, 2025 

Katherine Craven, Chair
Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education 
135 Santilli Highway
Everett, MA 02149
Letter from MAVA Officers to the BOE re: Admissions
Letter from MAVA Officers to the BOE re: Admissions


Sent via mail: BoardofEducation@mass.gov 
Also sent to: CCTE@mass.gov

Dear Chair Craven and Members of the Board:

On April 10, 2025, in our capacity as MAVA officers, we received a link from DESE to newly posted information on the Department’s website. The updated DESE website outlines how the Department determines compliance with “rules” on vocational admissions. This information was provided as a result of repeated requests by vocational superintendents and MAVA Officers.

DESE’s updated website now includes a new section titled “Career Technical Education Methods of Administration for secondary career technical education (CTE) student eligibility, recruitment, and admission.” It provides an overview of the Methods of Administration (MOA) process and outlines the Department’s process for Disproportionality Analysis.

Presumably, this is the process DESE has adopted to comply with its federally-approved Massachusetts Targeting Plan. Recently, MAVA counsel requested copies of federally-approved plans. While there may be some variation between the documents received by MAVA and the information posted on the DESE website, it is assumed the Disproportionality Analysis posted is based on the most recently federally-approved plan. An excerpt from the aforementioned website is copied below.
Disproportionality Analysis
To determine if districts are enrolling particular demographic groups (Students of Color, Students with Disabilities, and English Learners) at disproportionate rates, we calculate the difference between the attending 9th grade students at that district and the comparison index for that district. The comparison index is what we would expect the 9th grade enrollment to be at the CTE district, using data from the region and adjusting for grades served, size of the district, and variability.  
When the difference between the attending 9th grade students and comparison index is negative, it indicates a 99% confidence level that the enrollment is under-representative of that district's region.  
The Department reviews at least two years of data and flags potential disproportionate student populations where:
1. The district has differences of less than 0 for all three demographic groups
2. The district has a difference of less than -5 for one (or more) demographic groups
3. The district has two demographic groups with differences both less than -2.5

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time since the initial publication of vocational admissions data in 2020 – that is, five years – that vocational schools and the public have been given information on DESE’s process for identifying schools to review. While this recent clarification is helpful, it is important to note MAVA continues to have serious concerns about the overall integrity of the data on which this analysis is based.1

It is also very important to note what is NOT part of the Disproportionality Analysis – there is no mention of admission “offers” or “acceptances,” or “offer rates” – data repeatedly used by lottery proponents to justify moving to a statewide, one-size-fits-all lottery system.2 Instead, the federally-approved DESE “rules” use a Comparison Index that compares the demographics in the applicant pool to the demographics in the school.

Out of deep curiosity, we ran the analysis posted on the website for Nashoba Valley Technical High School, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, and Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical School District, the schools we represent. This exercise verified what we already suspected: None of our schools have issues with disproportionality among students from protected classes (See Appendix A). We comply with the rules.

It is assumed that this methodology is employed for data review in all 29 regional vocational schools. It is our understanding this analysis is what led to only ONE regional vocational school, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, being selected for a Methods of Administration (MOA) review. It is also our understanding that only THREE other schools3 have been identified for potential technical assistance.

With this new information now shared for the very first time with the public (and simultaneously with vocational schools) we are left with unanswered questions:

Why was this disproportionality analysis never discussed during any of the five BESE Board and subcommittee meetings held to study the vocational admissions process?4

If this is the process DESE is using to flag only 4 CTE schools, why would any of our five schools – and likely most of the 20 other vocational schools – be required to turn our admissions systems upside down when DESE’s federally-approved guidelines demonstrate that we are in compliance? Our school committees and the taxpayers and voters in our member communities will be expecting us to answer that question. Based on what we have just learned, we have no reasonable explanation for them.

In light of this, we urge you not to adopt any revisions to the regulations related to vocational admissions. Instead, allow this entire issue – including our concerns about the accuracy and adequacy of the data – to be reviewed dispassionately, objectively, and thoroughly by the 15-member Vocational Admissions Task Force already included in Outside Sections 65 and 68 of the House Ways & Means Committee-endorsed version of the FY 2026 state budget.

The Task Force would carefully examine admissions policies, data collection practices, and enforcement standards to ensure that vocational schools and programs continue to serve our communities effectively and equitably.

We support creation of the Task Force for several specific reasons:

The diverse composition of the task force, which includes legislative leadership, education administrators, and key stakeholders from various organizations involved in vocational-technical education.
The clear timeline established for the task force, with a start date of September 15, 2025, and a required report by September 15, 2026.
The requirement for at least one public hearing, ensuring community voices are heard in this important process.
The prudent pause on regulatory changes, which prevents premature adjustments to admissions policies before the task force completes its thorough review.

And while this Task Force may add more time to the process, it is critically important that we get these policy changes right due to the direct impact on students. In the meantime, DESE already has authority under current regulations to move districts to admissions lotteries using its recently published disproportionality rules, so there are still compliance measures in place while the Task Force does its work.

Vocational-technical education provides vital pathways to career success for many students. By supporting this comprehensive review through the proposed task force, we can ensure these programs continue to evolve in ways that best serve all students while meeting our state's workforce needs.

In closing, these draft regulations are a solution in search of a problem. They are not needed because this is not a statewide problem. The Board should not vote on this issue until an admissions task force has reviewed the matter more thoroughly. In fact, as a good first step and as a signal that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education truly wants to do what’s right, the Board could endorse the creation of the Task Force and await its findings and recommendations.

If you have any questions, please contact us. Thank you for your consideration. 

Respectfully,

Denise Pigeon Heidi T. Riccio Aaron Polansky Karen Maguire Eric Duda


1See MAVA’s 5-page letter dated November 22, 2024, to BESE Chair Katherine Craven identifying a host of problems related to state data and its presentation to the public.

2This same “offers” and “acceptances” data is also publicly posted on DESE’s website, causing widespread confusion and misunderstandings between advocates, policymakers, and even the media. See: CTE Admissions and Waitlist tool Also see: Letter to BESE from Denise Pigeon dated 12.10.24

3Greater Lowell Technical High School, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, and Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School (Southern Worcester)

4  October 28, 2024 Special Board Meeting on CTE; November 15, 2024 Special Board Meeting on CTE; November 26, 2024 Career and Technical Education Study Committee; December 16, 2024 Career and Technical Education Study Committee; January 27, 2025 Career and Technical Education Study Committee


For the full letter including the mentioned Apendix A


Franklin Rod and Gun Club: All You Can Eat Breakfast - April 27

Franklin Rod and Gun Club: All You Can Eat Breakfast - April 27
All You Can Eat Breakfast - April 27
Because of Easter Sunday, our monthly all-you-can-eat breakfast will be held on April 27 this month.
New date, same affordable, delicious breakfast with eggs, pancakes, French Toast, sausage, home fries, baked beans, corned beef hash, and coffee/orange juice.
From 7:30 - 11:00 AM at 53 Florence St. in Franklin.

Cash only.



You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM

Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library with a Favorite Poem Reading!

"The poem that each is trying actually to communicate to us lies in the words. It is at least the words that make it articulate. It has always been so."
Favorite Poem Project™  hosted by Steve Sherlock 
Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.

Note: Poems may not be ones you or family members, or friends have written.  
Limit: Five minutes reading time.
Use the form here to sign up to read your favorite poem -> 

You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM
You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM