"To receive an award for something that you do every day and that you enjoy doing just doesn't make sense,'' said Pellegri, who helped to raise money for the town's statue of Benjamin Franklin.Read the full article in the Daily News here.
Pellegri, who also planned the town's yearly Fourth of July activities for years, said she is excited to go to the State House for the ceremony.
"My husband and I are going to hop on the train and we'll scoot into the State House for day,'' she said.
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, May 17, 2008
"we want to see this tradition continue"
You can read my notes here or listen to this segment of the meeting here.
You can read the full Milford Daily News article here.
On Teachers in Franklin
This is required reading to avoid speculation and hearsay.
Click through to read the posting here.
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Visit the School Committee override page for the schedule of information sessions
You can find all the override related information here
Friday, May 16, 2008
In the News - Closing Davis Thayer not an Option
Shutting down Davis Thayer Elementary School to save money is not going to happen any time soon, or possibly ever, says Superintendent Wayne Ogden, despite suggestions to that effect.
Closing the 16-classroom elementary school on West Central Street was one of a number of ideas raised in conversations between town and school leaders as a way to salvage some cash.
Davis Thayer, the town's oldest elementary school, aside from the one-classroom Red Brick School, was singled out because of its relatively high cost per pupil, said Ogden, compared to the district's other, newer elementary schools: John F. Kennedy, Helen Keller, Jefferson, Gerald M. Parmenter and Oak Street.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Thursday, May 15, 2008
School Committee Meeting 4/29/08
(additional segments will be posted as time allows)
- Annie Sullivan: BC Poetry Contest Winners (audio)
- Annie Sullivan: Latin Awards (audio)
- Annie Sullivan: CSI Presentation (audio)
- FHS Student Representatives (audio)
- Accepting minutes, approving bills (audio)
- Citizens Comment: Chandler Creedon (audio)
Annie Sullivan: BC Poetry Contest Winners (audio)
Time: 3 minutes, 40 seconds
MP3 File
Annie Sullivan: Latin Awards (audio)
Time: 3 minutes, 38 seconds
MP3 File
Annie Sullivan: CSI Presentation (audio)
There is a video presentation that accompanies this but the audio is still sufficient to hear the enthusiasum of the students and their project.
Time: 9 minutes, 38 seconds
MP3 File
FHS Student Representatives (audio)
Time: 2 minutes, 1 second
MP3 File
Accepting minutes, approving bills (audio)
Time: 1 minute, 38 seconds
MP3 File
Citizens Comment: Chandler Creedon (audio)
Time: 1 minute, 23 seconds
MP3 File
"we don't want to be the employer of last resort"
A group of more than 30 residents exchanged insights on the $2.8 million override question with town and school officials last night at the Knights of Columbus in the first such intimate forum planned before the June 10 vote.
Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, School Superintendent Wayne Ogden, School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy, Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche and Councilor Stephen Whalen spent more than two hours explaining the town's finances, why officials want an override, and answering the questions at a forum sponsored by Franklin Newcomers and Friends.
In his presentation of the school budget, Ogden responded to suggestions from some residents that administrators should be cut to save money.
Franklin spends less than half of the state average on administration, per pupil: $201 vs. $403 in 2007, according to information posted on the state Department of Education Web site.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
My summary of the same meeting can be found:
- Q & A - continued (live reporting)
- Q & A session (live reporting)
- Newcomer's Club - Override Information Forum
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Q & A - continued (live reporting)
A - Condominiums. Condos are actually a good deal for the town, they are taxed upon their value. They generally have less children.
Comment from a resident who teaches in Wellesley. She would love to teach here but with the cuts so frequently, she would be one of the first out the door.
Q - Why is the override only affecting the schools?
A - Jeff answers that the 1.8 million in new revenue was split and the town managed to use their portion. The safety (fire and police) got their overtime cut.
Jim Roche
The safety departments were looking for additional folks but they did not get approved in the budget. The town will suffer but it won't be as visible.
Comment: You have a bad rap, you didn't ask for enough so you don't know what you're doing. I am not hearing the buzz that I heard last year. I am hearing a lot more negative this time.
Wayne Ogden
Q - How does the charter school funding work?
A - It is a state formula but the dollars per student that the district pays is what the charter is eligible to receive. So if our funding goes up, they will benefit. If ours go down, theirs will as well.
Q - What about out of town students?
A - We only use school choice to fill spots that would otherwise be empty. Therefore there is no additional cost for us but there is additional revenue.
Q - Can we talk about re-districting?
A - It is highly likely that this will happen sometime. The large majority of the new development coming is in the Keller-Sullivan district. You already tight for space there. As the new construction comes online, this will increase the pressure to re-district and balance the school population amongst the existing facilities. One other factor is the 17 modular units that would need to get replaced in the next several years. Would we replace them or add on to an existing elementary school. There is a space needs committee working on this issue.
Q - Is the Brick school open or closed?
A - It is still in currently but it has not been fully funded. There are open classrooms at Davis Thayer that could easily absorb the classroom.
Q - The Newcomer's group is looking to use space for the meetings but the town facilities are not generally open or under consideration.
A - Jeff Nutting says that this could be discussed.
Q & A session (live reporting)
Fixed cost continue to rise above our ability to raise revenues
There is a three-year plan as part of this years budget, we get more negative each year going out.
All employees are getting modest raises, generally less than the cost of living.
"Don't beat up public employees just because the town is having financial problems"
"We talk about regionalization and every where else in the country that happens but doesn't happen here."
There is a ballot item this November to remove the State Income tax. This provides 40% of the state revenue. What would replace it? No one has answered that question.
----------------
Steve Whalen
"A town's budget is a reflection of it's values"
Steve explains how the tax rate analysis he did was done separately it is not an official town document. He did the analysis to answer the comments coming during the override discussion last year that "we can't afford it" He is a financial analyst in his work life.
The residential tax burden goes to affordability.
Being 24th out of 30, tells Steve that if we chose to, we can afford to pay more.
15th out of 17th amongst the towns with a single tax rate.
"One thing I would say to you as an analyst, the override is not about overspending and waste. It not about miss-management. It is about what kind of town you want to live in."
Based upon Steve's analysis, "it is a sensible thing to do."
After tax cost about 50 cents per day.
Newcomer - "There is a different approach this year, it is not being thrust down our throats."
Jeff Roy
"If the layoffs go through, it is a step back of some magnitude."
You are getting factual information to make a choice.
Look at Randolph and what is happening there.
Steve Whalen
OPEC and the oil countries don't care that MA has a Prop 2 1/2 in place.
If I were in Hopkinton, #4 on the listing, I would be digging into the numbers to find ways.
Jim Roche
If property values decrease, the overall taxes will not decrease, we will raise the tax rates.
Arlington plan outlined. Whether we go that way or not, we do need to go with a longer term plan.
Jeff Nutting
Q - What happened to Chap 70? Isn't that the local aid designed for the schools? Where is it going, is it going into the general town fund?
A - Yes, it is but as long as we are above the net school spending per the State, we can apply it as we need to.
Wayne Ogden
Reviewing his handout that will be used in the Town Budget meetings next week.
First chart, the State average spending category by category showing where Franklin is less than the state average in 10 of the 11 categories.
Last year, we were 9 of 11. Next year, Wayne predicts that next year if the override were to fail we will be lower than the state in all 11 categories.
Wayne walks through the numbers to get from the level service number less the town funding to get to the override number of $2.8 Million.
Use gas instead of oil to heat schools and have locked in a good rate to save money.
Impact of failed override restated as
- 17 teachers and one administrator at the High School
- 12.5 teachers at the middle schools
- 15 teachers at the elementary schools
- district wide reductions in curriculum teams, professional development, text books, late bus, increase pay-to-ride, and loss one additional administrator at the Central Office
- increase in class sizes
If a teacher gets another position, we don't pay their unemployment.
Sample teacher salaries across several communities the highest and lowest salaries are very comparable.
Q - What is the cost of the late bus?
A - $39,600. There are so many bad choices.
Q - How does the school facilities budget affect the budget?
A - It is not a money savings measure. There are more likely to be increases in future years.
Jeff Roy did find the clip of Jeff Nutting predicting last year that this year we would need approx $3 million for another override, hence his "Nostradamus" nick name.
Jim Roche
Q - I understand why we are here again this year. Mis-management is the perception.
A - The use of the surplus and the growth in Chapter 70 has allowed the town to avoid the problem. The base needs to grow substantially.
Steve Whalen
"Hard to argue that you can be a real high quality town with really low taxes."
Newcomer's Club - Override Information Forum
Jeff Nutting, Wayne Ogden, Jeff Roy, Steve Whalen, Jim Roche
Jeff Nutting opens with a general overview of Franklin
New Senior Center, Fire station (ladder truck arrives next week)
New building downtown, continuing to build the condominiums in back
Family Circle one of top 10 to raise a family
Fortune Small Business of of 10 best to start a business
Fourth of July being supported by Town to the extent that they can
Looking to improve te quality of life
Bids out to repair the outside of the library
Schools need repairs, the high school is also a challenge
Sewer rate going down, water rate going up
Continue to re-invest in the town and its facilities
Done a lot of catch up in last 6-7 years
Now try to just maintain the capital investments
and to take care of the roads, the State paid for Union St (over $1M)
redesign downtown being planned
will look at underground utilities, they are expensive
Four Corners Building sale up for Council vote next week
$2.5 Million vs. the $1 M we paid for it
Pond St land still up for consideration
Banners are not actually legal in town
trying to contain the use, Town has been guilty of violating this
--------------
Q - What about the signs over the train tracks?
A - use the sign in downtown to advertise, approval for sign comes from the Building Dept.
Q - How is revenue generated for the town?
A - business pay about 20% of our income, previously paid about 24%, the burden shifts amongst the payers but the town still collects the same amount of tax income (by law). It would be nice to collect more from businesses, but given the amount of land left, not going to change the percentage very much. There will be more re-development than new development. Local receipts fluctuate with the economy, i.e. excise taxes from auto sales. MA very reliant on property taxes. Where did last year's override money go? It is in the revenue stream, in the budget and being used. State will have a real issue in 2010 with limited options to provide local funding. The good news about Prop 2 1/2 is that the citizens decide the quality of life for the community. Most important it to get the facts and make a decision. Show up and vote.
Q - What would it take to get sidewalks on Chestnut?
A - Jokingly, slim or none. Realistically, there are other roads ahead of Chestnut on the list. Re-doing Pleasant street is estimated at costing $9.2 million. Storm water regulations are coming. Unfunded Health Insurance liability, $50 Million exposure with no plan yet.
Q - Is there a way to find out when sidewalks get fixed.
A - There is a listing at the DPW of priorities.
Q - Any thoughts of re-designing Lincoln St near the school?
A - Did put some adjustments there when it opened. There is a design on file to replace the walkway with another lane. It is designed in case it really becomes an issue. If more folks do drive their kids (i.e. with the bus fee rising).
Q - On the re-design of downtown is there a parking garage?
A - Not really foreseeable. Parking is an issue. Park at Wrentham Mall and walk a mile to the car, but downtown you want to park next to the store.
Q - What about the water ban?
A - Part of our state permit is the water ban. They determine the amount of water we can pump. We are selling less water which is why the water rates are going up?
Q - Everybody is going green, what about solar?
A - From a commercial perspective, only one location in the state forest and one up by Tri-County that would have enough wind to drive the turbine and sell electricity back to the grid.
Q - What is happening on Daniels St?
A - A new water main is going in this year, paving would be next year.
Where in Franklin? #49
A challenge this time submitted by a reader.
Where would you find this scene?
The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
Where in Franklin? Answer #48
The answer came in from two folks correctly identifying this as
Bullukian Oil on Alpine Row.
Thanks for playing!
"Some people believe school officials are not actually going to follow through"
Forty-seven teachers were given notices yesterday informing them they may not have a job this September, Superintendent Wayne Ogden announced last night.
The teachers, whose identities are not public, were told the district's budget made it impossible to promise them a job in the fall, Ogden said.
School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said it made him "sick."
"It's just painful for people who received the notices, it's their livelihood," Ogden said, noting some of the teachers have worked in Franklin schools many years.
"It's a heavy burden for them," said Ogden, who decided to warn teachers early to give them an opportunity to find other jobs.
Read the full story at the Milford Daily News here
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
School Committee Mtg Summary 5/13/08
The audio files for these segments will be posted as time permits.
Text summary of each meeting segment
Sub - committee reports/New business
working on goals for the new business administrator, Miriam Goodman
Rohrbach, can we get a MetroWest Health Survey update
to be put on a future meeting agenda
Cafasso
can we get a listing of programs that are "unfunded mandates"
Nov 18th, Nov 25th
4th is election day, 11th is Veterans day
"this is not a drill"
coincidently works out to about $2.6 million, increase in students means an increase in costs
high school enrollment will increase at a minimum of 101
17 teacher positions are projected to be cut at the high school
parents of means make make the choice after June 10th to move the students to private school to maintain a smaller class size
Sabolinski
"this is not a drill"
Roy
"This is not the way to attract and retain good teachers"
Reduction in Force - "layoff notices"
Meets the contractual notice one month early to give the opportunity to look for employment.
Identities of those individuals are not for public discussion at this time.
Action items
2. I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,306.50 from the Parmenter PCC for the following field trips:
- Grade 3 – Plimoth Plantation
- Grade 4 – Museum of Science
- Grade 5 – Freedom Trail
3. recommend acceptance of a check for $475.00 from the Keller PCC for the Kindergarten field trip to Southwick Zoo.
4. I recommend approval of the Horace Mann 7th graders to travel to Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI on June 3rd and 4th.
All items approved.
Pay to Ride - discussion only item
$39,600 cost of late bus for FY 2009
If the family pays-to-ride and goes home late, they don't pay the extra dollar for the late bus
If the family qualifies for the reduced lunch program, they don't pay for the late bus
Pay-to-Ride sign ups are required in June for next September
provides time for the bus company to prepare the number of buses required
If the override passes, no change in pricing
If the override fails, there is a proposal for a $100 increase in the fee
Ogden recommends issuing the letter with pricing based upon the successful override
with a way for families to opt out if the override fails and they choose not to pay the increase required from the failed override.
updated 8:00 PM
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Cafasso:
layman's attempt at fuel escalation clause
bus company commits to provide a set amount of services for the year in advance
with fuel costs above and below a certain price, with in a range they absorb the difference
above the range, the cost is passed on to Franklin
Are all the students using the late bus, paying when they are supposed?
Probably not, probably a small amount
Kelly:
concern over time line for notification to bus company and override results
major negotiation point is in July, other opportunities before school opens and just after school opens
GATRA is an alternative, assuming their ridership builds
It would be a slower, longer ride given the nature of their route
Rohrbach:
admits the school committee hasn't voted on a total budget
Ogden:
if you don't sign up, there is no guarantee that there will be a seat for the children if you wait
it would be better to sign up, and if necessary, withdraw
Sabolinski:
There was a significant wait list last year and some of those on the list ended up taking part of the two added buses but the families had to wait until the buses come online.
Armenio:
How late can we wait?
Ogden:
July.
Sabolinski:
Schools share the late bus
Roy:
Pure energy and bio-diesel fuel?
Ogden:
we did investigate it, does not know if it was applied for
will follow up with Mike D'Angelo
Roy:
supports recommendation to go with this years rate and appropriate language to opt out as required
English Language Learners (ELL)
presentation by Linda Waters
A review of the four year initiative
Sheltered English Immersion (SEI)
DOE had found Franklin in "noncompliance status" in 2004
not a service to teach curriculum, focused on teaching English as a language
two .5 ELL teachers, both half-time; one for elementary and one for middle school
one full time ELL teacher
close to 100 teachers with some level of training in this area
February 2008, DOE has found Franklin in "compliance" with the mandate
29 students designated as ELL
10 students designated as Former ELL (FELPs)
current languages being spoken by these students
Vietnamese, Spanish, Gujarti, Hindi, Cebuano, Telugu, Chinese, Bulgarian, Swahili, Russian, French, Arabic, Krio, and Portugese22 kindergarten students identified as possible ELL's
Lisa talking about teaching the children who have trouble with the English language
other students in the classroom are helpful providing assistance
meets with students once a week as she is only part-time
get support to the regular teachers so they can provide help
Helen talking about the same program as provided to the secondary education students
Q - Armenio
This is one of the state unfunded mandates
Q - Trahan - Help for families?
The Franklin library provides a program in English as a Second Language for adults in the community. (side note - yes, I can vouch for this program as I participate as a tutor in this program.)
Q - Rohrbach - with 22 kindergartens possible, is this a growing trend?
Yes, it is. Given the other communities nearby, it is not surprising that we will gain some of these other languages.
Q - Roy, this was a result of a statewide ballot initiative
Lisa describes how she uses photos to elicit the students involvement in building their vocabulary, disposable cameras are good for this. Link the objects to the words.
Use total physical response to build the recognition of the verb and the word.
Waters:
Social language develops very quickly with interaction amongst their peers, the curriculum language takes longer (up to six years) to develop. Many of the students are also coming into the system with little schooling in their background or sometimes large gaps in their schooling (due to civil war in their former country).
Ogden:
ELL staff have two roles, one to teach the students and one to teach the teachers
kudos to the ELL teachers and to all the staff to make this program so successful
School Committee - live reporting
-------------
minutes approved
"Mike" Raposa changed to "Tim"
bill approved to be paid
payroll approved
updated 7:04 PM
--------------
Kevin Murphy
FHS Student representative completing his Senior year
heading to Providence College to major in bio-premed
updated 7:07 PM
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Caitlin Davenport
won 1st place in her age group for the Most Original Poem
in the BC State Science Poetry Contest
---------------
"it's not true that we can't afford more"
When comparing Franklin's tax burden to those of 29 other comparable communities - neighboring towns, those near the Interstate 495 belt with a high commercial/industrial base like Franklin, and those with similar populations - Franklin fares well.
"We're still, by this measure, a very efficient town. People who talk about waste and inefficiency - I don't see any evidence of it.
"How can you have waste and inefficiency if you're spending less than all your peers? There's none," said Whalen.
In 1999, the most current available census data, Franklin's median family income was $81,826, which has almost certainly increased with the influx of professionals in recent years, Whalen said.
Franklin's median home assessment for 2008 is $411,508, putting the tax burden - (a measure based on a person's income and home value) at 5.1 percent, Whalen said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Feeley responds to McGann (audio)
Due to the protocol around Citizens Comment, Feeley could not respond at that time and waited until Councilor Comments (at the end of the meeting) to make his response.
Time: 1 minute, 42 seconds
MP3 File
New Committee to develop 5 Yr Projections (audio)
Time: 6 minutes, 4 seconds
MP3 File
Monday, May 12, 2008
Franklin School Committee Meeting 5/13/08 - 7:00 P.M.
AGENDA
Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
1. Routine Business
· Citizen’s Comments
· Review of Agenda
· Minutes:
I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 29, 2008 School Committee Meeting.
· Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
· Payroll Ms. Armenio
· FHS Student Representatives
· Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual
2. Letter from Peter Faenza
3. Letter from Rose Solbo
2. Guests/Presentations:
a. Signing of FEA Contract
b. ELL Update
c.
3. Discussion Only Items
· Pay-to-Ride Program 2008-09
4. Action Items:
1. I recommend acceptance of a check for $260.00 from Morrison Communications for the
2. I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,306.50 from the Parmenter PCC for the following field trips:
1. Grade 3 – Plimoth Plantation
2. Grade 4 –
3. Grade 5 – Freedom Trail
3. recommend acceptance of a check for $475.00 from the Keller PCC for the Kindergarten field trip to Southwick Zoo.
4. I recommend approval of the Horace Mann 7th graders to travel to Roger Williams Park in
5. Information Matters:
· Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Comparisons for April
b. 2008-2009 School Committee Schedule – Draft
c. Reduction in Force
d. Letter from Congressman James McGovern regarding Medicaid Reimbursement
· School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
· School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business:
· To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
· Contractual Negotiations
it's been an emotional and financial challenge
When Joe and Kelly Hurley's two boys were babies, the Franklin couple brought them to the pediatrician for standard shots. Like good parents, they were trying to protect their kids from whooping cough and tetanus.
Both boys suffered bad reactions to the vaccines, coming down with 104-degree fevers and rashes with ballooned cheeks, Kelly Hurley says. Now 9 and 10, one has moderate autism; the other has a non-verbal learning disorder.
Today, the family has its eye on Washington, where a federal court takes up a hot theory in the autistic community, and one the Hurleys believe: a mercury-based preservative in vaccines can trigger the developmental disorder.
there's so much need out there
Before the new senior center opened, there was one segment of the town's senior population that was getting left out: Elders who are homebound, isolated, frail or experiencing cognitive difficulties.
But that's all changing now that the Council on Aging has been able to expand in the ample new space off Oak Street, and also thanks to two grants from the Metrowest Community Healthcare Foundation and the state Executive Office of Elder Affairs totaling $34,000.
The Council on Aging is now offering an adult supportive day care program for seniors who might otherwise remain at homes or may be candidates for nursing-home care.
"The response has been really overwhelming," said COA Director Karen Alves. "And I think it's because there's so much need out there."
Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
"never become engrossed with the size of your wallet, but rather the size of your heart"
Calling it the most "amazing and frightening day of our lives,'' Dean College graduate Jennifer Carr dared the Class of 2008 to keep dreaming during Saturday's commencement.
"Never try to be perfect ... and never become engrossed with the size of your wallet, but rather the size of your heart,'' said Carr, who received a bachelor's of arts degree in dance.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
"To receive an award for something that you do every day and that you enjoy doing just doesn't make sense"
"I think you can say things constructively"
"I think you can say things constructively, without the negativity," she said. "You can say 'win this,' not 'don't lose this.' It's just your wording, and I think that you can send your message positively."This just might have something to do with the wining record for the Franklin High School Girls Softball team. The quote is from Lindsey Garfield, in her first year as coach.
Read the full article in today's Boston Globe here.