School Committee votes to increase the Superintendent's Recommended budget, to "ask for what they need" (audio)

FM #971 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 971 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: all of the School Committee members, school district personnel along with some of the public were in the Council Chambers. Some members of the public participated via conference bridge.

Quick recap:

• Recognized swimmers from the FHS girls swim team

• Heard from an update Jefferson on their "Wellness Wednesday's"

• Heard a proposal for a middle school trip during Spring break 2024 to National Parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce, & Zion). Coming back for a discussion and vote at the next meeting

• Voted to add to the Superintendent's budget proposal the $480K originally marked as 'left out'. The amendment to add this passed by 6-1 after a lengthy discussion. The overall budget passed 7-0. Next step will be the Finance Committee budget hearings on May 10. Followed by the Town Council budget hearing May 24

• During the budget discussion a creative use of Legos made a few points

• Entered executive session to hear an MOU for the FEA to which they returned to open meeting and approved by 7-0 before closing the meeting after 10 PM without extending their session per their recently changed protocol

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting April 11, 2023

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-971-fps-school-committee-mtg-04-11-23

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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-11-23.pdf

Packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting (some will be posted AFTER the meeting - per School Committee policy)

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-11-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

Middle School Trip proposal slides -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/Uii2XTG7rrrHJmmi7

District Improvement Plan update -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z2mHSCxxgU4Zut1q9

My notes captured during the meeting (in one PDF file)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Dggz5jO854jCpN33uFlNuL29hEOEJuD/view?usp=share_link 

Note the reference to the listing of reductions over the years as compiled by the District for a School Committee budget workshop. I converted the PDF to text to share with red text highlights. 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/03/what-programs-positions-were-cut-school.html

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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During the budget discussion a creative use of Legos made a few points