The School district calendar is found https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26
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, June 29, 2024
What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, June 29, 2024?
The School district calendar is found https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26
Franklin Public Schools: Revised FY25 Budget Update as of 6/28/24
● Restore elementary school educator positions in the following areas ($340,000)○ Kindergarten teachers (2.0 FTE) - larger-than-optimal class size○ Grade 5 (1.0 FTE) - larger-than-optimal class size○ Strive Teacher (1.0 FTE) - larger-than-optimal class size● Partially restore elementary instructional intervention supports in the following areas: ($180,000)○ Specialists (2.0 FTE) - support tier 2 intervention for students, curriculum and assessment implementation, new report card implementation
● Restore middle school educator position in the following area: ($190,000)○ Music (1.0 FTE)- reinstate the chorus program○ Reading Specialist (1.0 FTE) - reinstate tier 2 support for students
● Restore FHS educator positions in the following areas: ($340,000)○ Business (1.0 FTE) - increased student demand and the requirement for Financial Literacy and business classes○ Math (1.0 FTE) - restore AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and Introduction to Computer Science courses.○ PE/Wellness (1.0 FTE) - increase sections of required PE/Wellness classes for all students
○ Librarian (1.0 FTE) - NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation evaluates schools based on various standards. Standard 4.4 in Student Learning Support requires a qualified librarian to support curriculum delivery, student research, and information literacy.
● Partially restore educator positions in the following areas:○ Digital Learning Integrationist educator (1.0 FTE) - Supporting student data privacy, FHS technology touchview installations, upgrades and training, and elementary and middle school curriculum implementation, development, and master planning support.
● Partially restore elementary school materials and supply budgets by reducing 10% instead of the previously reduced 25%. ($85,000)● Replace outdated curriculum materials and textbooks, following a curriculum replacement cycle for elementary school courses. To finalize, further review is needed. ($40,000)● Partially restore Instructional Interventionists across five elementary schools ($30,000)● Partially restore elementary activity monitors across five elementary schools ($30,000)● Fund K-2 and 3-5 school-based committee stipends for school reorganization and master planning during the 2024-25 school year. ($24,000)
● Partially restore selected middle school educator instructional and non-instructional stipends.○ After-school clubs and activities and student support ($30,000)■ Best Buddies, Peer Leaders, Unified Basketball, Behavioral Support and Accountability, etc. If available, we will utilize the remaining funds to restore other club offerings. Further review is needed to finalize.○ Creation of after-school programs ($35,000)■ After-school Middle School Orchestra and Middle School Theater (Footlighters) programs. Further development is needed to finalize.● Partially restore middle school materials and supply budgets by reducing 10% instead of the previously reduced 25%. ($25,000)● Replace outdated curriculum materials and textbooks, following a curriculum replacement cycle for middle school courses. To finalize, further review is needed. ($40,000)
● Fund 6-8 school-based committee stipends for school reorganization and master planning during the 2024-25 school year. ($12,000)
● Partially restore selected high school educators' non-instructional stipends for activities.○ After-school clubs and activities ($40,000)■ Best Buddies, DECA, Empty Bowls, FHS National Honor Society, Science, Math, Business National Honor Society, Mock Trial, and Academic Decathlon. If available, we will utilize the remaining funds to restore other club offerings. To finalize, further review is needed.○ Creation of after-school programs ($35,000)■ Robotics and FHS Theater Company. Further development is needed to finalize.● Fund the Franklin High School Guidance Department summer hours ($35,000)○ This includes building a new master schedule and contacting students to finalize individual 2024-25 school year schedules. During July and August, our primary focus will be hiring new staff and creating new master schedules at all levels. It is estimated that the high school will take six full weeks to meet with students and build a new schedule.● Continue a cohort of YOG 2025 and 2026 FAA students into classes providing the opportunity to complete the FAA program with English and History courses.● Fund FHS 9-12 school-based committee stipends for academic program planning during the 2024-25 school year. ($12,000)● Partially restore high school materials and supply budgets by reducing 10% instead of the previously reduced 25%. ($38,000)● Replace outdated curriculum materials and textbooks, following a curriculum replacement cycle for individual high school courses. To finalize, further review is needed. ($60,000)
● Fund District committee stipends for school reorganization and master planning during the 2024-25 school year. ($14,000)● Partially restore District materials, supplies, and contract services budgets by reducing 10% instead of the previously reduced 25%. ($90,000)● Support for the Human Resources Department to assist in hiring and onboarding vacant positions and operations during the 2024-25 school year. ($40,000)
● Partially offset athletic fees for the 2024-25 school year. ($245,000)○ Distributed among sports to defray costs in coordination with the Athletic Department for the 2024-25 school year. Further analysis is needed to finalize.○ Creation of a financial assistance process for families based on their income eligibility aligned with the Free and Reduced Lunch criteria. Further analysis and development are needed to finalize.● Partial offset ECDC PreK tuition ($40,000)○ A 10% increase to PreK Tuition (instead of the previously increased 20%) for the 2024-25 school year. Further analysis is needed to finalize.
Event highlights for July 2024 at the Franklin Public Library (audio)
FM #1241 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1241 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
We talk about
Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday times
Summer hours, closed on Sundays (until Sept)
Closed on Thursday, July 4 for the holiday
Book sale weekend July 19 & July 20
Library events for June 2024
Special events
Kiddos, or “littles”
Family
Adults
The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended..
The recording runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1241-franklin-public-library-july-2024-highlights-06-26-24
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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net
Franklin Public Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library
July newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/july-2024-franklin-library-news-events
Library Calendar of Events -> http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Beaver Street Interceptor: construction updates for week of July 1 through July 5
Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI)
BSI Construction Update for the Week of July 1!
Happy 4th of July!!
Starting Monday (7/1) thru Wednesday (7/3) between 7am to 5pm, the cleaning and lining of the existing Beaver Street Interceptor will be occurring on Hayward Street from Fisher Street to the Moseley Mill. During this time by-pass pumping will be set up and should not cause any service disruptions.
At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue this week. There is a new way in and out of the Recreation Center, please follow the posted signage. During times of drop off and pickup backup onto Beaver Street may occur.
No work will be occurring on July 4th and 5th.
Please reference the interactive map below and posted signs for details and updates.
Beaver Street Interceptor: construction updates for week of July 1 through July 5
We appreciate the public's continued support and understanding and will
continue to communicate regularly via social media, our dedicated email list, and the construction map below as work progresses.
BEAVER STREET INTERCEPTOR HOTLINE: 508-553-5526
(PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AND WE WILL RETURN YOUR CALL)
EMAIL: BSI-info@franklinma.gov
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/beaver-street-interceptor
Chip sealing in process
Via the DPW:
"More preventive/improvement road surface work! This process is called “chip sealing”.
Hot emulsion (liquid asphalt) is applied to the roadway surface and then aggregate stone is added and rolled in. Once the emulsion cools and hardens, it holds the stones in place.
Excess stone is swept up during the process and the days after. This process is a very cost-effective way to extend the life expectancy of the roadway surface. It not only seals the roadway to prevent potholes, it also adds traction to the surface.
This process can only be done during a certain time of the roadways life cycle, i.e. it cannot be done if the roadway has deteriorated too much.
Many times we will crack seal or repair sub-surface problems before chip sealing."
Chip sealing in process |
Officer Frankie training session - June 27, 2028
Officer Frankie training session
Office Frankie reports on her training:
"Today we went for a ride. Mom got out and started walking away 😢🐕🦺. AND she took my SUPPER with her 🤔. I think dad was mad, cuz we then drove away! We stopped, he patted me, I kissed him. Then we went back to where mom got out ( did I mention she took my supper with her 🤯)!!!! Then dad and I went to find her (and get my supper back) 💙🐕🦺🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾. After a little bit I found her and got my SUPPER🐕🦺💙🐕🦺💙🐕🦺. Now we are home and it’s ball time. Woot woot."
Adam Grant's discussion with Yuval Noah Harari includes "the tension between justice and peace" (audio)
Adam Grant's ReThinking podcast is a regular listen for me. In this episode, the discussion around "justice" and "peace" was one of several good shareworthy points.
"Yuval Noah Harari is a historian best known for his book Sapiens, which has sold more than 25 million copies and been translated into 65 languages. Adam and Yuval examine the power of stories in shaping humanity’s success, discuss the tension between justice and peace, and reconsider the true purpose of studying history. Yuval’s latest book, Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why The World Isn’t Fair, is for young readers and it’s out now.
Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts"
Adam's podcast page -> https://adamgrant.net/podcasts/rethinking/
Friday, June 28, 2024
It used to be "Agencies have expertise in those areas; courts do not"
"Elena Kagan issued a devastating dissent to the decision of her hard-right fellow supreme court justices to overturn the Chevron doctrine that has been a cornerstone of federal regulation for 40 years, accusing the majority of turning itself into “the country’s administrative czar”.Kagan was joined by her two fellow liberal-leaning justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, in delivering a withering criticism of the actions of the ultra-right supermajority that was created by Donald Trump. Such caustic missives have become commonplace from the three outnumbered liberals, with each carefully crafted dissent sounding more incensed and despairing than the last.In a speech at Harvard last month, Sotomayor revealed that after some of the supreme court’s recent decisions she has gone back to her office, closed the door and cried.“There have been those days, and there are likely to be more,” she said."
Link to the Supreme Court decision with majority and minority opinions ->
What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, June 28, 2024?
The School district calendar is found https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26
Davis Thayer Reuse Cmte wants to keep the building, lease the land, and do something for arts & culture (audio)
FM #1240 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1240 in the series.
This session shares the audio for the Davis Thayer Reuse Advisory Subcmte meeting held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers.
The second meeting of the month, and last of the time period per the Committee Charge. This session was a more ‘formal’ review of the Expression of Interests in the building/property. Four were scheduled to present this night. Two joined together to collaborate on a single proposal.
After hearing the brief presentations from the three proposals, the committee reviewed and revised the draft report to the Council with their recommendation. The recommendations were high level (keep building, lease land, etc.) and not picking or recommending a specific proposal.
The report will be presented to the Town Council in a future meeting for the next steps (Council likely to authorize a formal Request for Proposal (RFP)) to get into the real selection process. Cost remains a driving factor, hence what can one of the proposals do with their financing and little (if any) assistance from the Town.
The recording runs about almost 2 hours, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1240-davis-thayer-reuse-subcmte-mtg-06-25-24
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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cruuseXmHqc
1. Expressions of Interest Presentations
a. 7:00 to 7:20 - Dean College combined with Camford Property Group
b. 7:20 to 7:40 - Pennrose, LLC
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/pennrose.pdf
c. 7:40 to 8:00 - HFA and TMC Properties
2. Final Recommendation to the Town Council - the draft was revised to remove "if possible", change the date from Dec to June 30, change # of proposals from 4 to 3 and approved as amended. Other typos were to be sent to Town Administrator Jamie Hellen to include in the updated version. The amended version was approved via roll call vote (one member was remote) 9-0.
a. Draft Letter https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-06-26_davis-thayer_reuse_committee_recommendation.pdf
My notes can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-v2wyKzAdoDYv68PiueotKmBFbdIeuLA/view?usp=drive_link
-------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"