The disappearing Franklin Public Schools Music Department

Thanks to Jamie Barrett, local musician and teacher, for sharing these photos. A picture sometimes makes the case better than words.

The Franklin Public School Music Department 2 years ago

Music Department 2 years ago: 2022-2023

The Franklin Public School Music Department last year

Music Department this year: 2023-2024

The Franklin Public School Music Department this year

Music Department this year: 2024-2025

Franklin Public Schools (FPS): 2024-25 Back to School Welcome and Checklist

screenshot of phone app item

Yes, the Franklin School District has a new website and a new Mobile app (iPhone & Android only - not optimized for tablets). 

School district info is being added, adjusted, and updated as we write this. There will be growing pains, that is inevitable with any webpage. Trust me, I've been involved in more than a few and lived with this one for 18+ years.

Key item: There is a new update to be aware of:  2024-25 Back to School Welcome and Checklist

Find the update directly here ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IHqoHQ9eixoJUiv8yJSXPRgrDHESgPU3/view

Two Franklin Public Schools Employees Receive Awards

Superintendent Lucas Giguere is pleased to share that two Franklin Public Schools employees, Carlos Rebelo and Colin Boisvert have recently received awards for their work in the District.

"We are very fortunate to have both Carlos and Colin as part of our Franklin Public Schools community," said Superintendent Giguere. "Congratulations to both on their well deserved recognitions!"

Carlos Rebelo - Highway and Grounds Superintendent

Rebelo received the Professional Manager of the Year for Facilities and Grounds award from the American Public Works Association. Rebelo has worked for the Town, serving the Franklin Public Schools for 15 years. Rebelo oversees all school grounds, including turfs, fields, hardscapes and landscapes.

"I have been fortunate throughout my years to be surrounded by just a great group of professionals that I also consider my work family," said Rebelo.

Colin Boisvert - Food Service Director

Boisvert received the Food Service Director of the Year award from the School Nutrition Association. The Director of the Year award recognizes school nutrition directors for the contributions they have made throughout their school nutrition careers. Boisvert has served in his current role as Food Service Director since 2016 in the Franklin Public Schools. He has grown the program and has an extremely talented staff that is willing to try new products and ideas with the students.

"I am so honored to have been awarded Director of the Year for the State of Massachusetts," said Boisvert. "It is such rewarding work to provide nutritious meals for students. I am so proud of our program and the dedicated staff that work hard everyday to ensure every student has a meal."

 

 

Two Franklin Public Schools Employees Receive Award

Franklin School District names the principals for the new Elementary and Middle Schools

“Dear FPS Community,

I am writing with three important updates related to the implementation of the School Facilities and Educational Master Plan for the 2025-26 school year.  As previously shared, we conducted an selection process of internal candidate for the purposes of appointing principals for the 2025-26 school year. These changes do not apply to the 2024-25 school year.  

 

We are pleased to announce the appointment of the following principals to their new positions for the 2025-26 school year:

North K-5 Complex- Lincoln Street

• Mrs. Keri Busavage has been appointed as the principal of K-2 North Elementary
• Mr. Brad Hendrixson has been appointed as the principal of 3-5 North Elementary

South K-5 Complex - Washington Street

• Mrs. Stefani Wasik has been appointed as the principal of K-2 South Elementary
• Mr. Evan Chelman has been appointed as the principal of 3-5 South Elementary

Central 6-8 Middle School - Oak Street

• Mr. Craig Williams has been appointed as the principal of 6-8 Central Middle School

Each of these leaders brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role. We are confident in their abilities to unify our newly established school communities, develop school culture, foster positive learning environments, inspire a vision for academic success, and support the well-being of our students, staff, and families.  Please join us in congratulating our new principals and extending our gratitude to all our leaders for their dedication and hard work. 

Please find more information about the Phase I, June 2024 School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Implementation Status Update. You will find information about completed, ongoing, and pending work here. We will continue to share updates as they become available.

We appreciate your ongoing support as we work together to create the best possible educational environment for our students with the resources we have available.

  
Respectfully,
Franklin Public Schools”

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aSpWHYBjnWvUQbD/

Franklin School District names the principals for the new Elementary and Middle Schools

Franklin Public Schools Message on Override Outcome 6/11/24

Dear Franklin Community,

Thank you to the Franklin voters who took the time to vote today. Unfortunately, the requested Proposition 2 ½ override did not pass, and we must implement program and service cuts as previously communicated.

While this outcome presents significant challenges, we remain dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education. We will continue to prioritize our resources and make the most of the approved budget to ensure our students have every opportunity to succeed.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent

Franklin Public Schools

If you didn't hear about the results, they can be found here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/unofficial-results-franklin-ma-special.html

Franklin Public Schools Message on Override Outcome 6/11/24

A failed override vote on June 11 will lead to Cuts to the Music Program

A failed override vote on June 11 will lead to Cuts to the Music Program

VOTE YES!

If not passed, we will lose:

• Middle School Orchestra

• Middle School Chorus

• 6th Grade Band

• Franklin High School Theatre

• A total of 7 out of 12  Performing Arts Teachers

"It takes one year to kill a music program and 10 to build it back, if ever."

KEEP THE AWARD WINNING ARTS ALIVE IN FRANKLIN!

Franklin Public Schools Wellness Advisory Council Recognized for Completing MA SWITCH Program

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Tina Rogers are pleased to share that Franklin Public Schools was recognized for completing the School Wellness Initiative for Thriving Community Health (SWITCH) Massachusetts Wellness Coaching Program.  

On May 21, Franklin Public Schools School Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC) was recognized at the Healthy Kids, Healthy Programs Summit by the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education and Secondary Education (DESE). The District also received a large banner outlining the recognition that will be displayed on the fencing of the Oak Street Complex.

Franklin Public Schools Wellness Advisory Council Recognized for Completing MA SWITCH Program

The SWITCH program is a statewide initiative for supporting and advancing wellness efforts for Massachusetts students, schools and communities.
 
Members of the council worked to conduct a Wellness Policy Assessment, updating the policy to meet state and federal requirements, as well as action planning, prioritizing and implementing wellness initiatives and monitoring and evaluating results.

"I am very proud of our council members on this great accomplishment for our District," said Superintendent Giguere. "In our schools, we are dedicated to providing students with the top wellness practices, allowing for academic success and overall student performance."

The SWAC was created in 2013. It was established to recommend, review and help implement school district policies addressing school nutrition, nutrition education, physical activity and related issues that impact student health. The SWAC meets monthly and includes representation from students, parents, FPS staff, School Committee members and administrators from across the district developing programs that actively promote wellness in schools and maximize opportunities for grant awards.

The SWAC was selected to participate in DESE's two-year coaching model. The first year focused on evaluating and then revising Franklin's Wellness Policy using the WELLSAT Scorecard. The second year focused on implementing the policy.

Many community members have participated in SWAC over the years. Currently, the committee is chaired by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tina Rogers and members include, Director of Food Services Colin Boisvert, Director of Life Long Learning Pattie Gay, YMCA Coordinator Krystina Edens, FHS Nurse Melissa Conroy, Community Member Elise Stokes, School Committee Member KP Sompally, Public Health Nurse Alisha Deptula,  Health and Wellness Director Kristin Letendre Smith, parent Stacey Federico,  Associate Director of Franklin Food Pantry Laura Doherty and three Franklin High School students.

On behalf of SWAC, "The SWAC Committee is fortunate to have built connections with many community partners. These relationships strengthen our initiatives by expanding our reach and providing support from businesses and organizations. We are grateful to these businesses and organizations for their support of education in Franklin."

SWAC will host a table at the June 14 Franklin Farmers' Market.

Franklin Public Schools FY 2025 Budget Summary

Dear FPS Staff and Community,

As you know, on April 9th, the Franklin School Committee approved a budget representing what we have termed "Level Service Plus." A Level Service Plus Budget allows us to maintain current staffing levels and provide additional staff to maintain optimal class sizes and caseloads. On May 22nd, the Franklin Town Council approved an appropriation less than the School Committee's recommended budget.  This means there is not enough funding to support the requested budget for current services and staffing in the next year (FY25). Staff, resources, and programming reductions are required to meet this budget appropriation in case of a failed override on June 11th. 

The reductions outlined reflect the necessary adjustments to address the financial realities and constraints in the event of a final budget that is less than the requested amount required for Level Service Plus, as outlined in budget documents found on our website. 

With a less-than-level service budget, 37 positions will be eliminated, including teachers, educational support personnel, administration, and non-union staff, necessitating the district to prioritize educational needs.  Over the past two weeks, we have identified and detailed the specific reductions required below, along with associated impacts. This will lead to significant changes in various educational areas. 

The following ten budget impact areas will explain how these budget decisions will affect our schools, staff, and students.

1. Elementary and Middle School — Reducing elementary classroom teachers will result in increased class sizes, with multiple sections at or over recommended guidelines and sections at or above 24 students. Reductions in curriculum specialists will impact elementary tier 2 support for math and literacy, curriculum and assessment development, and classroom support. Middle school tier 2 reading support will be reduced.  Reducing library support will result in limited access to elementary and middle school libraries, with school libraries being closed on certain days of the week.
2. High School Offerings — Reducing high school teachers will increase class sizes with sections at or above 26 students. Courses that are graduation requirements will be prioritized over elective offerings in all subject areas, resulting in elective offerings being reduced or eliminated. These elective reductions and eliminations include, but are not limited to, courses such as Creative Writing, Computer Science, Astronomy, Robotics, Botany, Forensics, Early Childhood Education, Kinesiology, and AP offerings in all subject areas. Juniors and seniors will have priority in AP course selections, displacing and potentially eliminating sophomore AP experiences. 

Fewer elective options will result in more students being placed in classes they did not select to fill their schedule or directed studies. The number of lab experiences in lab science courses will be reduced. 

1. Support Services — Reductions in counselors and social worker support services affect student caseloads, leading to reduced counseling staff intervention, prioritizing those with the most needs, and impacting our ability to support students and families proactively.
2. World Language Programs — Reductions in World Language programming at the middle school will reduce students' early exposure to Spanish, consequently impacting students' opportunities to take higher-level Spanish classes in high school. Latin one and AP Latin will be eliminated, leading to the eventual elimination of Latin as a language option in future years.
3. Music and Arts Programs — Reductions in music and arts programs will eliminate orchestra and chorus in middle schools. The middle school band will be significantly reduced, limiting the number of students accessing the program. Participation in competitions and festivals will be significantly reduced and may be eliminated altogether. High school theater courses will be eliminated. There is a possibility of offering theater after school, but this will limit the opportunity for students to participate in festivals. Art electives at the high school will also be reduced.
4. Wellness and Physical Education Programs — Reductions in physical education programs will increase class sizes in wellness and physical education. Freshmen and sophomores will be restricted from taking wellness/PE electives, and athlete access to PE electives will be limited. 
5. Extracurricular Activities — In addition to the previously cut middle school extracurricular activities, many high school extracurricular activities will also be eliminated or reduced.  
6. Administrators and non-union staff — Reducing two administrators, redistributing responsibilities of current administrators among schools, and reductions to central office non-union staff.
7. Operational Adjustments — Increasing all fee and tuition-based programs, self-funding athletics, and reducing all school supply budgets by 25%, reducing the Office of Teaching and Learning budget to reduce professional learning opportunities for educators, curriculum resources for students, and curriculum committees, educational software, and stipends. Reducing activity monitors and educational Interventionists decreases time supporting students.  
8. Staff Transfers — Staff transfers due to eliminated positions can create a cascading effect on less senior staff members at various grade levels based on seniority.  

We will continue to navigate these challenges while remaining committed to providing the best possible education for our community with the resources we have. However, these reductions will significantly impact our students, staff, and the overall quality of education. 

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools FY 2025 Budget Summary

FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report

May 10, 2024

 

Dear FPS Community,

 

This is a follow-up to the FPS Comprehensive School Facilities Analysis recommendation presented to the School Committee on April 30th. Based on the questions we received from the community, we created a Comprehensive School Facilities Recommendation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) linked to the FPS website to answer as many questions as possible at this time. 

 

Thank you to all who submitted your questions. The FAQ is categorized under the following topics:

1. Process

2. Community

3. Student Support

4. Transportation/Traffic

5. Budget

6. Facilities

7. Human Resources

8. Other

We will continue to update the FAQ with additional responses and provide more information as it becomes available.  As previously shared, some information can only be determined if the recommendation from the architectural firm and master planner is approved.  In addition to the FAQ, please find the FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report linked on our FPS website. 

 

We recognize these options result in significant change within the district.  The recommendations from the architectural firm and master planner were put forth with great respect and consideration for the educational experience of all Franklin students. Our goal is to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of enrollment, resources, and opportunities while striving for the most modern facilities to support our students' growth and development.

 

Maintaining students' connectedness to school and community remains paramount. Should the school committee vote to approve the recommendation, you can anticipate routine updates regarding the next steps and future community engagement opportunities throughout the process. The district is also drafting a preliminary implementation framework that expands upon the recommended timeline guided by master plan recommendations.   

 

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Facility Master Plan Report ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/franklin_public_schools_school_facilities_and_educational_master_plan_report_redacted11.pdf

FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Subcommittee - Agenda for May 14 meeting

FRANKLIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Policy Subcommittee Meeting

DATE: 5/14/24 TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Location: Municipal Building – 3rd Floor Training Room

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.”

I. Attendance -

II. Distribution of Approved Policies

A. JFABB - Admittance of Foreign Exchange Students

III. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. None

IV. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

A. EFD: Meal Charge Policy

B. EFD-R: Meal Charge Policy and Procedure

C. JQ - Student Fees, Fines and Charges

D. EEA - Student Transportation Policy and Eligibility

E. KF-E3 Facilities Rental Fee Schedule

F. KF-E4 FHS Fee Schedule

G. KF-E5 FHS Grounds Fee Schedule

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/5_14_24_policy_subcommittee_agenda_.pdf

 

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Subcommittee - Agenda for May 14 meeting

Middle school program on Technology/Social Media at Horace Mann, Mar 26 at 6 PM

Technology/Social Media

"For parents of middle schoolers at HMMS (and I’m sure they’re happy to have all middle school parents interested).

Technology/Social Media Info Night with Officer Ayer, Tuesday 3/26 at 6pm

Officer Ayer and Principal Motte will be hosting an evening event for HMMS parents/guardians to learn more about the impacts of technology and social media on the lives of the middle school student. We will provide some information on what we are seeing in our roles as Principal and School Resource Officer, and will provide resources for parents to stay informed. 

We hope this can be an opportunity to share our experiences, raise awareness, and identify ways we can work together to help our middle schoolers live healthy lives. This event will take place in the HMMS Library."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/dnxX8qFYeLEVBi74/

Franklin Public Schools Announce Upcoming Musical Performances, Highlights Music Program

Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere, 355 East Central St. Franklin, MA 02038 Franklin Public Schools Announce Upcoming Musical Performances, Highlights Music Program FHS orchestra students. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools) FRANKLIN — Superintendent Lucas Giguere and K-12 Music Director Diane Plouffe are pleased to share information about the Franklin Public Schools Performing Arts program and upcoming musical performances. The FHS music program provides a variety of musical and theatrical opportunities to all students in grades K-12. Students gain a strong foundation through singing and playing recorders and ukuleles beginning in fourth and fifth grade. Beginning in the sixth grade, all students are offered the opportunity to learn to play a band or orchestra instrument, or sing in the chorus. Students participating in a school ensemble have three performance cycles per year: December, March and May/June. Students are currently preparing for the upcoming Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) State Music Festival.   "The MICCA Concert Festival encourages the improvement of an ensemble's musical standards by providing musical adjudication by highly qualified judges," said Plouffe. "Attendance at a festival also affords organizations an opportunity to hear performances by other groups and experience the presentation of a wide variety of musical literature." Prior to the festival, on Tuesday, March 12, 200 students will perform in the upcoming All Town Chorus and Orchestra concert. On the following Wednesday, March 13, the All Town Band concert will take place, featuring over 250 students. Both concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the FHS Auditorium. Admission for both shows is $5 at the door and all proceeds will go to Franklin Music Boosters. FHS students also recently auditioned for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA). There were 17 FHS students in the music program who were accepted into the Central District Honor Ensembles and 21 middle school students accepted into the Junior Festival. Music students attend one state festival per year, consistently earning silver and gold medals. Additionally, students who are looking for more performance opportunities may elect to perform in chamber music recitals, jazz band concerts, community service performances, musical theatre performances or audition for honor ensembles such as the Central District and All State Music Festivals. In addition to in-school classes, the tuition based Lifelong Music Academy is an after school music program offering private lessons and jazz band at each middle school and the "Footlighters," which is a middle school musical theater club. FHS has a full schedule of performance and non-performance musical opportunities for students throughout the year. Non-performance classes include: Music Production I, II, III, Podcasting, Music Theory I, AP Music Theory, Guitar, Piano, History of Rock and Rock Band. All students who elect to participate in the wind ensemble, concert band, orchestra or chorus perform in three main concert cycles; one in December, March and May.  "Our schools' music program is a journey of exploration and expression for our students." Plouffe said. "Through engaging lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and community performances, we are fostering a love for music and nurturing the next generation of musicians."  FHS students performing in a jazz combo at a recent concert. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools) A message from Franklin Public Schools John Guilfoil Public Relations, P.O. Box 22, Georgetown, MA 01833, United States, (617) 993-0003

Franklin's Three Middle Schools Receive Grant to Support STEM Career Learning

 

Superintendent Lucas Giguere is pleased to announce that the Remington Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School and Annie Sullivan Middle School recently received grant funds from the One8 Foundation to offer an expanded curricular program from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) to support STEM career learning.

The One8 Foundation collaborates with partners to identify, support and scale high impact programs, like PLTW, to help schools and teachers prepare students for success.

PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers through coursework in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Franklin's three middle schools join more than 12,000 schools across the country offering PLTW programs to millions of students.

“Receiving these grants gives us the opportunity to realize what we imagine for our students," said Director of Curriculum STEM Eric Stark. "By expanding our partnership with the One8 Foundation, our computer science and STEM teachers will join a nationwide community of educators, and our students will gain access to an engaging and rigorous curriculum and high-quality instructional materials."

The grant funds will be used to implement three PLTW Gateway units for the first time in Franklin Public Schools. In the first unit offered, Design and Modeling, students will discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They will be challenged to use and apply what they have learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

"We are so excited to be a part of this partnership with Project Lead the Way for the first time,” Superintendent Giguere said. "We are looking forward to seeing our students participate in these programs and how they can apply their skills across the computer sciences, shaping them for real-world experiences."

The second unit that will be offered is Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. Students will discover computer science concepts and skills by creating personally relevant, tangible and shareable projects. Throughout the unit, students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that bring their physical designs to life.

The third unit that will be offered is called App Creators. This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society. Students will customize their experience by choosing a problem that interests them in the areas of health, environment, emergency preparedness, education, community service and school culture.

Funds from the grant will also support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in PLTW courses. In addition, as a school with PLTW programming in Massachusetts, each school will have access to a regular set of teacher professional learning opportunities, student project showcases, and connections to industry professionals offered by the Mass Learning Project and the One8 Applied Learning Hub.

“Students are hungry for experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning to solve real-world, meaningful problems," said One8 Foundation President Joanna Jacobson. "Providing equitable access to hands-on applied learning programs that deliver academic gains while building critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills ensures students are engaged and interested in school and prepared for success in this ever-changing world."

About Project Lead The Way

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the country. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW's teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning.

Giguere, Rogers, Stark & Frazier talk about teaching & learning, and the curriculum review program (audio)

FM #1125 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1125 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Dr Tina Rogers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning; Eric Stark, Director of Curriculum STEM; and Dr Tim Frazier, Director of Curriculum ELA & SS. We had our conversation in person at FPS Central Offices on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. 

At a high level our topics were:

• Instructional design

• Emphasis on professional learning

• Universal design for learning

• Capturing & analyzing the Data 

• MCAS just one data point, use of summative & formative 

• Curriculum review program

The recording runs about 38 minutes so let’s listen to our conversation on teaching and learning in the Franklin School District. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1125-franklin-public-schools-teaching-learning-discussion-12-13-23

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Superintendent’s page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent 

Teaching & Learning page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/office-teaching-and-learning 

Teaching & Learning update to School Committee as referenced ->

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/november_28_2023_otl_assessment_presentation.pdf

EduSpeak glossary -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent/pages/eduspeak-glossary-educational-terms-acronyms 

School Committee meeting recap of 11/28/23 session -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/school-committee-hears-from-parmenter.html 

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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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Giguere, Rogers, Stark & Frazier talk about teaching & learning, and the curriculum review program (audio)