Conversation with Franklin (MA) School Superintendent Lucas Giguere - 11/17/22 (audio)

FM #886 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 886 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my first recorded conversation with Franklin School Superintendent Lucas Giguere. We had our conversation in person at a Central Office conference room in the Municipal Building on Thursday, November 17, 2022. 

At a high level our topics were

• 5 months in, how are you doing?

• Student behavior, reaching out to parents & community for help

• Vaping, substance use

• Social media and critical conversations

• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) deep dive and overall program

• Redistricting approach and process has started

The recording runs about 39 minutes  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-886-franklin-ma-school-supt-l-giguere-11-17-22

--------------

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

Superintendent’s letter to parents & community ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/10_25_22_supt_report_to_sc.pdf 

Critical conversations videos ->

• Substance use and Mental Health Forum -  https://youtu.be/3CIOXT3BlMU 
• Social media - https://youtu.be/vhhfGFJkXPI 

DEI page (with link to plans, etc.) -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/diversity-equity-and-inclusion 

Redistricting page -> https://www.franklinps.net/school-committee/2023-redistricting-advisory-committee

--------------

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"

Franklin (MA) School Superintendent Lucas Giguere

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshop focuses on the sense of “belonging” (audio)

FM #884 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 884 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Public Schools Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) “Deep Dive” Workshop held at the Franklin Public Library on Saturday, November 19, 2022.   

Superintendent Lucas Gigiure and DEI Director Heidi Harris co-lead the session. Approx. 30 folks were in the room to participate. 

Much of the workshop was a review of the efforts to date, sharing definitions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the findings of the equity audit, and understanding the drive to develop a sense of “belonging.”

The equity audit was referred to multiple times as “one slice of the pie” in gathering info to develop the “Equity Action Plan to meet the needs of all learners.” Other sessions like this one will be scheduled to provide opportunity for the community to explore DEI and work toward the plan development.

Given this was a working session, the whole group sections of the meeting audio is what is shared here. There are breaks in the audio when 

• The participants found a person they did not know to introduce themselves

• The participants found another person they did not know to discuss an instance of belonging and then of feeling left out

• The table discussion to review the sticky notes written by the members providing feedback

The breaks are indicated by a few seconds of music then the group discussion resumes

The edit meeting audio recording runs about 70 minutes. Let’s listen to DEI “Deep Dive” Workshop.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-884-fps-dei-deep-dive-workshop-11-19-22

--------------

Franklin Public Schools Diversity Equity & Inclusion department page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/diversity-equity-and-inclusion 

DEI page -> https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/fps-diversity-equity-inclusion/home?authuser=0 

Equity audit (1 slice of the pie)  ->

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_equity_audit_final_report_october_2022.pdf 

DEI Plan for 2022-2023 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_plan_2022-23_for_sc_0.pdf

DEI Presentation to School Committee Oct 25, 2022 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_presentation_10_25_2022_0.pdf

--------------

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"

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshop focuses on the sense of “belonging” (audio)

Space Needs Subcmte to recommend vendor for analysis work on redistricting (audio)

FM #843 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 843 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the School Committee - Space Needs Subcommittee meeting held in the 3rd floor conference room on Tuesday, Sep 13, 2022. 

 

SubCmte Chair - Al Charles; committee members - Denise Spencer, Elise Stokes; Central office support - Supt Lucas Giguere, Business Manager Miriam Goodman

 

The meeting reviewed their analysis of the proposal received from the potential consultants for the re-districting work to be done. One vendor AppGeo stood out from the other two. Discussion on pros and cons of the vendors; recommendation to be made to the full School Committee at the regularly scheduled meeting of Sep 27, 2022. Assuming recommendation approved, the vendor contract can then be set up through Procurement and some time thereafter, work could begin.

 

They also discussed the form and wordsmithed it for use it to gather folks from the stakeholder groups (parents, teachers/staff, community, etc.) for the Advisory Committee to help this subcommittee and the vendor prepare the proposal and plan for re-districting. 

 

Communications will be key, overcommunication is not bad to ensure everyone gets the word. Aside from those on the Advisory Committee, there will be options (forums, etc.) for others to provide input, ask questions, etc. as the process develops.

 

Next meeting set as placeholder for Oct 3, 4 PM.

 

The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to the Space Needs discussion on Sep 13, 2022.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-843-fps-space-needs-subcmte-09-13-22

 

--------------

 

Meeting agenda =>    https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/spaceneedssubcom-9_13_22.pdf 

 

My notes for the meeting captured via Twitter and then combined in one PDF =>  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1edLAJ6ibNdaTAkCk_--0AIVWdvCb7MyE/view?usp=sharing 

 

--------------

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"

With Davis Thayer closed the next analysis step is to consider redistricting

FPS: Comprehensive Facility Analysis Report from Franklin Matters

Only regular School Committee in July is also Supt Lucas Giguere's first one (audio)

FM #830 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 830 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Jul 19, 2022. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers. 

School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:08 PM. This was the first official meeting for new Superintendent Lucas Giguere.

The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.

The recording runs just about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the only regular meeting scheduled for this month by the Franklin School Committee on July 19, 2022.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-830-school-committee-meeting-07-19-22

--------------

Meeting agenda

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_7-19-22_workshop.pdf 

Meeting recap and video link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/07/franklin-school-committee-welcomed-supt.html

School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF ->  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wbcgzkEbC38sNzE1z_2PBtFtfBfI6tBU/view?usp=sharing 

--------------

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"

(L-R) Business Manager M Goodman, Supt L Giguere, Dir Student Svcs P Marano

Franklin School Committee welcomed Supt Giguere and heard the FEF story in their brief meeting

Quick: Recap:

• The School Committee meeting met briefly (37 minutes) on Tuesday for their only July scheduled regular meeting
• Superintendent Lucas Giguere has hit the ground running per his update in the Superintendent's report. This was his first formal meeting as Superintendent filling in for Sara Ahern who departed for Barnstable
• Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) board members Pandora Carlucci and Roberta Trahan presented on the FEF history, their fund raising efforts, changes due to the pandemic and hope to return to a more normal operation eventually. The School District did get a grant this year and how those funds were used was shared during the session
• Very little action was reported among the subcommittee meetings due to the 'vacation'/summer schedule
• All action items were approved via the Consent Agenda although not in the bulk format the process usually affords them. They were split individually to allow committee members to abstain from individual meetings they missed, and then continued this individual approach

Minutes voting via roll call (updated)

A. Approval of Minutes

(i) I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 14, 2022 School

Committee Meeting as detailed.  (6-0-1) Spencer abstain

(ii) I recommend approval of the executive session minutes from the June 14,

2022 School Committee Meeting as detailed.  (6-0-1) Spencer abstain

(iii) I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 27, 2022 School

Committee Meeting as detailed. (7-0) 

(iv) I recommend approval of the executive session minutes from the June 27,

2022 School Committee Meeting as detailed.  (6-0-1) Callaghan abstain

My notes taken via Twitter can be found in one PDF doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wbcgzkEbC38sNzE1z_2PBtFtfBfI6tBU/view?usp=sharing

The Franklin TV video is available for viewing -> https://youtu.be/-4mgHYeNMLA

(L-R) Business Manager M Goodman, Supt L Giguere, Dir Student Svcs P Marano

(L-r) R Trahan, P Carlucci

FEF grant funded item 1

FEF grant funded item 2

FEF grant funded item 3

Special School Cmte Mtg - Superintendent Deliberation - 04/26/22 (audio)

FM #784 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 784 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Special School Committee - Superintendent Deliberation meeting held Tuesday, April 26, 2022. 

There was only one item on the agenda: Deliberation on the candidate of Superintendent of Schools - Assistant Superintendent Lucas Giguere

• The Special School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Apr 26 at 6 PM resulted in a new School Superintendent, current asst Superintendent Lucas Giguere was approved b y a 7-0 roll call vote 

• Chair Denise Spencer opened the meeting with a review of the process to date. Each member of the committee commented on the development of their decision before the vote to approve. After a brief 5 minute recess during which Chair Spencer confirmed the offer and acceptance by L Giguere, she asked for volunteers for the contract negotiation subcommittee to be formed and begin work immediately

• Meeting adjourned with a 7-0 roll call vote. Two members were remote for this and the regular meeting hence the roll call voting for all decisions (Stokes, Whitmore)

• The meeting recording runs about 22 minutes (excluding the ~5 min recess time) Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-784-special-school-committee-mtg-04-26-22

--------------

Meeting agenda->  

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-26-22_special_mtg-revised.pdf 

My notes (for the portion of the meeting I was able to attend, effectively the first 7 questions) ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/recap-school-committee-decides-on-new.html

--------------

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"

new Superintendent Lucas Giguere at the regular School Cmte meeting with FHS student science fair winners