NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

Why are so many school districts faced with funding issues this year? 

There is a common thread and it points to a flaw within the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funding model. Yes, the model that was redesigned in 2019 to add more funding to the schools in need but some have identified a technical issue in the formula as summarized in this article:

"Fix the funding flaw

A not common alliance is calling on education officials to fix a calculation in Chapter 70. That group, Novick’s MASCA, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts created a FAQ to explain how inflation of the last two years, between 7% and 8 % is a factor.

"... the [Chapter 70] law caps the annual inflation adjustment of the foundation budget at 4.5 percent," the FAQ said. "As a result, districts did not receive funds to cover a significant portion of inflation that they had to pay for in expenses.”

The way the Chapter 70 formula originally worked, the FAQ said, “that would not be a long-term problem because the lost inflation would automatically be added back into the foundation budget in the following year. But a technical change made almost a decade after the law was passed inadvertently changed that. Now when the cap reduces aid below the level needed to keep pace with inflation, that reduction is locked in forever and reduces future aid.”

Continue reading the New England Public Media article online -> https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2024-04-25/massachusetts-schools-need-more-funds-some-point-to-flaw-in-education-finance-law

Thanks to Mass Municipal Association for the pointer to the article ->

https://twitter.com/massmunicipal/status/1783926637169442860

NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

In this Chalkboard Chat, we recap 3 meetings on 1 busy night (audio)

FM #1140 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1140 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and Vice Chair Dave McNeill. We had our conversation virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. 

The School Committee had their regular meeting and two subcommittee meetings before that on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. We take one meeting at a time to provide a recap. 

The recording runs about 43 minutes so let’s listen to my “chalkboard chat” with School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and Vice Chair Dave McNeill. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1140-chalkboard-chat-callaghan-mcneill-01-16-24

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net 

Contact info for Dave McNeill -> mcneilld@franklinps.net

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

1/16/24 meeting Agenda doc  ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/1-9-24-agenda 

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/january-9-2024-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Franklin TV video for replay ->  not yet available but will be found in the YouTube playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNyv0AkVasIR_a80hAfFnQoFngebCICow 

Audio & notes for the budget subcommittee meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/school-committee-budget-subcommittee.html 

Audio & notes for the MASC superintendent review workshop

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/school-committee-takes-masc-workshop-on.html 

Audio & notes for the regular meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/school-committee-hears-about-oak-st-fhs.html 

The “Chalkboard Chat” image was the result of a joint collaboration with Mickayla Callaghan. Thank you!

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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"

In this Chalkboard Chat, we recap 3 meetings on 1 busy night (audio)

School Committee takes MASC workshop on Superintendent Evaluation (audio)

FM #1133 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1133 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee MASC Workshop held on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. 

Chair Dave Callaghan opened the meeting. All of the School Committee members were present along with Superintendent Lucas Giguere. Chair Callaghan introduces Tracy Novick, the MASC Field Director responsible for Franklin.  

Quick recap:

• Discussion on the evidence required to make the assessment is critical, this is not a one and done thing. The goals and accomplishments are intertwined with everything happening during the year

• How are the standards rated, all equal, or should one be ranked higher than the others? Not normal but possible. Goals within 3 areas, professional practice, district improvement, student Learning

• Evaluation can be complex as superintendent is evaluated as the lead of the district and yet many others are the ones working and providing the outcomes for which Superintendent Giguere is reviewed

• Supt Giguere steps in to share his goals already approved for which he'll be evaluated on, the format and outcomes help make sense of the work Ms Novick was outlining

• Subcmte members for the evaluation of Supt are McNeill, Sompally and Griffith. Web site needs to be updated

The recording runs about 48 minutes, so let’s listen to the School Committee MASC Workshop of Jan 9, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1133-school-committee-masc-workshop-01-09-24

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Photo album of slides captured -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/MzjHT5drBb5FThBF7 

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HFeFypEC87nSdVamYazqgVa53APZ0J_f/view?usp=drive_link

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

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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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

School Committee takes MASC workshop on Superintendent Evaluation (audio)

School Committee has a busy Tuesday evening; Budget Subcmte, MASC Workshop, & then regular meeting

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - 5:30pm

• Franklin Public Schools Budget Sub Committee Meeting

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fps_budget_sub_comm.pdf

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - 6:00pm

• School Committee MASC Workshop Agenda

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/school_committee_masc.pdf

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - 7:00pm

• School Committee Meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_1-9-24.pdf

School Committee has a busy Tuesday evening; Budget Subcmte, MASC Workshop, & then regular meeting

This Chalkboard Chat recaps the School Cmte MASC Workshop & the Nov 28 School Cmte Mtg (audio)

FM #1113 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1113 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Monday, December 4, 2023. 

Two key topics for this conversation were recapping the MASC Workshop on Monday (11/27/23), and then the School Committee meeting on Tuesday (11/28/23). 

The recording runs about 28 minutes so let’s listen to my “chalkboard chat” with School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1113-chalkboard-chat-with-dave-callaghan-12-04-23

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan  callaghand@franklinps.net 

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

MASC Presentation document -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iS3oQAk96xVk-SKYLo8iAgashzFASHvT/view?usp=drive_link 

Audio recording of the workshop ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/school-committee-participates-in-masc.html 

11/28/23 meeting Agenda doc  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-for_0289625050.html   

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/november-28-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J9NdQCWqlM

My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dKDfMFeUK43g70Li6XbLlhdVssSKLZAv/view?usp=drive_link

The “Chalkboard Chat” image was the result of a joint collaboration with Mickayla Callaghan. Thank you!

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

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"

This Chalkboard Chat recaps the School Cmte MASC Workshop & the Nov 28 School Cmte Mtg (audio)

School Committee participates in MASC Workshop on Roles & Responsibilities (audio)

FM #1105 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1105 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee MASC Workshop held on Monday, Nov 27, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. 

Chair Dave Callaghan opened the meeting. Six of the seven School Committee members were present along with Superintendent Lucas Giguere, School Business Manager Dr Bob Dutch, Asst Supt for Student Services Paula Marano, and Asst Supt for Teaching & Learning Dr. Tina Rogers.

Chair Callaghan introduces Tracy Novick, the MASC Field Director responsible for Franklin.  (MASC = Mass Assoc of School Committees)

 

The show notes contain a link to the presentation copy so you can follow along.

The recording runs about 85 minutes, so let’s listen to the School Committee MASC Workshop of Nov 27, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1105-fps-school-committee-masc-workshop-11-27-23

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MASC Presentation document -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iS3oQAk96xVk-SKYLo8iAgashzFASHvT/view?usp=drive_link 

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

School Committee participates in MASC Workshop on Roles & Responsibilities (audio)