School Committee votes to approve $81M budget, now has to work to get it funded all or in part, and deal with the results (audio)

FM #1169 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1169 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in the Council Chambers. All 7 members participated; (6 in Chambers, 1 remote (Gallagher).

Quick meeting recap:

• Horace Mann Middle School provided an update on their school year , goals and objectives

• The School Committee voted for their budget totaling $81,319,261.00. Now they need to work with the Town Council to fund it all or in part and deal with the results

• Joint meeting April 24 at FHS Auditorium with Town Council and School Committee

• The School Committee voted unanimously not to accept new School Choice students for the 2024-2025 School year. Not a change, likely to be possible in future depending upon school district long term planning results available later this year (i.e. redistricting)

• Voted unanimously to adopt policy JFABB – Admittance of Foreign Exchange Students

My notes captured via Twitter are available in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nL3N1QI_hV-xrY0VllU2iZyJw4HOREcK/view?usp=drive_link 

The meeting recording runs about 90 minutes.    Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1169-franklin-ma-school-committee-mtg-04-09-24

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The Franklin TV broadcast of the session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KxgjR7dhk

School Committee agenda ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-9-24.pdf 

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

Photos of the presentation doc shared ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/PxKxwydbV64HKmFx9

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

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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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

one slide from the HMMS presentation on curriculum flow & delivery

In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk, until we lighten up with the Top 20 songs about schools (audio)

FM #1168 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1168 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, and Asst Superintendent Dr Tina Rogers on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.    

We get a brief recap of current events and the dive into the major discussion of the budget and the timeline around its final development. Information on the key questions that remain to be answered are discussed. 

Budget timeline:

• April 9 - School Committee votes on school’s budget

• April 12 - Town FY 2025 budget released

• April 17 - Finance Committee meeting

• April 24 - Joint meeting of School Committee & Town Council at FHS Auditorium

• May 6, 8, and 15 - Finance Committee budget hearings

• May 22, 23  - Town Council budget hearings

We close on a lighter note with discussion and laughter around the Top 20 songs about schools .https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEq1QElhBShhGAMjH-S_uEceAfNPftlC/view?usp=drive_link 

Our conversation runs about 55 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---April-3--2024-e2i7jh3/a-ab5fial

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Contact info: for Jamie & Amy -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator 

Contact info for Lucas ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent 

and Tina ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/office-teaching-and-learning 

Town Budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials 

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk

FHS Theater Co shares T-co Topical - episode 2 (audio)

"It’s finally back: episode two of the T-co Topical is out now! 

On this episode, we discuss our final production of the season, Peter and the Starcatcher! 

Additionally, we look back on Legally Blonde and Flowers for Algernon, look forward to the Ocean State Star Awards, and get ready for our next adventure as FHSTC!"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C5YaSF8OGmO/

FHS Theater Co shares T-co Topical - episode 2 (audio)

Arts & Culture report discussed, new Arts & Culture Director introduced in the session Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (audio)

FM #1167 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1167 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Arts & Culture Subcommittee of the Town Council as they released their final report on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.  The meeting was held at the Council Chambers and broadcast by Franklin TV via cable (Verizon & Comcast), as well as Zoom and live stream to YouTube.   

Chair Cobi Frongillo, members Melanie Hamblen and Ted Cormier-Leger.

Cory Shea, new Director of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy introduces what she is up to in her early days here.

The meeting runs about 45 minutes (brief tech difficulty in the opening minutes with an echo was resolved).     Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1167-franklin-town-council-arts-culture-subcmte-mtg-04-03-24

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Franklin TV recording on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPz7IPBOqAc 

Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1._arts_culture_20240130_170221_0000.pdf 

Arts & Culture subcommittee report -> https://www.franklinculture.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif596/f/uploads/arts_culture_20240403_195555_0000.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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Arts & Culture report discussed, new Arts & Culture Director introduced

Audio Recording of the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning meeting of April 3, 2024 available (audio)

FM #1166 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1166 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.  The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room and recorded by Franklin Matters.    

The meeting runs about 58 minutes   Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1166-comprehensive-school-facility-planning-mtg-04-03-24

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Meeting agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1._arts_culture_20240130_170221_0000.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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Audio Recording of the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning meeting of April 3, 2024 available (audio)

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

FM #1164 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1164 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The list of articles we drew from:

• Nature article - Are we all doomed? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00790-6  
• Office of Energy Transformation https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-establishes-nations-first-office-of-the-energy-transformation 
• False info from activists on whale impact for wind power https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/25/science/activists-use-whales-to-fight-wind/ 
• MBTA to improve battery/electric efforts  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/24/metro/battery-powered-improved-service-could-be-coming-to-ts-commuter-rail-in-2027/ 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 37 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1164-making-sense-of-climate-41-03-26-24    

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** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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" 

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

Audio recording of the Franklin, MA Board of Health Meeting conducted April 3, 2024 (audio)

FM #1165 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1165 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Board of Health Meeting conducted on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.  The meeting was held at the Municipal Bldg and conducted in a hybrid manner. Chair Bridgit Sweet was remote. Members Jeff Harris and Kim Mu-Chow were in the room with the Health Department personnel.  

The meeting runs about 23 minutes.    Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1165-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-04-03-24

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Board of Health page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department 

Meeting agenda ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_4.3.24_-_google_docs.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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Audio recording of the Franklin, MA Board of Health Meeting conducted April 3, 2024 (audio)