School Committee gets answers to their budget questions

Quick recap:

• The formal budget hearing of the proposed Franklin School budget for FY 2023 was held on Tuesday evening. In the format similar to that of the Town Council after the presentation overview, the budget was read at a line item level and members of the committee had an opportunity to "hold" the line for further discussion. The discussion began after the complete listing was read. 
• The presentation provided the overview on the budget development, timeline indicating next steps (Committee vote scheduled for Apr 12 meeting) and eventual hearings at Finance Committee and Town Council before final approval.
• I encourage folks to watch the replay (or listen to the audio). The nature of the questions were primarily concerning clarification of this or that increase/decrease and quickly answered sometimes without even referring to the thick budget book or their notes. The insights on how and why generally tied back to an objective of the district's approach to education based upon the "Portrait of a Graduate." It really was quite impressive to see the level of detail being used to answer questions as easily as it was. Only one question required a response of "Can I get back to you on that?"
• The classroom challenges today are met with approaches that are different from that of our classroom experiences, or that of our parents. The students are met where they are and helped along the way. Yes, we spend less than most other communities (either 75% or 78% spend more depending upon which measure is used) but the results we get are top quality.
• A clear indication of those student accomplishments are seen almost everyday with sports results, academic achievements, musical, or theatrical performances. We should all be quite proud of what we have. Could we do better? There is room for improvement yes, and some of the wish list was also referenced during the presentation. One community question raised this point in regards to a Deputy Principal position cut from the high school a few years ago. That role was acknowledged as being missed and is currently being made up in other ways as the district continues to evaluate how best to bring it back and what it could cost to do so.

School budget for FY 2023 (and prior)  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Budget presentation document   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fy23_public_budget_hearing.pdf

Portrait of a Graduate   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/pog_final_graphic_descriptors_.pdf

The Twitter thread of my notes and photos captured during the meeting can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/18oZq9R2K7-viFx3WMI5-lcDumfgBdpZf/view?usp=sharing

The audio of the meeting (and transcript) will be available in a day or so.
 

School Committee gets answers to their budget questions 

FM #555 - Talk Franklin - 05/28/21 (audio)

FM #555 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 555 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

Town Council budget hearings

• Two nights, over 4 hours on first night
• Budget passed

 

Maple Hill ‘right of first refusal’

 

Long term issues: housing production plan, stormwater, and school budget

• Housing Trust – June 2
• TC – June 9
• CPC – Jun 15
• FinCom - Jun 16

 Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 54 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie.

Audio file ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0833fcc5-7b20-43e0-818f-b4c6f618dec5

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Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

Housing production plan (draft) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf 

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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"

 

FM #555 - Talk Franklin - 05/28/21 (audio)

FM #554 - Town Council Budget Hearing #2 - 05/27/21 (audio)

FM #554 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 554 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council budget hearing #2 held on Thursday, May 27, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, Attorney Cerel was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The second of two budget hearings for the FY 2022 town budget. This session runs less than the first night (only an hour and 43 minutes) as the Council gets to finish up questions from the prior night, vote to approve the $138M operating budget, and take care of a couple of other legislative items.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of May 27, 2021

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b315015c-a3a1-46b2-93fe-1247595670a7

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Agenda document 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-27-21_tc_agenda.pdf 

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

My notes from the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-town-council-may-27-2021-138m-fy.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.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"

 

Superintendent Sara Ahern providing updates to the budget hearing

Town Council Budget Hearing - 4 part audio - 05/26/21 (#550, 551, 552, 553)

FM = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number #550, 551, 552, 553 in the series. 

This session shares the 4 audio parts of Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, Attorney Cerel was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The first of two budget hearings for the FY 2022 town budget.

I’ve split the just over 4 hour minute meeting into 4 logical segments:

• First - covers the opening and Information Technology, Elections, Facilities (1 and 10 mins)

• Second - covers Police, Fire (~56 minutes)

• Third - Regional Dispatch, they break for 5 minutes, just before and then for a bit, there is some audio lost due to the storm, they resume with Board of Health and Historical Museum (~35 mins)

• Fourth - covers the Schools and DPW portions of the budget. Audio is also lost as we hit 11 PM and the live stream broadcast is cut. By the time I switched back to Zoom, some was missing. (70 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of May 26, 2021

P1 of 4 - 550 => https://player.captivate.fm/episode/3eb6d75c-a338-4415-937c-02557faa4470

P2 of 4 - 551 => https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2d0f823b-2fd7-4b35-9ff0-cb8a17a9544c

P3 of 4 - 552 => https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2d0f823b-2fd7-4b35-9ff0-cb8a17a9544c

P4 of 4 - 553 => https://player.captivate.fm/episode/86c171c3-797b-458e-9071-3a59438b639a

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Agenda document 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/05-26-2021_franklin_town_council.pdf

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

My notes from the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-town-council-takes-4-hours-to.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.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"

 

Town Council Budget Hearing - 4 part audio - 05/26/21 (#550, 551, 552, 553)

Recap: Town Council - May 27, 2021 - $138M FY 2022 budget passes

Quick Recap:

• A shorter evening to close out the two night budget hearing. Not as long this time, total meeting under 2 hours.
• FY 2022 budget passes unanimously to fund the operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1 as recommended by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and already approved by the Finance Committee.
• Dr. Sara Ahern returned with answers to questions from the prior night. The answers apparently will give some council members new reading material to help with their apparent new interest in the details of the school budget, particularly in chasing down the unfunded mandates. For the record, the School Committee has held a Legislative Forum four years running to help with that topic with our legislative team (currently Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Becca Rausch and State Rep Jeff Roy). Kudos to Councilor Frongillo for recognizing that while chasing the $5M (in unfunded mandates quantified by the Schools), there is a bigger number to look at: What would take us to get us from our current per pupil spending to get to the State average? Approx. $18M. Or was the expression of interest in the schools a reflection that November is coming? Time will tell. It is too late to do much with this year's budget but as been reported here before housing, stormwater, and the school budget are the major issues Franklin faces.
• LaCantina was approved for their pouring license to help with their presence at the Farmer Market for this summer, their 6th year there.

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #tc0527

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc0527&src=typeahead_click 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album = https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUq9pC3jWZzo1mgD6

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

• Getting ready for the Town Council meeting, part 2 of the budget hearing. Weds went over 4 hours; not likely to be as long tonight. Doc with connection info https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-27-21_tc_agenda.pdf  #tc0527
• What is right with this budget? What is wrong with this budget? Please elaborate... #tc0527   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-27-21_tc_agenda.pdf 
• Meeting underway #tc0527
• Citizen comment against stormwater fee and the potential nurse proposed for Health Dept. Citizen #2 speaking on school funding needs and confusion/misunderstanding among the councilors. Thanks to Dr Ahern, had observed she wasn't treated with the respect of other -> #tc0527
• Department heads. Q on historical commission and museum. Pellegri wasn't aware of capital budget available to use (and yet she leads Capital Budget Subcommittee) withdraws her request to move amounts. #tc0527 Jones talked with HC chair about funds and not to move
• Explanation on Town Council role of school budget, only have the top line item and not detail control. One of few times for TC to discuss budget, hence questions. #tc0527 Dr Ahern hands out follow up data to councilors. Enrollment of Franklin students
• Trend on decline of enrollment seen across the schools, charter included (yes, overall population is growth is flat) #tc0527 births compared to graduation steep decrease in last 10 years. Per pupil comparison for Accept/BICO collaboratives to Franklin #tc0527
• Midpoint in comparison with the DOT communities. #tc0527 had provided a listing of such in the November budget workshop, shared that with Council. Mandates on 3rd page that were hard to quantify. Clarification on birthrates. Issue of recruiting for Tri-county/Norfolk
• Need for trades is there. Middle school students don't do tours anymore but we do have them come in to talk about the opportunity and set up visits for those interested. #tc0527 need to discuss the unfunded mandates (yes, but even if they were funded we would still need ->
• To fund more, period per state minimum requirements. #tc0527 point of record, Jones asked for this mandate last year, the schools provided it in their workshop previously. Lobbying legislation is only part of the issue. Assume we got half, we still would need to ->
• Figure out what we need to restore. Kudos to Frongillo, he just said we need to find the $18m which would get us to the state average. The $5m of unfunded is small change #tc0527 the state accounting is the same across the entire district. Can we use meritorious credit with ->
• The state? Not likely, however we should use it internally.#tc0527 citizen confused about per pupil expense, not understanding it by nature allows for comparison at a student level not the district level. Dewsnap talks for schools, Spencer talks for schools ->
• What do we value? Our values are reflected in the budget. #tc0527 Budget hearing closes. Next up license for LaCantina to add pouring samples at the Farmers Market. 31 vendors at the market this year. https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_license_transaction.pdf 6th year for LaCantina at market
• Motion to approve, second, passes 9-0 #tc0527 Moving to legislation for action - adoption of FY 2022 budget $138,564,865  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5a_license_transaction.pdf 
• Motion to approve expense limits, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5b.pdf second, passes 9-0 Limits the same as last year, no requests to increase. #tc0527
• Motion for CPA reservations, second, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5c_cpa.pdf #tc0527 Annual reserve account allocations for CPA funding which starts collection in FY 2022, and 1st disbursement likely 4Q 2022. passes 9-0
• TA report: public health nurse (RN) is required by state law, we contract out and are now working on a shared grant for a nurse for 3 years; learned from COVID-19 experience, needed more than what we had. #tc0527 Municipal building will open June 16 for meetings
• Main reason for delay us not COVID related, actually due to the construction still underway at the building #tc0527 Councilor comments: Fund established at Rockland Trust, also asking for gift cards for the fire victims. Thanks to FDP and Eileen Mason for ->
• The beautification day last weekend. Recognition of Bob Dean and work with the cable operations. Thanks to all for the work on the budget. #tc0527 thanks to the councilors for the work on this budget. Nick Gaspar 8th grade Horace Mann has cancer fund raising efforts
• Have a safe Memorial Day. #tc0527 Thanks to the town employees, long listing, for the hard work and effort during pandemic. Motion to adjourn, second, passes 9-0 that's all for tonight, Catch you next time!

Recap: Town Council - May 27, 2021 - FY 2022 budget passes