Franklin School Cmte: Policy Subcmte Mtg - 06/24/25 (exclusive audio)

FM #1475 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1475 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Policy Subcmte meeting held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. 2 members participated in this virtual session; Chair O’Sullivan and member McNeill, Callaghan was absent.  Supt Giguere, Ops Director Boisvert, Jana Melotti and Dr Rogers represented the Central Office.

Quick recap:

• Primary discussion on this agenda is fees, recommendation to keep the current 3 tier approach with the minor adjustment of moving wrestling from Tier 3 to Tier 2, from $350 to 600, Tier 1 remains at $1000. Fees can't be reduced due to the shortage of revenue from failed override

• Athletic fees approved by 2-0-1 vote (Chair O'Sullivan & McNeill present, Callaghan absent)

• Transportation fee discussion background on how the $387 was calculated to be the base charge with a cap. 2.5% escalation built into the prior schedule. Attempting to increase/keep ridership up as part of the redistricting; 2492 registered, 2466 for past year, 16 on waitlist

• Motion to accept new fee schedule, $387, cap at 3 riders (1161) Second, passes 2-0-1

• Question on research for boosters supporting stipends for after hour clubs, etc. Research into policy, state law on what is possible, what are the rules of the road via info for support from boosters. How do we all work together on this? Yes, that can be liked into

• Question on police detail for building rentals, are we comparable to other towns? Can we scale requirements based on attendance? Yes, that can be liked into

• Motion to adjourn, passes 2-0-1 (1 absent)

The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1475-school-cmte-policy-subcmte-mtg-06-24-25/

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The meeting agenda can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242025-1792 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i6scbz2f-uqM-vwN3dIzVzXwlL8Jh7wn/view?usp=drive_link

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

Franklin School Cmte: Policy Subcmte
Mtg - 06/24/25 (exclusive audio)

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"

School Bus Registration open until June 20

School Bus Registration open until June 20

Don’t forget to register for School Bus Transportation if you haven’t already!

Registration is open now through June 20.

Visit https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/transportation/ for more information!

Chasity & Jillian share the May 2025 event highlights happening at the Senior Center (audio)

FM #1441 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1441 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Chasity Cheng, Senior Center Deputy Director and Jillian Rochat, Administrative Assistant, both with the Franklin Senior Center. We had our discussion in the Franklin Radio Studio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

 

We talk about 

• All the key event highlights for May, including

• Eat around the World - Australia

• Van and pavilion ribbon cutting May 15 at 10 AM

• Veterans breakfast May 23

• Teasers for June, including the Senior Olympics

The show notes include links to the Senior Center page, the calendar of events, and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. 

The recording runs about 39 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1441-senior-ctr-may-2025-event-highlights-04-30-25/

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Franklin Senior Center page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/583/Franklin-Senior-Center-Council-on-Aging 

May 2025 newsletter -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5446/May-2025-Newsletter?bidId= 

Senior Center calendar view (just FSC events) -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false 

Subscribe to the newsletter -> by calling 508-520-4945

Olympics musical snippet borrowed from https://archive.org/details/tvtunes_10963?

 

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

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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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 it!

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

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

Chasity & Jillian share the May 2025 event highlights happening at the Senior Center (audio)

This Chalkboard Chat condenses the School Committee meeting of April 29, 2025 (audio)

FM #1440 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1440 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion in the Studio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of April 29, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Transportation, busing sign up now active, due by June 20

• Elementary Report Cards 

• Letter of Support 

• Campus Naming Discussion

• Override discussion, vote on or before June 3; any questions, please reach out to find out

The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1440-chalkboard-chat-04-30-25/

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

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ZUcSpIZK3Ms?&t=175

Meeting agenda doc -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568671/SCAGENDA_4-29-25.pdf 

Elementary Report Cards = https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568674/Discussion_Action_A_-_Elem._Report_Cards.pdf 

Letter of Support = 

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568677/Discussion_Action_B_-_Letter_of_Support.pdf 

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/april-29%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/792078 

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

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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share, and show you what, and how we do what we do

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 condenses the School Committee meeting of April 29, 2025 (audio)

School Committee Policy Subcommittee recommends consideration of "Horace Mann Campus" (audio)

FM #1423 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1423 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Policy Subcmte meeting held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. All 3 members participated, Chair O’Sullivan, members Callaghan, McNeill.  Supt Giguere, Ops Director Boisvert, and Dr Rogers representing the Central Office.

Quick recap:

• Supt Giguere sets the stage with some background on how this topic has developed during the redistricting efforts first updated in Dec 2024, then in Jan 2025 to act on the notification to Police, Fire, and DESE on the temporary naming of the new schools operating in the buildings that remained operational in the District

• Some members of the community have misunderstood the delay in allowing the new middle school community to work to develop their identity “as the Schools doing away with Horace” which was not or ever the case, however

• Mercer - Horace Mann is a central source of civic pride and if you wrap the district around H Mann then the community will come along

• J Johnston with the story of H Keller and some of the not so good aspects of her background; Remington was president of Thompson Press and a 20 year SchCmte Member along with other committees in service of the community, definitely worthy of remembering. H Mann you know, he was all for total equality and public education, he wanted teachers trained for their position and not just someone who could do it

• Proposal for the 'campus' i.e. all of the complex including the High school to be designated as such to get ahead of the other conversations so that the Town business doesn't get distracted by this naming convention iitem

• Subcmte discussion on approval for the Central Office to move forward with the Horace Mann campus and potentially a committee to foster the honoring as it goes forward. So moved, passes 3-0 via roll call

• Transportation conundrum - previously a bus/busses included a stop on their routes to drop kiddos off at the Y, with the redistricting such could not easily be done; would likely require adding back a bus on a different slot and results in a cost estimated as low as 45K and as high as $85K. Discussion around options but none prevailed and the “conundrum” remained

• Given the timing (needing to close this session to get to the full committee meeting), the topic on a letter to support the alternative funding being discussed within the Legislature was mentioned briefly, Callaghan to add some stats from the Franklin TV deck presented earlier to the draft in hand and review further in another session

• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0 

The recording runs about 54 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1423-school-cmte-policy-subcmte-mtg-04-08-25/

 

 

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The meeting agenda can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082025-1668 

The Town Council memo as discussed -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CCDx8c4zn4ZVUr0EYQy1snpygRVLzxHO/view?usp=drive_link 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14gUGQ0N6s5bMiGwhbHegsRcxfkZUCirY/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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 Policy Subcommittee recommends consideration of "Horace Mann Campus" (audio)