Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Apr 12, 2022 (new order of business format)

Franklin School Committee

April 12, 2022 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Call to Order Ms. Spencer
Pledge of Allegiance 

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Payment of Bills Ms. Spencer
C. Payroll Ms. Stokes
D. FHS Student Representative Comments
E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations
A. FY23 Revised Superintendent’s Recommended Budget

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fy23_budget_for_sc_vote_presentation_0.pdf

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. FY23 Budget Vote
I recommend approval of the FY23 Budget in the amount of $70,216,996.00 as discussed.

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_fy23_budget_vote.pdf

B. School Choice Vote
I recommend to not accept school choice students for the 2022-23 school year as discussed.

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_b_-_school_choice_vote_0.pdf

C. Revised 2022-23 School Calendar
I recommend adoption of the Revised 2022-2023 School Calendar as discussed.

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_c_-_22-23_revised_school_calendar.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. none

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes of the March 22, 2022 School Committee Meeting as detailed.
B. Executive Session Minutes
I recommend approval of the Executive Session minutes of the March 22,2022 School Committee Meeting as detailed.
C. DECA International Competition (recurring) Field Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Miguel Carmo to take DECA students to Atlanta, GA for the International competition from April 23-27, 2022 as detailed.
D. JFK Recurring Field Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Ms. Trottier to take JFK 2nd graders to Roger Williams Park Zoo, in Providence RI on May 20, 2022 as detailed.
E. Cooperstown Field Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Zach Brown to take the FHS Baseball players to Cooperstown, NY from April 18 - 19, 2022 as detailed

VII. Citizen’s Comments

VIII. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

IX. Adjournment

 

Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-12-22.pdf

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-12-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

School Committee - Agenda - Apr 12, 2022 (new order of business format)

Pantherbook: interviews with DECA students reveal insights on the business program

Grace Tucceri writes on her interview with Aradhya Garg, elected to a state office for DECA:

"DECA at FHS has reached a new height this year. 87 exceptional students went to States, with 27 state finalists and an additional 24 of them placing in the Top 5, qualifying for the International Career Development Conference. Even more impressive, Aradhya Garg, a junior at FHS, got elected as a state officer for Action Team 64. I interviewed him about the experience and his future goals."

Continue reading the article ->

https://franklinpanthers.us/uncategorized/2022/03/28/student-spotlight-aradhya-garg/

FHS’s very own Aradhya Garg was elected to Mass DECA’s State Action Team 64 this year!

Sofia Smith interviews Abby Auerr and Maya Sankaran to get more info about the DECA State competition: 

"The DECA States competition took place on March 11th this year, with almost 90 Massachusetts teens attending the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

Abby Auerr and Maya Sankaran are two seniors at Franklin High School who attended the competition. The two students both joined DECA this year, and have been quite successful despite having less than a year of experience.

DECA is a non-profit student organization that prepares emerging adults and entrepreneurs in marketing and finance. "

Continue reading the article ->

https://franklinpanthers.us/clubs-activities/2022/04/05/deca-states-teens-experiencing-the-business-world/ 

DECA States: Teens Experiencing the Business World

Governor wants to reimage downtowns; offers businesses a $4K hiring bonus

“The future of downtowns is going to be different, whether we like it or not,” Gov. Charlie Baker told the breakfast gathering. “We need to start the process of reimagining the placemaking of downtowns so they can thrive and be successful in what will be a slightly different world in many cases and a significantly different world in some cases.”

Baker plans to file an economic development bill to aid downtowns struggling amid the work-from-home pattern that took hold during the pandemic – and seems here to stay, at least in some form. The Legislature deep-sixed a downtown aid package Baker filed last year. Details of the new proposal have not been revealed, but the Globe said Baker expects to propose using a combination of bonding and the $2 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act money to fund the plan. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/dealing-with-deserted-downtowns-now-high-on-baker-menu-2/

"FRUSTRATED AT the disconnect in Massachusetts between available jobs and available employees, the Baker administration is offering for-profit and non-profit employers $4,000 for each new worker they hire this year.

The goal of the HireNow program is to give employers an incentive to recruit and train workers who they normally would not bring in for an interview because of their lack of skills. “This is a great opportunity to say there’s no experience needed,” said Rosalin Acosta, the governor’s secretary of labor and workforce development. She unveiled the program along with Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito at a press conference Wednesday at LabCentral, a Cambridge-based incubator in the biotech and life sciences sectors."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/economy/baker-offering-employers-4000-for-each-worker-hired/ 

 

HireNow page -> https://www.mass.gov/hirenow

HireNow flyer ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZQVdbCivb7IW34wJZbVPgsovpsZiXw5a/view

FHS DECA Students take multiple awards

"Drew Mahoney ('22), Maxwell Voellmicke ('22), Sameen Shaik ('22)- ICDC Qualifiers- Financial Operations Research! Thank you "

 https://twitter.com/FranklinMA_DECA/status/1505326662837313548

"Brendan McCormick ('22), Timothy O'Keefe ('22), Evan Raider ('22)- Top 10 Business Operations Research! 2021 ICDC Qualifiers, 1st Place Districts 2022! Leadership, Character, Consistency. Any team/organization would be well served to include these 3!"

https://twitter.com/FranklinMA_DECA/status/1505323199080316928

"Nihara Lijan (‘23) ICDC Qualifier- Innovation Plan! Shout out to Mr. Bobrowsky on the collab! The power of cross-curricular project based learning on full display!"

https://twitter.com/FranklinMA_DECA/status/1504257957009178624

"Thank you FHS teachers! This experience and level of achievement doesn't happen without your support! "

https://twitter.com/FranklinMA_DECA/status/1504232979035529216

 

Thank you FHS teachers! This experience and level of achievement doesn't happen without your support!

FM #577 - Inside Wright Old School Chocolate - 06/22/21 (audio)

FM #577 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 577 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Peter Carlson.  Peter is exploring his interest in chocolates and looking to bring that old school taste to the market.  

We talk about his Franklin story. How his interest in chocolates has led to crafting some ‘bean to bar’ chocolate bars for Wright Old School Chocolate. His bars generally use only two ingredients; the nibs (minus the husk) and unrefined sugar. We discuss how the taste variations can be more than ‘subtle’. The taste honors the bean and not what you get from the standard ‘big bar’ chocolates.

The recording runs about 16 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Peter outdoors on the Town Common.

*** Audio link -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0736e120-7a7c-404d-9e4d-0794e33ba342

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

Wright Old School Chocolate  https://wrightoldschoolchocolate.com/  

The book by Dandelion Chocolates mentioned  https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/making-chocolate/

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

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"

FM #577 - Inside Wright Old School Chocolate - 06/22/21 (audio)

New York Times: "workplaces in apartment buildings"

"Before the pandemic, Tony Dopazo leased an office in Boston and used co-working spaces in Brooklyn for his company, Metro Tech Services, an IT provider for start-ups and biotech companies. Then the pandemic lockdown forced him, like countless others, to work remotely. That meant he was on the phone with clients from his apartment building, Level, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

At first, with the common areas in his rental building closed by Covid restrictions, Mr. Dopazo, 47, hunkered down in his one-bedroom, which was “brutal,” he said, “everything mish-mashing into one big blob of time.” But after the common spaces opened in September, he started going down to a co-working area in a ninth-floor lounge every day.

The arrangement affords some “mental separation” from his home, he said, and, with other tenants working in the same space, he has companionship. When he needs to print or scan something, he heads to the ground-level business center. If he’s hungry, he returns to his apartment to make a sandwich, and for a break, he can take a dip in the building’s pool."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/realestate/coworking-rentals-condos.html

A co-working area on the ninth floor is where Mr. Dopazo often sets up shop for the day.Credit...Tom Sibley for The New York Times

FM #568 - EDC discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses (audio)

FM #568 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 568 in the series. 

This shares the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting that was held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid mode; two committee members were in the Council Chambers, two participated remotely along with several others via Zoom conference bridge. 

Links to the meeting agenda and my notes are in the show notes. The meeting recording runs about 1 hour and forty (~1:40) minutes.  Let’s listen to the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting for June 16

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/fe96a8ad-4355-46bd-af15-42220606715b

-----------

Meeting agenda 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/edc_agenda_6-16-2021.pdf

MAHT presentation doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/06022021_maht_presentation_-_dpcd.pdf

Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter and shared here in summary form

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-economic-development-subcommittee.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/

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"

 

EDC discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

Recap: Economic Development Subcommittee - discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

Quick Recap:

• The housing production plan was reviewed and discussed. Key among the actions is to further obtain any and all citizen input/comment by June 25 and update this draft. The revised plan would then be approved by Planning Board and Town Council before being submitted to the State for acceptance.
• Key to specific items to address the housing would be the zoning assessment. This analysis would provide an objective 3rd party view on what we have and what we could do to allow for appropriate and affordable housing
• Discussion on home based businesses. Good to boot strap a concept, Health Dept is ok with food production as long as the ServeSafe and other related food prep requirements are adhered to. The wrinkle comes with handling the sewer waste and implementation of a grease trap which can be expensive.
• The Town is not prepared for how to address this opportunity. More research is required which they will conduct during the next couple of months and bring back to Subcommittee for further discussion.

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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  #edc0616
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Edc0616&src=typed_query 

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AayFgpTfmSzB3Y2w9

• EDC meeting to begin soon, awaiting quorum #edc0616
  
• Without quorum, may at least open meeting and have a discussion. #fincom0616
  
• Quorum achieved (with virtual participation of Frongillo and Bissanti), EDC meeting opens at 7:09 PM. #edc0616
  
• Chair Hamblen opens meeting, reads protocol statement, #fincom0616 First item, housing production plan for discussion if needed, plan can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf 
  
• Feedback sought as part of the draft review process. #fincom0616
  
• Cool to be back in Municipal Bldg, Planner Amy Love provides an overview of the plan, similar to what was presented earlier in Housing Trust meeting #edc0616
  
• My notes from that (Municipal Affordable Housing Trust) meeting, for the record, can be found https://franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-municipal-affordable-housing.html?m=1 #edc0616
  
• Difference in accounting between apartment and residential units, all apartments count if only a smaller # are affordable; for owned residential units only the # affordable apply to the housing rate (i.e. 6 of 30, only the 6 - if apartments, 6 of 30 all 30 count) condos ->
• Condos count as owned units so only the # would count (like other owned residential, not like apartments). #edc0616 What is considered affordable for Franklin? Major issue
  
• Development costs are hire, art zoning would need to have incentives to allow the developers to make the money back that they give up making some of the units affordable. #edc0616
  
• Multiple discussion points on affordable and how to tackle it, the new housing behind Eaton Place will help but it won't be online soon (still needs funding) #edc0616
  
• Motion to move housing plan forward to planning board and to Council for approval incorporating the changes and comments #edc0616 passes 4-0 via roll call.
  
• Moving to home occupied businesses for next part of discussion. #edc0616
  
• How do you permit a bootstrap business from a home, some i.e. kitchens can pose health concerns, others may have traffic/delivery issues for neighbors. #edc0616 permit some level of production up to which they're good, beyond that next level up. ZBA may be an option
  
• In commercial areas, need to protect the sewer system, with grease traps, when blockages occur it stops things and that is not good. Title 5 systems are built for 3 or 4 bedrooms not commercial industry business. #edc0616 who acts the agent for volume?
  
• We can't use the ZBA or planning board and their temporary benevolence, if something is good, let's make it right. #edc0616 strict guidelines on food prep, zoning is the issue in the case of chocolate bars (as the talking point example)
  
• let's provide some time to research, see what others are doing, Boston is a whole different system. #edc0616 what might work, what would be some controls, there is no capacity at Charles River. we do need to consider the big picture of affordability
  
• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 4-0 via roll call #fincom0616 

Audio file to be available in a couple of days

discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

Escape to the Arts! - last day of events today, ArtWALK continues through June

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13 closes out the Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration. 

 
For the complete schedule of events and activities for the ArtWALK

https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 

ArtWALK map of art located in the businesses ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SafEWF9L8tiAXkFuhQ4xwtfHffYhTKyF/view?usp=sharing

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13

Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13

MyFM103: Quest for the best - vote for your best selection

Please cast your ballots for your favorite Franklin businesses in the Myfm 101.3 contest!
https://myfmquestforthebest.com/vote/
#FDP
#buylocal
#questforthebest

Shared from Facebook:   https://facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org/photos/a.256790157835460/1772609959586798/?type=3

REQUEST - 50+ Program seeks employers for practice hiring event

The 50+ Job-seekers Networking Group is setting up its ultimate event for the Spring 2020 sessions --- Practice Interview With Employers -- to be held on June 24th, 2021; 10-12N [Eastern Time].

We seek employers and recruiters willing to participate by conducting practice interviews.

As we did last year, we will supply some suggested interview questions, but recall how many employers used their own favorites!

 Please let me or our director, Susan D Kelly, know if you would be willing to donate your time and talent to help us with this special event that assists mature job-seekers and career-changers.

Susan's contact info is:

Phone: 781-378-0528

LI Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susandkelly/

Email: susan@sdkelly.com

Susan has told me that many of the employers who participated last years have already signed on again. I look forward to hearing from more employers during this exciting time as the economy re-opens.

Thanks!

Ed Lawrence

 

REQUEST - 50+ Program seeks employers for practice hiring event

"today this action does not rely on federal money"

 

"THE HOUSE APPROVED a proposal Tuesday that aims to relieve employers this spring from major unexpected unemployment system costs, while punting the decision on whether to deploy one-time federal funds to address a benefits system that sagged under the weight of pandemic unemployment.

In a move that business groups described as a solid first step, representatives voted 157-0 to shuffle the distribution of unemployment claims costs so that they can be covered over two decades of borrowing and so businesses will not be in line for huge bills in the short term.

After weeks of review, the House on Tuesday also revived plans for an emergency paid leave program that would make participants eligible for up to one week of paid leave if they or a family member needs it to deal with COVID-19 issues, including self-isolation, seeking a diagnosis, or obtaining an immunization. The House sent the bill to the Senate after rejecting amendments to the measure sought by Gov. Charlie Baker."

Continue reading online ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/house-gives-businesses-unemployment-insurance-relief/

 

Direct link to House Legislation ->  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H3702

 

 

New business - CleanX Franklin opens for business

Proud to announce my new office cleaning business is up and running. CleanX Franklin is a local office cleaning business open Monday through Saturday. If you or anyone you know is in need of an office cleaning please contact us at cleanxfranklin@gmail.com

From their About page:  https://www.cleanxfranklin.com/

"Our mission at CleanX is simple: to provide high-quality services for our valued clients. Our team goes above and beyond to cater to each project’s specific needs. Through open communication and exceptional service, we hope you’ll find what you’re looking for with our Office Cleaning Service. For more information or general inquiries, get in touch today." 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/955635081150249/permalink/4108155262564866/

CleanX Franklin opens for business

Town of Franklin, MA: Business Guide

The Town of Franklin is pleased to share our new Business Guide!  This online resource is designed to introduce potential business owners to the process here in Franklin and provide important contacts, links, and guidance.

Find it on our website here: https://t.co/g2sCOSIIhI  

Shared from Twitter:https://t.co/oSuudUZR5X

Town of Franklin, MA: Business Guide

Recap-Economic Development SubComm-Mtg - 04/07/21 - Ladybug trail being planned, business guide released

Quick Recap:

• Meeting opens with a presentation on the Ladybug Trail being planned for downtown Franklin. Slides included in notes below. Photos captured during the presentation shared as well
• The Business Guide is now released. A flowchart to follow for starting a business and what approvals are required is a key development since the draft was shared earlier.
• Discussion o the overall marketing strategy and key branding elements is desired but the meeting ran out of time to get into.
  

 

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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.  

 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/7fHqmLnAmD3MxrW98

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #edc0407
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23edc0407&src=typeahead_click

• Real time reporting underway for the Economic Development subcommittee meeting https://www.franklinma.gov/economic-development-subcommittee/agenda/edc-agenda-25  #edc0407
• Ladybug trail up first, Lisa Piana of the Downtown Partnership #edc0407 to present after brief intro by Chair Melanie Hamblen
• The ladybug trail will reappear in downtown Franklin #edc0407
• The ladybugs first appeared in 2014. #edc0407
• Slides to be shared later but some key ones are captured here #edc0407
• Concept of trail and sidewalk marking still in development. Would use the map and QR codes to trigger the audio with information #edc0407
• Consensus among EDC members to proceed; mural design being worked with the artists and building owners, they will be family friendly and non controversial. #edc0407
• Next up, business guide close to 'final' #edc0407 reviewing changes since the draft was shared in this meeting previously now includes a flow chart to follow
• Also updated to include the food truck as well as the farmers market #edc0407 should help the jumping around town hall that occurs today and should be alleviated using this going forward.
• Can add a zoning map link to the guide so they would have the info available. Development is separate and much more detailed, this is for the more frequent use if opening a business, building a development would require more and much is on the Town pages #edc0407
• Discussion on a marketing strategy to include brand elements, logo, fonts, tag line to use as a common and consistent presentation if the town to the world up for future
• #edc0407 motion to adjourn, second, passes 4-0 via roll call
• Town Council meeting coming up at 7

FDP Ladybug Trail presentation doc:  https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/franklin-downtown-partnership-planning-ladybug-trail

Business Guide -> https://www.canva.com/design/DAEN5lnYNIY/xubMHMzbUK7uF--x0mx6Og/view

 

Franklin Downtown Partnership planning Ladybug Trail from Franklin Matters

 

 

Ladybug trail being planned