Chalkboard chat condenses the 4 hour Jan 13, 2026 School Cmte meeting to an hour (video & audio)

FM #1627 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1627 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee member Reis Hansen.  We had our discussion via Zoom on Friday, January 16, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting January 13, 2026.

Our conversation covered the following topics:

Early insights on role as school committee member

Subcommittee work on Policy & Horace Mann Legacy

Meeting recap

Recognition of cheerleaders

FHS trip to Galapagos for 2027 was approved

FHS 2026-27 Program of Studies Update

how courses are added, selection by students  

Office of Teaching & Learning District Assessment Presentation

The role of teaching & learning

The use of data to provide support and interventions as needed

MCAS still used just not a requirements for graduation

Franklin Childcare Presentation

The planning underway for initial opening for 9 student with 2 teachers

For school dept personnel first, then Town employees

Further expansion possible for community over time

Can provide revenue to sustain program 

We close with a discussion on screen time and use of technology in the classroom

    based upon a resident comment

Our conversation runs about 72 minutes. Let’s listen

Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnBKBSydGU4

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1627-chalkboard-chat-01-16-26/

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School Committee page (with contact info) ->  https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee 

School Committee subcommittee assignments -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaXy2prDrCI 

Agenda ->  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2086 

Meeting packet folder (copies of the presentation are not yet available, once posted they should be in this folder) ->  https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-13%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24614180 

Pictures of the slides shared captured in one album for 

The Galapagos trip presentation ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/amcYuXHUxJfRbu6Y7 

The FHS Program of Studies -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/p5zRxxEXyke76hV66 

Teaching & Learning update -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/LotQq5wCQJ8qJmUy9 

Little Solutions Childcare update ->    https://photos.app.goo.gl/JoMPxdB2v7a2TMV26 

 

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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 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!

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NY Times: "Most Immigrants Arrested in City Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record"

Most Immigrants Arrested in City
Crackdowns Have No Criminal Record

"The deployments in major cities as part of President Trump’s immigration crackdown have led to thousands of arrests. But they have been less effective at apprehending immigrants with a criminal record than more routine operations elsewhere, new data shows.

Less than 30% of the people arrested in any of these operations had been convicted of a crime, a New York Times analysis of the data shows, and a very small share had been convicted of a violent crime. The most common non-violent convictions were for driving under the influence and other traffic offenses.

The operations have upended life for many residents and prompted protests and backlash. Local leaders say they have done little to make their cities safer.

See more of the ICE arrests data at the link in our bio."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DSFtVc8lXte/

Life expectancy vs health expenditure in US vs. the Rest of the world

"Fascinating to watch: Life expectancy vs health expenditure.

One clear outlier stands out—the US.

By EEAGLI"

Life expectancy vs health expenditure in US vs. the Rest of the world

Follow the link to view the full Instagram reel. This is the final slide   ->   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDK0Ak2okEa/

Also found on James Eagle's LinkedIn post->    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jameseagle_datavisualisation-ugcPost-7271869046915018754-7rft?

Marriott data breach settlement: What it means for consumers

Marriott data breach settlement: What it means for consumers By Alvaro Puig Marriott settled charges related to a data breach that exposed the information of millions of guests.  The company will take steps to better protect customers' personal information.  And it will give customers more control over their information. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/10/marriott-data-breach-settlement-what-it-means-consumers?

Marriott data breach settlement: What it means for consumers

 

Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 249: David Morrison The Wine Gourd Blog Interview (audio)

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 249

Welcome to another exciting episode of "The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)”podcast! In this week's episode, Kim and Mark have a very special guest joining them - David Morrison, the acclaimed author of the Wine Gourd blog.

David is a data expert in the world of wine and has been passionately writing about it for years, garnering a large following of wine enthusiasts around the globe. With his extensive knowledge and unique perspective, David has become a trusted authority in the wine data industry.

During this interview, we delve into David's journey in the wine world and explore his blog, which covers a wide range of fascinating topics. From the latest wine trends to in-depth analysis of different wine regions and grape varieties, his blog offers a wealth of information for both seasoned wine connoisseurs and newcomers alike.

David shares his insights on various wine subjects.  

Join us as we uncover the stories behind David's most compelling blog posts and gain valuable knowledge from his vast experience in the industry. Whether you're a wine enthusiast, a sommelier, or simply curious about the world of wine, this episode is a must-listen!

So grab your favorite glass of wine, sit back, and tune in to another captivating edition of "The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)" podcast, as we go behind the scenes with David Morrison, the renowned author of the Wine Gourd blog -> 

www.winegourd.bloddpot.com

Cheers

Kim And Mark

Audio link -> 

https://soundcloud.com/user-492543397/episode-249-david-morrison-the-wine-gourd-blog-interview

Podcast: The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) · Episode 249-David Morrison The Wine Gourd Blog Interview

State Facts for Students: MA summary via Census.gov

School is out for the summer but learning is really life long. Exploring the data available from Census.gov is worth spending sometime on. 

An email from them arrived in my Inbox and as it touted ice cream caught my eye. 

"What’s your favorite flavor(s) of ice cream? Did you know there were 427 U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert makers in 2020, 23 more than a decade earlier (2010)? 

Students can explore this and other cool data like the total number of kids in the U.S. ages 8 to 14 and the total number of U.S. amusement parks. 

What better way to celebrate National Ice Cream Month than to enjoy a frozen treat while using our State Facts for Students data tool to discover oh-so-sweet stats!"

I did explore the State Facts for Students page to obtain the summary for MA. I would have to go deeper into the data to get the details on how many ice cream makers there are in MA. 

State Facts for Students: MA summary via Census.gov

You can find this data (and more) online at -> https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/resources/data-tools/state-facts.html

 

A PDF version of the data is available here ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YsrqaCocY_TARMCEhVWm11dRL2QJjK9/view?usp=drive_link

National Ice Cream Month

"Housing choice is mismatched to need" & 15 minute city model

Two graphics to help inform our local zoning discussions

One

"Housing choice is mismatched to need."

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/SouthernUrb/status/1624086236561375234

Southern Urbanism "Housing choice is mismatched to need"

You can visit DataTown at the Mass Housing Project to get our local stats ->  https://mhpcenterforhousingdata.shinyapps.io/DataTown/#

Two

"The 15-minute city model is the idea that cities should be designed, or redesigned, so that within a 15-minute walk or bike of home, people should be provided the opportunity to access many of their daily needs like work, food, health, education, culture and leisure."

The 15-minute city model

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/berkie1/status/1624381496348794883

For more about the 15 minute city model -> https://www.15minutecity.com/

"In a market badly out of kilter, many older residents are stuck in their homes" - Franklin an example

"They bought their homes when they were young, making money, and raising families. Now they’re empty nesters, in or nearing retirement, and living in houses that are too big for them.

But many older residents in Massachusetts who’d like to downsize — and turn over spacious dwellings to younger buyers desperate for room to expand —are finding it difficult, if not impossible. Even though their property values have ballooned, smaller homes or condos are scarce and carry prohibitive price tags in the state’s out-of-kilter real estate market.

“We’re just sitting tight right now,” said Mary Prosnitz, 66, of Wellesley. She and her 69-year-old husband, Jay, raised two sons, now grown, in the five-bedroom home they purchased 38 years ago and still live in."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article (subscriptions may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/29/metro/market-badly-out-kilter-many-older-residents-are-stuck-their-homes/

From the Mass Housing Project Datatown, we find the data on the types of housing in Franklin compared to the Commonwealth of MA average.

The importance of housing diversity

A wide variety of housing types enables people of different means and at different stages of life to have viable housing options within a community. Different housing types allow for greater density in places where it is most appropriate, such as near transit and commercial, retail and business centers.

Looking at the adjacent comparison between the mix of housing types in your community and Massachusetts as a whole, do you think your community is achieving the kind of diversity that fosters a wide variety of choices? Does your mix of housing structure types foster inclusion or exclusion? Are you making the most of the land available for development?

The data chart originated with   https://mhpcenterforhousingdata.shinyapps.io/DataTown/

While a wide variety of housing is required, Franklin is heavily single family home oriented

Franklin vs Worcester housing production by permit since 2000

"Worcester is looking at inclusionary zoning to add affordable homes. This chart shows how slow housing development has been last +10 yrs, even as city's population grew.  

For more graphics like this, check out http://mhp.net/datatown"

Worcester data:

housing development has been last +10 yrs in Worcester, MA

What does Franklin's data look like? 

Note: please be careful with the visual comparison. The volume scale for Franklin (300-200-100) is significantly less than Worcester's (600-400-200).

 

The chart depicts how many new housing permits that Franklin has issued for each year of the data collection (net of demolitions), broken out by type of building

Check out more data from the Mass Housing Project's Datatown source

https://mhpcenterforhousingdata.shinyapps.io/DataTown/#

The Datatown query does allow for comparisons with communities so I did manage to put the Franklin and Worcester data together to see the info on the same scale:

Franklin and Worcester data together to see the info on the same scale

Sparked by the MHP tweet - https://twitter.com/mhpdata/status/1551662361110630401

Census Bureau Profile America Facts for Features: The Fourth of July - 2022

The Fourth of July: 2022 JUNE 29, 2022 On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reflect on how our Founding Fathers enshrined in our Constitution the importance of statistics as a vital tool for measuring America. Most of the following facts are possible thanks to responses to U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys. We appreciate the public's cooperation as we continuously measure our people, places and economy.  Did You Know? 2.5 million The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation in July 1776. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: 1789-1945 331,449,281 The nation's population on April 1, 2020. Source: 2020 Census 56 The number of signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is also worth noting that: John Hancock, a merchant by trade, was the first signer. In 2020, more than 1 million business establishments nationally with paid employees were in the retail trade industry like Hancock. Source: 2020 County Business Patterns, Table CB2000CBP Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Pennsylvania had a resident population of 13,002,700 on April 1, 2020. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. South Carolina had a resident population of 5,118,425 on April 1, 2020. Source: 2020 Census                                       Patriotic Places  Places with the word "liberty" in their names. Source: Vintage 2021 Population Estimates Places with the word "union" in their names. Source: Vintage 2021 Population Estimates                                        Related News Products  Previous Facts for Features FFF: The Fourth of July: 2021 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2020 The Fourth of July: 2019 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2018 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2017 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2016 Stats for Stories Bill of Rights Day Ancestor Appreciation Day Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance Washington, D.C. 150th Government Anniversary (1871) National Election Day (Presidential) Inauguration Day Previous Graphics Happy 245th Birthday America! (2021) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2020) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2019) The Fourth of July (2018) Declaring Independence (2017) Greetings From Liberty USA (2016) ### Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. We typically release Facts for Features at least a month before an observance to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments? Contact the Census Bureau's Public Information Office at 301-763-3030 or pio@census.gov. Learn More Help us spread the word about Census Bureau data! Share this on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. As the world's premier statistical agency, we are dedicated to making our nation a better place. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our data to make informed decisions. Resources for Media For media interviews, please contact the Public Information Office Toll Free at 877-861-2010, 301-763-3030, or pio@census.gov.

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