Live reporting: Discussion Only Items

6. Discussion Only Items
a. School Start Times
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/x11-28-2017%20SC/A.%20%20Memo%20about%20School%20Start%20Times.pdf

proposal to undertake a study of the matter, a complex matter
could spend next couple meetings to frame the committee
including appropriate stakeholders

this is not anything quick, it needs to take some time to work through it

Superintendent Ahern will come back with a more formal proposal and time lines for next meeting

Donna Grady, President of FEA
issue not new to Franklin, this could begin an other chapter in this
there is a good amount of info out there
the issue is not that simple, far reaching implications
day care, work schedules, transportation, busing and related items
before and after school care
needs to be heavily researched, not just for now but for future as well
some items are going to require negotiation with the teachers union


b. 18-19 School Calendar Draft
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/x11-28-2017%20SC/B.%20%20Draft%20School%20Calendar%202018-2019.pdf

looking for feedback, for a potential vote at an upcoming meeting
relatively few changes to prior years as Superintendent is only here for five months

combined conferences across the district on two days in October is a change

input and feedback is welcomed

thinking about the number of interrupted weeks (where 5 days are not taught)

half day vs. full day provide different opportunities for professional development, a combination of both is a nice blend (full allowing cross district, half more building based)

c. School Committee Presentation Schedule 2017-18
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/x11-28-2017%20SC/C.%20%20Draft%202017-2018%20SC%20PRESENTATION%20SCHEDULE.pdf

an outcome from the School Committee and Central office planning session during the summer, the plan has been brought forward for feedback and input


d. Class Size Report
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/x11-28-2017%20SC/D1.%20%20Memo%20about%20Class%20Size%20Reports.pdf


providing some additional detail around class size at the high school, i.e where there are areas of need to be consistent across the district. Most in middle school are meeting School Committee guidelines

class sizes at FHS tend to be larger, enrollment increases can be justification for adjustments

Live reporting: Discussion only items

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading
o CBI – Evaluation of Superintendent

Current Policy
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczampKbTE0OUR3bGJCSUZmSGFpMUFzaFVhUVJV

Proposed Policy
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczXzQ5THZCdHBHVkZvZG9EWnlCRVlaQ2h0VFgw

Policy – Second Reading
o BEDB – Order of Business

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczNkY3TkIwc3J3VE9lSUMxX0puSXFGWHUxYXhv

Approval of 2017-18 Student Activity Fund Accounts – Miriam Goodman
principals' hold in trust for the benefit of the students
fund approvals include mission and purpose for each of the clubs

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczbDdrcTkyQXN1MVpKYVQ5MThNZ3VDdF92TXQw

New Sub Committees
o Public Schools Advocacy
looking to formalize, asking Anne Bergen to chair
up to 2 more to volunteer
Denise, MJ stepped forward
awareness of legislation pending, provide important accurate information to counter some of the 'myth' that persist
advocate at the local and State level for budget reform


o Ad Hoc – Superintendent Evaluation
Proposed Anne and Cindy to take this

o Liaison to MASC
Denise to continue in this role more formally

CANCELED - Immigration Discussion with Jessica Vaughan - May 18

Jessica M. Vaughan a Franklin resident, is the Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies and is frequently seen on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and NBC Boston

When: Thursday, May 18 @7:00 PM
Where: Franklin VFW, Pond St

Hosted by Franklin Republican Town Committee


Updated 4:00 PM 5/18/17  The event has been canceled by the hosts (the Franklin Republican Town Committee) with a statement to be available later 

Immigration Discussion with Jessica Vaughan - May 18

Additional info can be found in the flyer embedded below

Live reporting: Discussion items

3. Discussion Only Items

• 2016-2017 School Calendar

no comments or questions (initially)

• Food Service

Whitson's came in 5 years ago, will be searching for our own food service director to bring the service in house
no change to the food service workers as they remained Franklin employees during the service provided by Whitson's
Whitson's notified that the contract will be ending at the end of this school year

it is easier to sell pizza than kale
the administration and management fees will provide the 'wash' from a budget perspective to fund the food service director

What was the fee?
$60,000 administrative with an opportunity to recover up to $20,000
management fees were per meal and could be returned to the district if conditions were met (and they were last year)

School wellness advisory council putting out a survey to look for feedback on nutrition and food, hopefully that info will help to inform the direction of the revisions to the program

Re-opening the calendar item

Denise returns with a clarification on survey answers from parents for the calendar
generally teachers want before Labor Day and parents want after

what about Feb and April vacation combining?
Already started looking at the 2017-2018 calendar, if you do want to do so, there are parents who need to know early as people are making plans

no decisive info from the survey
happy to come back with options
need to look at the MCAS/PARCC testing schedule as they would be scheduled for March

Bilello - knowing the testing calendar is important, we are competing with the town around us, we don't need to draw out the options, the parents need to get their child care calendar set

If we do go with a subcommittee, we would need to include the FEA representatives

if the change were to be made, it would only be for the 2017-2018 school year at the earliest

Jewell - I would be for a subcommittee to look at it and review the pros/cons for changing the schedule, the committee would need to find out the info

O'Malley - if any interest, please let me know
Bergen, Scofield, Schultz interested

major development, vacation schedules to be looked at
to ensure all constituencies to be included

Friendly reminder - Comment policy

The comment policy was established in Dec of 2007 and it's time for a friendly reminder.

I welcome your comments here at Franklin Matters. To maintain a respectful dialogue, I've posted the guidelines of the comment policy below.

• Stay focused. All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain on the topic set by the original blog post, discussion question or other type of initial entry.
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I retain the discretion to determine which comments violate this comment policy.

I reserve the right to remove violations.

I expect all contributors to be respectful.

This comment policy is valid for all discussions hosted on this Franklin Matters website and/or the Facebook Franklin Matters page.

Thank you for taking the time to review our comment policy. I encourage your participation in a healthy and respectful discussion and look forward to an active exchange of ideas.




The comment policy is also located here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2007/12/comment-policy.html

Graduation gown discussion

From Pantherbook, their editorial written by Sammy Croteau

Recently the Franklin High School (FHS) Student Government was approached by the Gay Straight Alliance with a proposal to do away with the white and blue graduation robes, that are assigned by gender, and to adopt one robe color for all graduating students. This proposal has sparked much controversy and division within the student body. Even outside news agencies have come to the school to highlight the issue. 

I have spoken with many of my classmates who feel strongly of keeping the blue and white graduation robes. With all due respect for those who are petitioning for a change, we need to give voice to those who seek to preserve the blue and white tradition. 

In order for our school to be together as one we need to start considering what unites us rather than what separates us. We are all Franklin Panthers whose school colors are blue and white. Changing our school’s traditions to soothe the feelings of a few seems drastic and unnecessary. Tradition is important and so is representing our true school colors on the day we graduate. 

Individuals who feel uncomfortable having to choose between graduation gowns of blue and white should not be afraid to choose the color that best suits them. Today’s student body has learned to welcome the quality of our diversity and the traditions that unite us. 

I believe the student body should all have the freedom to choose what school color they would like to wear on their graduation day, despite their gender. Shouldn’t we promote freedom of choice for all students at FHS? This compromise can be achieved by opening up a vote to the whole student body on whether or not we should be free to choose. 

The power of the democratic process will allow us to rise above the politics of division and make any changes adopted acceptable to the majority.

See more at: http://pantherbook.org/top-stories/2014/12/11/power-politics-and-the-press/#sthash.hORuejWs.dpuf

entrance to Franklin High School

From Fox25 their video summary

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Ford Hall Forum - Fall 2014 programs are here!

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Ford Hall Forum's Fall 2014 season of programs is here! Listen, learn, and engage in Eve Ensler's new show, Dick Lehr's new book, casinos, anti-racism blogging and more...   All forums are FREE and open to the public.  Seating is first come, first served. If you register to attend on our website, you do not have to register at the forum. Jay Smooth The Revolution Will Be Online Jay Smooth (blogger, The Ill Doctrine), Spectra Speaks (blogger, Spectra Speaks), Andrew Ti (blogger, Yo, Is This Racist?)  Moderated by Callie Crossley (broadcast journalist & radio host, WGBH's Under the Radar with Callie Crossley)  Thurs., 10/2/2014, 6:30 p.m. African Meeting House, Museum of African American History                                   Click here for more... Cara Crabb-Burnham Going to Pot Eric Steenstra (Executive Director, Hemp Industries Association), Cara Crabb-Burnham (Board President, Mass NORML), Michael Head (Researcher, Beacon Hill Institute)       Thurs., 10/9/2013, 6:30 p.m. C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University                                   Click here for more... Mayor Carlo DeMaria  Place Your Bets Scott Harshbarger (former Attorney General, State of Massachusetts),Carlo DeMaria (Mayor, City of Everett), Charlie Stefanini (Labor Outreach Director, Coalition to Protect Mass Jobs), John Ribeiro  (Director, Repeal the Deal campaign) Moderated by Fr. Richard McGowan (Economics Professor, Boston College)   Thurs., 10/23/2013, 6:30 p.m. Main Function Room, Suffolk law School   Click here for more... Eve Ensler O.P.C. (Obsessive Political Correctness) Eve Ensler (playwright, The Vagina Monologues and O.P.C. [Obsessive Political Correctness]) Moderated by Joyce Kulhawik (Emmy Award-winning arts & entertainment critic, JoycesChoices.com)                                      Mon., 11/3/2014, 7:00 p.m. C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University Click here for more... Azhar Majeed Free to Hate Azhar Majeed (Program Director, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education [F.I.R.E.]) and Jeremy Waldron (author, The Harm in Hate Speech) Moderated by Jeff Jacoby (columnist, Boston Globe)                                       Thurs., 11/6/2014, 6:30 p.m. C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University  Click here for more... Dick Lehr The Birth of a Nation Dick Lehr (author, Black Mass and The Birth of a Nation)                                       Thurs., 11/20/2014, 6:30 p.m. C. Walsh Theatre, Suffolk University  Click here for more... Special Features    Take a look at the program enrichments that only Ford Hall Forum offers: Flash Forums   Social Media VJs   Take It Further tools     Connect with us               Ford Hall Forum   at Suffolk University 41 Temple Street Boston, Massachusetts 02114 P: (617) 305-6316 jbonardi@fordhallforum.org

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Emmons St building discussion scheduled for Apr 2

From the home page of the Franklin, MA website comes this announcement:

Town Council Chairman Robert Vallee has postponed the discussion on the Old Municipal Building at 150 Emmons Street which was expected take place at the March 19 Council meeting. It will be discussed at the April 2 Town Council meeting. 

This will allow all interested parties additional time to consider potential future uses of the property. Chairman Vallee encourages all interested citizens to attend the meeting.

Emmons St building - view from West Central St

The notes recorded live during the public meeting on March 4
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-emmons-st-public-meeting.html

The handouts from the meeting were posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/emmons-st-building-discussion-documents.html

Public Meeting - Emmons St building - March 4th

The public meeting to discuss the future uses of the Emmons St building, delayed due to a snowstorm in January, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 4. 

Please see the flyer below for details and plan to provide your input at this important meeting. 

flyer for public meeting on future of Emmons St building