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Redistricting Advisory Cmte reviews 4 scenarios, raises others, additional meeting added to timeline (audio)

FM #918 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 918 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Public Schools Redistricting Advisory Committee Meeting held in hybrid format with folks at the FHS Media Center on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 as well as some members who participated remotely.   

Given this was a working session, the major whole group sections of the meeting audio is what is shared here. There is one break in the audio when 

• The breakout discussion was held at each table

The break is indicated by about 4 seconds of music (replacing about 25 minutes of table discussion) then the group discussion resumes. I had anticipated a readout from each table (similar to what was done in previous meetings. That was not the case tonight.) The group discussion resumed with next steps, an additional meeting announced (some confusion around which date) but confirmation the slides, agenda, etc would be sent to the committee members with the survey form for their feedback.

Quick Recap

• 4 scenarios were presented based upon the building blocks from prior session. A fifth was acknowledged as not an option, albeit disputed by at least one member of the committee (closing another school)

• Additional scenarios were presented as the realizations occurred on what was happening in each of the scenarios. Those raising such scenarios were advised to write it up for the feedback, in the survey to be sent to the Committee 

• The next session will cover these scenarios with demographic projections and the additional scenarios raised (2 middle schools, moving 5th grade to join 608 grades)

• As there was no readout from each of the table discussions it was hard to tell what the sense of the scenarios was. Stay tuned for the next meeting; either Feb 2 or Feb 7 was mentioned, whichever it is will be confirmed

The edited meeting audio recording runs about 57 minutes. Let’s listen to whole group discussion position of Redistricting Advisory Committee Meeting

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-918-fps-redistricting-advisory-cmte-mtg-01-17-23

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Jan 17, 2023 agenda->

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_redistricting_advisory_meeting_1-17-23.pdf 

Redistricting Advisory Committee page ->

https://www.franklinps.net/school-committee/2023-redistricting-advisory-committee 

My notes in one Twitter threader document   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a37aoQ-Uh9CvpFgXJA7kdkjB5hHt45-F/view?usp=share_link 

The photo album shared via Twitter of the pix taken of the meeting and presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/dz7Un9eCmvqokEYy6 

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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!

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

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

Redistricting Advisory Cmte reviews 4 scenarios, raises others, additional meeting added to timeline (audio)

School Committee hears the District Improvement Plan, elementary improvement plans, and approves consultant expense for redistricting study (audio)

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Sep 27, 2022. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers. 

School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:00 PM. 

The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.

The recording runs about two hours, thirty-five minutes, so let’s listen to the Franklin School Committee on Sep 27, 2022.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-851-franklin-ma-school-committee-mtg-09-27-22

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Meeting agenda ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_9-27-22.pdf

Meeting Packet Folder ->

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-27-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M0YYtKEh0vN20tg-CBcslcVsPE4D183W/view?usp=sharing 

Photos from the meeting (mostly screen shots of the presentations not yet posted to the packet folder)  https://photos.app.goo.gl/RD7WtNS9FvkdDwaS6

YouTube video replay for this meeting ->   https://youtu.be/buy1Dv9_HUk

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

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"

Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio)

FM #802 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 802 in the series. 

This session of the radio show is an editorial statement. Something I don’t do often, in fact rarely do but given the circumstances of this week, I feel compelled to share this. 

The recording runs about 7 minutes, so let’s listen.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-802-for-crying-out-loud-05-25-22

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The text 

“For crying out loud”

For, crying out loud

We’ll begin with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present

The headlines yesterday were all over DESE going after Boston Public Schools for insufficient progress on a “myriad of problems”. In their 120+ page assessment, the litany of errors, shortfalls, discrepancies out outlined in detail with a particular focal point, rather myopic in that, DESE is the same organization that throughout the pandemic struggled to generate timely and accurate guidance. Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones!

For crying out loud

The headlines were all about Boston and DESE until word came on yet another shooting, another elementary school, lives young and old cut short by someone misguided at best, armed unnecessarily, who likely had cried for help and the yet system did not respond. You can say it starts at home. He did. He shot his grandmother first.

For crying out loud

Perhaps lost among the other news headlines, was one that 12 students at FHS received the Commonwealth seal of biliteracy, achieving proficiency in two languages. It had been 11 when I created the headline Tuesday. It was raised by one more to 12 as another confirmation of a student award was received. Not unlike the initial reports or 14, then 18, 19… where will it end

I recall a poem by Robert Bly

“Let's count the bodies over again.

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

The size of skulls 

We could make a whole plain white with skulls in the moonlight!

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

Maybe we could get

A whole year's kill in front of us on a desk!

If we could only make the bodies smaller 

We could fit

A body into a finger-ring for a keepsake forever.”

Written during the Vietnam war, and the repetition of body counts the news broadcast daily.

For crying out loud

We’ll come back to FHS. There are more than 20 languages heard within the halls of FHS and these 12 students have mastered a couple. Maybe, there is hope. Maybe, among the halls of students, mastering language, they can lead us to a better place. Maybe they can bring a cracking (some would say breaking) system to its senses.

I hope so, I am tired of crying out loud

We’ll end with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present. If we don’t use the past lessons to foster change, what will our future be?

For crying out loud

I’ll close with my own poem written in the pandemic

sherku: fear knot

I wake fearful

take a breath

realize

it is a

new day, we

can do this!

 

For more about Robert Bly -> https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-bly

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

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"

 

Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio)

Memo to FHS Community: Upcoming FHS State Tournament Varsity Athletic Contests

Dear Franklin Families,

We are writing to inform you of concerns due to recent fan behaviors during our varsity games. In recent weeks, there have been several instances of students exhibiting unruly, inappropriate, disrespectful, unsafe, and unsportsmanlike behavior during games. This includes behavior among middle and elementary students. This behavior is unacceptable. Disrespectful fans will be asked to leave the event. Fans are also not allowed to exit and re-enter the event.

We have noticed that many younger students are attending games unaccompanied by an adult. Dropping children off at games unattended poses significant safety concerns.

Effective immediately, all non-Franklin High School students, including Franklin middle school and elementary school students, must be accompanied and supervised by an adult throughout the duration of all varsity games. Unaccompanied children will need to be picked up by their parents / guardian.

At Franklin High, we pride ourselves on demonstrating sportsmanship and integrity on the field/court, and it is expected that our fans exhibit the same behavior off the field/court (see FHS Spectator Code of Conduct).

Fan cheering and team support are welcomed parts of sporting events and can directly impact our athletes. Appropriate cheering, done in good taste, can contribute to a positive game environment. Inappropriate cheering, or excessive jeering, has an adverse effect on the players, the game, other fans, and does not represent our school or community values. We have all been enjoying cheering on our outstanding teams this season and wish for their continued success.

We ask that parents/guardians talk to their children about their behavior during sporting events, and we are hopeful that this issue will subside with this new rule in place. We appreciate your cooperation.

Thank you,

Joshua Hanna, 

Principal Franklin High School 

Sara Ahern, 

Superintendent of Schools

Important: 
Purchase your tickets to the Franklin MIAA tournament games using the GOFAN app below.

• Ticket Purchasing Process -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkZqTY5d6Bg
• GOFAN Ticket Website -> https://gofan.co/app/school/MA14576

Memo to FHS Community: Upcoming FHS State Tournament Varsity Athletic Contests

PDF Copy of this memo can be found online ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/news/upcoming_fhs_state_tournament_varsity_athletic_contests.pdf

Ode To Davis Thayer (video) Composed by Jamie Barrett

"We say goodbye to Davis   later on today

I've offered up to sing a song   I don't know what to say

He's forever been a part of our Franklin families

Feel like I'm swimming in a flood of memories 

He lived a good long life   almost a century 

Started as a high school ended as elementary

So many came to him with a thirst for knowledge 

So many left and went to work or away to college

Things keep changing that's what they say

And we don't miss nothing till it's gone away

But the truth will be here till we're old and grey

You can take away Davis… but in our hearts he'll always stay

He was our home for many a year

He's seen every burst of laughter and every tear

From the comical and crazy to the calm and the cool

And all of the excitement of a brand new day of school 

Classrooms bursting with creativity

All staff and teachers feeding the kids curiosity 

Amazing artwork and staying fit with ol' Phys Ed

And the Sound of Music keeps on playing in my head

Things keep changing that's what they say

And we don't miss nothing till it's gone away

But the truth will be here till we're old and grey

You can take away Davis… but in our hearts he'll always stay

And now the halls are empty and everything is silent

Once filled with an energy so vital and so vibrant

But as sure as that ol' church bell will chime 

The DT door behind me closes one   last   time…"



YouTube: https://youtu.be/L3uC1EsoT6M

By Franklin's own Jamie Barrett

"A Virtual Night Of The Arts" (video)

Did you miss viewing the "A Virtual Night Of The Arts" the exhibit of the Davis Thayer, Jefferson, and Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) student art work.  You can view on YouTube ->   https://youtu.be/foVLOZS5kJM

Thanks to Jamie Barrett for the link:    https://twitter.com/MusicWithMrJHB/status/1402624788984520707

Franklin Public Schools: Handbook addendums for COVID-19 and Return to In person schooling

From the School Handbook section, there are addendums that have been added for COVID-19 and the return to school   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-handbooks

Links shared here by grade/school level

Covid-19 Addendums by Level

Elementary Covid-19 Addendum

Elementary Virtual Learning Academy Covid-19 Addendum

Annie Sullivan Middle Schools Covid-19 Addendum

Horace Mann Middle School Covid-19 Addendum

Remington Middle School Covid-19 Addendum

High School Covid-19 Addendum

April 2021 Return to School Handbook Updates by level

Elementary

Middle Schools

High School

Franklin Public Schools: Handbook addendums for COVID-19 and Return to In person schooling