Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Summer Sunday Worship Series starts with "Equity's Call" scheduled for June 30, 2024
Thursday, July 27, 2023
"Let's continue to put love out there"
Saturday, June 3, 2023
FPAC to close out their season with performance of Violet - Jun 8, 9, & 10 at THE BLACK BOX
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshop focuses on the sense of “belonging” (audio)
FM #884 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 884 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Public Schools Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) “Deep Dive” Workshop held at the Franklin Public Library on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
Superintendent Lucas Gigiure and DEI Director Heidi Harris co-lead the session. Approx. 30 folks were in the room to participate.
Much of the workshop was a review of the efforts to date, sharing definitions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the findings of the equity audit, and understanding the drive to develop a sense of “belonging.”
The equity audit was referred to multiple times as “one slice of the pie” in gathering info to develop the “Equity Action Plan to meet the needs of all learners.” Other sessions like this one will be scheduled to provide opportunity for the community to explore DEI and work toward the plan development.
Given this was a working session, the whole group sections of the meeting audio is what is shared here. There are breaks in the audio when
The participants found a person they did not know to introduce themselves
The participants found another person they did not know to discuss an instance of belonging and then of feeling left out
The table discussion to review the sticky notes written by the members providing feedback
The breaks are indicated by a few seconds of music then the group discussion resumes
The edit meeting audio recording runs about 70 minutes. Let’s listen to DEI “Deep Dive” Workshop.
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Franklin Public Schools Diversity Equity & Inclusion department page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
DEI page -> https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/fps-diversity-equity-inclusion/home?authuser=0
Equity audit (1 slice of the pie) ->
DEI Plan for 2022-2023 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_plan_2022-23_for_sc_0.pdf
DEI Presentation to School Committee Oct 25, 2022 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_presentation_10_25_2022_0.pdf
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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!
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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"
Friday, November 18, 2022
Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter - November 2022
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Monday, November 14, 2022
Franklin Public Schools: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee schedules "Deep Dive" Nov 19
Vision (Hopes and dreams for the future)
- Franklin Public Schools is committed, through its educational mission, to building an anti-biased and socially-just school system. Members of our school community commit to the process of listening, learning, acting, and reflecting in order to
- affirm the diversity among community members;
- promote equity and accountability by providing resources and opportunities and reducing barriers to success;
- foster a safe and inclusive school environment so that each student and faculty/staff member truly belongs and is empowered to participate in decision-making.
- As a system and as individuals, we are responsible for proactively taking steps to prevent bias; similarly we are responsible for illuminating and addressing bias and discrimination when incidents occur. As a result, each student in Franklin Public Schools will have equitable opportunities to achieve Franklin’s Portrait of a Graduate. https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/portrait_of_a_graduate_.pdf
Definitions
- Diversity is a reflection of the uniqueness of an individual’s identity, thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and values, and the fluidity through which each may evolve. Some examples include, but are not limited to, a person’s race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, religious beliefs, culture, national origin, disability and cognitive styles.
- Equity involves each individual being able to attain the attributes of Franklin’s Portrait of a Graduate.
- Inclusion is consistently ensuring that individuals belong in the school community by authentically seeking out, valuing, and respecting their input particularly regarding decisions that affect theirs and others’ lives.
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Franklin Public Schools: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee schedules "Deep Dive" Nov 19 |
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Deep Dive - Nov 19, 2022
Monday, October 31, 2022
Franklin Public Schools: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Presentation - Oct 25, 2022
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Franklin Public Schools: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Presentation - Oct 25, 2022 |
Friday, October 28, 2022
School Committee hears of the DEI plan and Equity Audit findings (audio)
FM #866 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 866 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2022. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers with all seven members present.
School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:00 PM.
Key item on the agenda
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Improvement Plan reviewed including the Equity Audit findings which inform the plan
The show notes contain a link to the full agenda and to my notes & photos captured via Twitter during the meeting.
The Committee entered Executive Session on a negotiation discussion not to return to public meeting.
The recording runs about three hours, thirty four minutes, so let’s listen to the Franklin School Committee on Oct 25, 2022.
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School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee
The agenda for this meeting can be found
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/10-25-agenda
The Packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting.
My notes captured via Twitter and compiled into one PDF doc ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mrhwQ21akMfp7Mnm4vjMDf5ukTnkOvPA/view?usp=sharing
YouTube video link for this meeting -> https://youtu.be/T8qQATbsSSU
Photos from the meeting (mostly screen shots of the presentations not yet posted to the packet folder) https://photos.app.goo.gl/ErB6FBWpuQ6DBNhH8
--------------
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"
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School Committee hears of the DEI plan and Equity Audit findings (audio) |