What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 ???

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->     
https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Wednesday, March 26

* "Look Up" Gallery (Franklin Public Library during open hours)

1pm Scribblers Writing Group (recording session) (Franklin Senior Center) 

6pm All Town MICCA Showcase Concert (Bands) (Franklin High School)

7pm Evaluating Your College Financial Aid Offers (Dean College)

** NO  Town Meetings today   **

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Evaluating Your College Financial Aid Offers - March 26

What to Expect

Evaluating Your College
Financial Aid Offers - March 26

Not all college financial aid offers are created equal. For families with students recently accepted to college, making sense-and cents-of the various financial aid offers they receive can be a difficult and confusing process. This session will focus on better understanding the nuances associated with financing a higher education and the many aspects that contribute to net cost, including merit scholarships, need-based grants, state and federal aid, student and parent loans, the FAFSA and beyond. The event will include a Q&A period.

Presenters

• Jean Ricker, Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Planning Dean College
• Bonnie Quinn, Director, Student Financial Services  Wellesley College

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 7:00PM

Golder Room, 2nd Floor, Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center, Dean College

Sponsored by Woods Career and College Counseling. 

For more information, contact Kathleen Woods at kwoodsp5@comcast.net.

Register for this event -> https://bit.ly/3QCdZfd

Discussion on curriculum, middle school math, and universal design for Franklin Schools (audio)

FM #1402 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1402 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Dr. Tina Rogers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning; Dr. Timothy Frazier, Director of Curriculum ELA & SS; and Eric Stark, Director of Curriculum STEM. We had our discussion in person in the Franklin Public Schools Central District offices on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Middle School math curriculum changes

• Universal design, and tiered support

• Overall curriculum evaluation plan and processes

• Excitement of synergies coming with the redistricting

The recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1402-franklin-public-schools-curriculum-disucssion-03-06-25/

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Teaching & Learning contact information

https://www.franklinps.net/page/teaching-and-learning

The Middle School math update presentation to the School Committee Jan 28, 2025

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5247238/January_28__2025_MS_Math_Update_to_SC_for_Website.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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. 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!

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

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

Discussion on curriculum, middle school math, and universal design for Franklin Schools (audio)

Evaluating Your College Financial Aid Offers - March 26

What to Expect

Evaluating Your College
Financial Aid Offers - March 26

Not all college financial aid offers are created equal. For families with students recently accepted to college, making sense-and cents-of the various financial aid offers they receive can be a difficult and confusing process. This session will focus on better understanding the nuances associated with financing a higher education and the many aspects that contribute to net cost, including merit scholarships, need-based grants, state and federal aid, student and parent loans, the FAFSA and beyond. The event will include a Q&A period.

Presenters

• Jean Ricker, Assistant Vice President, Student Financial Planning Dean College
• Bonnie Quinn, Director, Student Financial Services  Wellesley College

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 7:00PM

Golder Room, 2nd Floor, Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center, Dean College

Sponsored by Woods Career and College Counseling. 

For more information, contact Kathleen Woods at kwoodsp5@comcast.net.

Register for this event -> https://bit.ly/3QCdZfd

Voices of Franklin: Call to protect your financial data

Citizens of Franklin:  We are facing a crisis, and we need all Members of Congress to fight back. Join your friends and neighbors in telling Senators Warren & Markey as well as our Representative in Congress, Jake Auchincloss, that we demand they use every tool at their disposal to fight back against the takeover of our government and the federal funding freeze. They must act now to halt the process on the nomination of Russell Vought for OMB Director and use all levers at their disposal to fight the assault on our communities.  

Elon Musk and his associates now have access to all U.S. citizens private and financial information, Social Security info, Tax Info, Addresses, Banking Info, etc.  He is dangerous and was not elected by any voter in this country.  

Please protect yourself and your families.  

Karen Landers

Franklin MA 

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin:  Call to protect your financial data

Kerri & Jana share the Finance Town & School reorganization details, how the process works (audio)

FM #1338 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1338 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Town of Franklin Chief Financial Officer Kerri Bertone and Interim School Business Administrator, Jana Melotti. We had our discussion in person in the Finance offices at the Town of Franklin municipal building on Thursday, December 12, 2024. 

Kerri, Chris Sandini (now retired) and I had recorded a session on the budget cycle and finance terminology in April 2022. Aside from the Triple AAA bond rating, which we had not achieved at the time of the recording, it did happen in May 2022, nothing significant had changed in the cycle and recording material.

The Town and School sides did see a reorganization of the Finance functions this year and we review those details in this session.

 

We cover 

• The new Finance team org chart for Town and Schools

• Separation of duties and cross training

• Maintenance of the AAA bond rating is key

• Discussion on similarity of enterprise funds (Town) and revolving accounts (Schools)

• Free cash and capital funding

• Reimbursement of the emergency shelter school kids by DESE

• Audit of FY 2024 closing out, free cash being certified, budget cycle in process

The recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1338-franklin-ma-finance-reorg-updates-12-1224/

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Finance organization chart (part of Nov 6, 2024 Finance Cmte meeting)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/6._a_-_finance_org_chart_-_10-31-24.pdf 

April 2022 recording with Kerri & Chris Sandini

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/the-town-of-franklin-budget-cycle.html 

3 part series on Water

https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-matters-conversations-doug-martin-jake-standley

3 part series on Sewer

https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-matters-conversations-regarding-franklins-sewer-services-doug 

Town budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

School budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-district-budget 

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

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. 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!

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

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

Kerri & Jana share the Finance Town & School reorganization details, how the process works (audio)

Finance Committee gets preview of FY 2025 budget adjustments, Norfolk Retirement issue, Finance & HR reorg for Town/Schools (video)

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Nov 6 with 7 members participating in Council Chambers and 2 members absent (Batchelor, Hamilton)

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ejPhlcZs29g?si=otfRPnwkBa6Yta-B&t=158

The agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-11-06_finance_committee_agenda_packet.pdf

Quick recap:

• committee voted to keep same org structure as prior given status and new members, etc. Conley, Chair, Riley, Vice-Chair, Corbesierio, Clerk (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)
• committee approved the minutes for the 3 budget hearings in May (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the recommendation on FY25 Budget Adjustments and the committee voted to recommend them as discussed to the Town Council  (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)
• Jamie took time to outline the new Town and School Finance and Human Resources organization restructure, a work in progress for a number of years and finally operational, answered a number of clarification questions 
• Jamie also presented the FY24 Preliminary Expense Recap & Local Receipts year-end report  and the Stabilization Account Report and answered a number of clarification questions
• Brief update on the FY26 Budget Model and Fiscal Forecast Update, discussion around dodging a massive increase in the Norfolk County Retirement Fund, procedurally the Retirement Board should have bene more forthcoming about the increase, they weren't, still an item to watch
• Related to the retirement funding, it had been anticipated that once it was fully funded (approx. 2032, now 2035), those funds could be reallocated to the OPEB account and start paying that down more sooner. Confirmed delayed to 2035 currently
• As a result of the OPEB funding process, why doesn't the Town consider helping the Schools with the "hold harmless" funding. Can't be done all at once, it is about 12-15 Million, but the town is chipping away at OPEB, we should consider chipping away at the "hold harmless" too
• member comments lead to discussion (and future discussion) around how the committee can help raise the awareness of the community on the fiscal issues. More to come on that front

My notes captured during the meeting ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nZYVtQx2ljoXcuxpA78ltwoeWgRxKIlB/view?usp=drive_link

Finance Committee gets preview of FY 2025 budget adjustments, Norfolk Retirement issue, Finance & HR reorg for Town/Schools (video)

Voices of Franklin: Sue Dewsnap's comments on "Franklin’s Financial Stability and Future Planning"

As a taxpayer, I have significant concerns for Franklin’s financial stability and the lack of conversations and planning at the Town Council level on the topic.  After the failed override in June 2024, there was no municipal contingency spending plan available until 2 weeks after the vote.  It is now 15 weeks into FY 2025, and we do not have a published five-year projection.  The last quantified five-year projection was published on May 7, 2019 (link below). Without this information, how have you been making financial decisions?  

I attended the September 11 Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting.  After the discussion, I left with an estimate of $4.0 - $5.0 million budget shortfall for FY 2026.  Let’s see how close I am when the Joint Budget Subcommittee reconvenes on October 23, which will be almost 4 months into FY 2025.  If my estimate is correct, a $4.0 - $5.0 million budget shortfall will result in town reductions of 40 – 50 employees.  Where are we going to reduce 40-50 employees?  Are you prepared for those difficult decisions?  How are you going to do collective bargaining with our employees?

I’m most concerned about the lack of interest, urgency and commitment from this Council to solving our Town’s financial challenges.  At the September 11 Joint Budget Subcommittee, we were told that the process to develop a projection and identify cuts to services “will take some time”.  I respectfully challenge this, as our finances are not that difficult to predict.  Next step would be to decide which departments absorb the cuts and the resulting service impacts to the community.  I see no reason why this information cannot be available for Council review by Thanksgiving.

It’s time to start elevating this topic and requiring accurate financial information from our Town Administration on a regular basis.  A $4.0 - $5.0 million shortfall will have significant implications to our town services and further erode our school programs.  Franklin will look less attractive to new families and our property values will decline.  That is not the Franklin that I want to see.  I ask you to put Franklin’s future financial stability at the top of your priority list.

Respectfully,

Susan Dewsnap

Link to May 7, 2019 five year fiscal forecast:  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy20_-_fy24_five_year_fiscal_forecast_document.pdf

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Sue Dewsnap's comments on "Franklin’s Financial Stability and Future Planning"

Hockomock Area YMCA schedules Financial Wellness Series for families of individuals with special needs

Financial Wellness Series 

Hockomock Area YMCA (@HockomockYMCA) posted  Mon, Sep 09, 2024:

 

Join us for our upcoming Financial Wellness Series workshops for families of individuals with special needs!

REGISTER NOW - BIT.LY/3yQGoJa

Shared from -> https://t.co/ZqjEqXZAby

Town of Franklin: Government 101 - budget cycle (audio)

Continuing to bring forward items from the archives, we share this podcast episode on the financial budget cycle. About the only thing that has changed since the recording in April 2022, is that at the time, the Town was still working towards the AAA rating. The Town of Franklin received that accolade (May 2022) the month after this recording.

This shares my conversation with Town of Franklin Finance Director/Comptroller Chris Sandini and Treasurer/Collector Kerri Bertone. We had this conversation in the Franklin studio on Thursday, April 14, 2022.  

We cover the following key topics

A typical day for Finance Director/Comptroller

A typical day for Treasurer//Collector

The budget cycle, and fiscal year (July to June)

Three financial years; past, current, and future all in the mix

Our conversation runs about 62 minutes. Links to the documents referenced during this meeting are included in the show notes.  Let’s listen to this recording of my conversation with Kerri and Chris. 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-780-town-of-franklin-budget-cycle-finance-terms-04-14-22

Town of Franklin budget cycle

Note: As Chris Sandini has now retired, there are plans to update this with Treasurer/Collector Kerri Bertone and School Business Administrator Jana Vasconcelos-Melotti.