School Committee gets update on Lifelong Learning at March 24 session (audio)

FM #1712 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1712 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM. All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• Students scheduled for the pledge got to the meeting for the incorrect 6 PM start and will be rescheduled to another meeting

• Superintendent's report

• substitute nurses being looked for

• Winter sports round up

• earmark funded for middle school library (still needs to make through the budget cycle)

• Innovation labs grant also awarded

• FHS family science night April 9 from 5 to 8 pm

• Lifelong learning update

• For Solutions, the students to teacher ratios; K - 1 to 10, others grades are 1 to 12, 1 to 13

• Footlighters program hiring for, trying to fulfill that position, complications in the hiring process had hindered the hiring to date. Still being worked

• Over 900 adults taking part, a wide variety of offerings from sports to arts, etc.

• Funding question, Lifelong learning is effectively another revolving fund, fee based and those fees can only be used within the program

• Discussion/Action Items

• A.   Student Opportunities Act Plan Vote

• B. Endorsement of Request for Statement of Interest for Development of Strategic Plan

• both passed by 7-0 votes

• Subcommittee updates

• Citizen comment - I stepped up to say thanks for the participation at the Q&A and to provide 2 future dates for their calendars

• April 18, Favorite Poem Reading at the Library 

• On May 2, the 3rd annual Jane Jacobs walk, meet at the TV studio walk about 1 mile or so, return to the studio. Discussions of housing, zoning, which are all budget related. It is a generally good discussion with insights shared

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1712-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-03-24-26/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/uQe3rLUq6e8?&t=87 

The agenda for this session - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2201 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuJSdiqLK1QBa9NdcjVsk5KVX7AH2MX3/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album of the slides presented for Lifelong Learning

https://photos.app.goo.gl/adaJ3sZeYK5ih5t28 

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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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Franklin TV schedule for Friday, April 10, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Katie Kindilien

8:30 am Frank Presents: Jason Poulos

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel

11:00 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 2

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Breakfast

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 3

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

4:30 pm The Black Box: A Magical Night of Disney Classics

5:30 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra

8:30 am Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

9:30 am Jazz Cafe 03-06-26

11:00 am United Methodist Church: Lola Richardson

2:00 pm Lifelong Music: Strings School 01-22-25

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Durfee 06-01-25

8:30 pm Franklin Footlighters: High School Musical Jr.

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Finance Committee completes review of department budgets, gets ready for potential revision Thursday (video)

The Finance Committee spends about 3 hours reviewing details of the FY 2027 budget on Wednesday, April 8. This is the third of 4 sessions this week to review and question the details of the budget.

8 of the 9 members of the committee were present in Council Chambers for this session.

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -  

https://www.youtube.com/live/x8Hb_pCl64A?&t=164

Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2221

My full set of notes in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D-RumOpcYkE7SZ_czpSZzW5TKdS9SE3B/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Gus Brown, Building Commissioner, up first
• Discussion on the accounting for and if the Maplegate solar permits are in this year or next. It was received this year but may or may not become free cash, it depends upon the budget line item and whether that amount is over or under the budgeted amount
• Gus could use another inspector, it would pay for itself but others do need the resources more; Currently have 1.5 used to have 3 clerical; inspectors have also become administrators, and it reduces some revenue opportunity
• Brutus, DPW up next, slides on his highlights captured with pictures, soon to be an album shared here - The DPW slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/QygUrNZyWASVr6MbA
• Use of pre-buy locked in rates through Norfolk County procurement has been good. Haven't locked in for next year yet due to the recent market gyrations
• Discussion on the creation of Stormwater and the shortage for grounds (2 personnel)
• We have to change something or nothing will change It is clear now why we did ask for an override.
• Next up Police Chief Lynch, level service plus 2, looking to get the SROs back
• Took 23 years to get to the budgeted amount (54) which at that time would have successfully serviced the population at that time
• Hired 44 police officers since 2016 due to retirees and turnover, it should slow down ... The force is younger, hiring is harder, not many want to apply. It is getting more difficult. Only 9 months out of 10 years have the dept been at full staff.
• The mental health clinicians provide great value, post COVID. They see over 800 people a year. The pilot was successful, we looked to expand and with additional grant funds we did. The single best change in law enforcements I have seen in my 30 years
• Next up, Chief Allen, Fire Dept.
• 3rd ambulance still in part time, 40 hours per work
• Would need 4 more to get to 13/shift to staff the ambulance all the time
• During this meeting, there were 2 calls that were serviced by outside and transported to the hospital so those were lost revenue ... The nature of the call would determine the amount of the revenue It is not just the ambulance, it is also the ladder truck
• Definition clarification on level service, the service provided is not necessarily at the same funding required; there is also a level funded budget where the funded
• $ for one year remains the same (and usually services are cut)
• And yes, there is some funkiness with this level service budget as there are things being added back, so is it this year's level service or the desired part of some prior year's service?
• Dispatch Center or the MECC being covered
• Also skipped Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie last night with no explanation given for it
• Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie, both assessments based upon enrollment, not much of a change year to year

So Thursday night, the Finance Committee will use the 3rd Floor Training room for their discussion to be more around a table rather than spread out to help their discussion. Potential revisions coming to the budget, what they are we'll watch and see.

Wins all around on Wednesday for FHS girls & boys lacrosse, girls & boy tennis as well as softball & baseball teams

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, April  8, 2026

Baseball = Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final 

– In a defensive battle, Franklin held on for a tight win on the road, stranding the tying and winning run on base in the bottom of the seventh. After a scoreless first two innings, the Panthers opened up the game in the third inning off of an error. Sean Kryzak got the Panthers on the board again in the fifth inning with a two-out, two-run double to left field, plating Jack Sullivan and Owen Pennini, who had back-to-back singles. North Attleboro was able to get some momentum going in the sixth inning with Marty Rogers and Jake Ronci both scoring. North threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Tommy Manning walked and Zach Breton was hit by a pitch, but Jacoby Brown induced a ground ball for the third out. Sullivan (three hits) and Owen Pennini (two hits, two runs) led the Panther’s offensive charge. Freshman Ethan Edmunds had a great first five innings on the mound for Franklin, only surrendering four hits and striking out nine.

Softball = North Attleboro, 3 @ Franklin, 9 – Final 

– The Panthers jumped out to a lead right away with a four-run first inning and after North Attleboro cut into the deficit in the top of the third, answered with a three-spot in the bottom half to secure a win at home over the Rocketeers. Franklin’s patience at the plate in the bottom of the first turned into a 4-0 lead for the hosts. Sophomore Kate Juergens clubbed a double to score classmate Lindsey DeGirolamo (triple), and Molly Willey came through with a two-out single to plate Juergens to cut the deficit in half. But Franklin’s offense came back with a two-out rally, including a two-run double from Olivia Caruso (3-for-4, four RBI, run) and an RBI single from Sophia Sacramone to push the lead to 7-2. Caruso added an RBI single in the fifth and plated another run with a sac fly in the sixth to cap a strong day at the plate. Addi Weiss added two hits and scored two runs for Franklin. Sacramone earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts; Abby Souza tossed two scoreless innings in relief without giving up a hit.

Franklin TV video of the softball game - https://www.youtube.com/live/CCcxtb2IKkg?&t=192

Boys Lacrosse = Foxboro, 9 @ Franklin, 15 – Final 

– The Panthers built a five-goal lead by halftime and kept that advantage throughout the second half to knock off the visiting Warriors. Junior Charlie Ballarino (three assists) and freshman Kellan Taccini (one assist) each scored four goals to spearhead the attack for Franklin. Senior Thomas Quinn (two assists) scored a hat trick, senior Quinn Kielty (assist) tallied twice, and seniors Ryder Hanchett and Ben Scaccia each found the back of the net once. Senior Ethan Barnes helped anchor the defense with four takeaways and four ground balls while senior Dean Lawless made 10 saves in the cage.

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 12 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final

Boys Tennis = North Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final

Girls Tennis = Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-08-26/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, April 9, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = THURSDAY

9:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Alan Young

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Spring

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:35 pm Cooking with Linda: Breakfast

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 3

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Lauren Turner

5:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Jason Poulos

8:00 pm Celebrate with Pride 2025: Toby

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = THURSDAY

9:30 am Middle School 6th Grade Concert

11:00 am Lifelong Music: Strings School 01-22-25

2:00 pm United Methodist Church: Lola Richardson

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

5:30 pm FHS Varsity Softball v King Philip 03-30-26

7:30 pm Rec Basketball: 5th & 6th Grade Boys 03-07-26

9:00 pm Franklin Footlighters: High School Musical Jr.

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Conservation Commission 03-26-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 03-26-26

6:00 pm  Finance Committee  3rd Fl Trng Room  830 5185 2189

7:00 pm  Conservation Commission  Council Chambers

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA