“The holidays need to look and feel very different this year”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:  

"Holidays will need to look different this year, state officials said as they recommended Thanksgiving celebrations be held virtually or limited to one household to minimize COVID-19 transmission risks.

“The science on this one’s pretty clear — gathering in groups indoors for an extended period of time with family and friends is likely the worst possible scenario for spreading the virus,” Gov. Charlie Baker said during a recent press conference.

Pointing to rising COVID-19 case numbers among Massachusetts residents under age 30, Baker again said people should stop hosting parties and other large social gatherings. He urged younger people, who may not experience severe symptoms of the respiratory disease, to think about the relatives they might infect, the health care workers gearing up for a second surge, and the children whose ability to attend in-person school hinges on the rate of virus spread.

Baker said his own Thanksgiving celebration this year will be “immediate family, and that’s it,” and said all families should “think long and hard about the well-being of your loved ones before you make your plans.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201101/baker-limited-turkey-day-is-way-to-go?rssfeed=true

The DPH guidance for Thanksgiving and the holidays

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/thanksgiving-during-covid-19.html

Thanksgiving during COVID-19

Thanksgiving during COVID-19

"Mass DPH has released the following guidance for the upcoming holiday. 

Read the details here https://t.co/D1kipWiVud @massdph "

 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/O8znIm40io

Thanksgiving during COVID-19

Town of Franklin, MA: Halloween Activity Guidelines

The State released health and safety standards related to Halloween activities.  

FYI: The Town of Franklin does not manage or schedule trick-or-treat.  

Please follow the state guidelines if you choose to participate. https://t.co/zYWzr7hF8Z 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/19pZyp1tAH

Town of Franklin, MA: Halloween Activity Guidelines

"We have to look at not just where our students live, but the impact that the surrounding communities have on us”"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:  

"MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Jeff Riley is escalating his push to convince school districts to bring students back in person, asking 16 districts for more information about their plans – and threatening them with a potential audit of their efforts to provide in-person education.

Riley wrote to 16 districts that have consistently ranked green or gray on the state’s color-coded map, which indicate low rates of COVID–19, that chose to start school remotely.

“Given your community’s designation of green or gray, I am concerned that the school committee has voted to keep most students learning remotely for the start of the 2020-21 school year,” Riley wrote, pointing to state guidance that recommends these districts bring students back in person.

“In light of the stark discrepancy between local public health data and your reopening plan, I am requesting a timeline by which you anticipate providing in-person instruction for the majority of your students including in-person instruction for vulnerable populations,” Riley continued. He wrote that their responses “may trigger an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction” and to ensure their remote learning program is consistent with state guidelines."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/riley-presses-districts-that-are-starting-year-with-remote-learning/

 

The Franklin Public Schools Reopening website can be found

https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home

 

 

The Franklin Public Schools Reopening web site

Arbor Day, Labor Day - Both are worthwhile celebrations

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 09/06/2020

"As a school kid, I recall Arbor Day, and ‘Trees’ by Joyce Kilmer.  The holiday was little more than the starting blocks for another school year. There wasn’t much meaning behind it. No giant festivities, fireworks, parade, big doin’s, junk food – nothin’.  Not even a corn dog.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbor_Day

It was – uhhm, Arbor Day. Then somewhere in those early school years it became Labor Day.  Again – nothing. At least, nothing for us kids to get jazzed about.

Now, both of these holidays are fine occasions that commemorate deserving causes. As an adult in these times of global warming with record high temps and record high unemployment – ? I get it. These are among the burning issues of our time. Firing up the backyard grill is nice, but – Somehow, we need to jack up the holiday gravitas and cobble together some appropriate Arbor Day/Labor Day traditions, including labors that promote the greening of our planet – and our wallets.

This notion of combining Arbor/Labor Days (or at least the causes they celebrate) is what Democrats are espousing in their Green New Deal.

Backstory  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal

House Resolution 109  https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hres109/BILLS-116hres109ih.pdf

The NGO that started it  https://www.sunrisemovement.org/green-new-deal

Now you know.

And – This just in:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/04/opinion/ed-markey-young-progressive-voters.html
Fittingly, the first job that the Green New Deal saved – was that of its author.

There’s another day that we should celebrate – Election Day. Get out the vote. And – as always 

–  Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching. "

Find the weekly Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio program guide online at

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

the home page of Franklin.TV features a link to Franklin Matters

MIAA Sports Rule Modifications for Fall 2020

MIAA (@MIAA033) tweeted at 0:02 PM on Fri, Aug 28, 2020:

Read the #MIAA statement regarding Fall 2020 sport modifications
#OneTeamOneMIAA  @MASchoolsK12 @MassEEA

==>https://t.co/7BHpt3Q2lf    https://t.co/7ae8ACNfiI
(https://twitter.com/MIAA033/status/1299376792294260736?s=03)

Go to the MIAA page for the individual sport modification requirements  or follow the links shown here  http://miaa.net/contentm/easy_pages/view.php?sid=38&page_id=317

(Editorial note: In my opinion, a quick review of some of the modifications change the nature of the game being played. I would also expect that statistics from such a season would be marked with an asterisk as they would not be comparable to prior seasons.)

• Cross Country   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/CrossCountryModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Field Hockey   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/FieldHockeyModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Golf   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/GolfModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Gymnastics  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/GymnasticsModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Soccer   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/SoccerModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Swimming & Diving   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/SwimDiveModificationsFall2020.pdf
• Volleyball   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/VolleyballModificationsFall2020.pdf
• MSAA - Dance   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/DanceModificationsFall2020.pdf

“You’re right, the soccer purists aren’t going to be happy with all these”

An inside view at the New England Soccer Journal: https://www.nesoccerjournal.com/breaking-down-the-miaa-guidelines-for-massachusetts-high-school-soccer/

The MIAA released guidelines and modifications Friday, which sent shockwaves across Massachusetts. (Dave Arnold Photography)

Franklin Community 2020 Voting Guide - Primary - Sept 1

A worthy set of material to prepare for the Primary election. Get your copy here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pJTTTmSxr5JwjJVzdBl-ra2_KEAMd0pq/view?usp=sharing 

or here

 

For additional information on voting visit the Town Clerk page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

For the Franklin voters "election collection" visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/2020-election-collection.html

the Franklin voters "election collection"

Hockomock Area YMCA Offers Remote Learning Support Programs and Before & After School Care

Our Hockomock Area YMCA knows this academic year will challenge families and present a unique need in our communities, as families will be balancing their children's remote learning needs with their own work schedules and commitments. We have been preparing to adapt our Y's Before & After School Care program to include both full-day remote learning support as needed, along with traditional before and after school care.  These enhanced programs will be comprehensive, supporting your child's virtual learning needs, while providing enrichment, socialization and physical activity each day. 
 
At all three of our YMCA full facility branches in Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro, we plan to provide onsite full-day remote learning and enrichment programming Monday through Friday as space allows. We are also identifying additional buildings in communities we serve where we may be able to expand our offering and allow more families to register.

Here is where we are in this process and the next steps we must take.

• All organizations who plan to offer any childcare or school age support program during the school year must be licensed by the state's Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC) in order to operate legally and within the standards that provide quality care and keep children safe.
• All Hockomock Area YMCA childcare and before and after school care programs are licensed by DEEC and we follow their guidelines strictly.
• While local school districts have submitted their final plans to the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for approval, and have communicated these plans to families within their community, the DEEC that we depend upon for licensing has not yet issued their revised COVID-19 standards or guidelines. These two state departments coordinate efforts to make sure guidelines are consistent.
• Until these guidelines are released, no program can operate, and we cannot finalize key elements, including staff to child ratios, the number of children allowed per classroom, and revised cleaning protocols.

According to the DEEC, the state should be providing us with the necessary guidelines by the end of this week or early next week. It has been shared with us that organizations like our Y who already have a license will be first in line to expand their care and be approved for the full day remote learning support program.
 
We will be moving forward in the next few days on anticipated program guidelines and making registration for families available, with the understanding that the entire program is pending on state approval.

If you would like to receive future updates and registration information once it’s available, please complete our online contact form by CLICKING HERE (https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=PpzOnpumbUWH4PxDDFqr5r-uLr_JgcNOrd_wDdoe02lUNjVMSzM3WDdDMzhBVDk2QkVJUThPTDJQSSQlQCN0PWcu).

Hockomock Area YMCA
Bernon Family Branch
45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508-528-8708
http://www.hockymca.org/franklin

Hockomock Area YMCA 

Commonwealth Magazine: state guidelines “confusing and disappointing”

 From CommonWealth Magazine we share articles of interest for Franklin:

"UNDER NEW STATE GUIDELINES issued Tuesday night, Somerville should be preparing to bring students back to school in person next month. It isn’t.

Somerville, a dense urban area outside of Boston, is ranked as “green,” or low-risk, on a new state map measuring COVID-19 rates. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says green communities should have full-time in-person learning, or at least a hybrid model if there are extenuating circumstances. 

Somerville already decided to start with fully remote learning, and Mayor Joe Curtatone called the new guidelines “confusing and disappointing.” “To look at a color-coded map and say that should be a bright line as to whether to bring back students, staff, teachers to school really disregards all the other variables we must analyze…when we make these decisions,” Curtatone said."

Continue reading the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/not-every-school-district-is-buying-bakers-guidance/

"Baker said Trump’s proposal is credible, but it takes money that states are already counting on to cover their COVID-19 costs and uses those funds to pay for the enhanced unemployment insurance benefit.

“That FEMA money, as far as most states are concerned, is what’s there for us to apply to be reimbursed for the costs we incurred in March, April, and May during the original emergency,” Baker said.

The same goes for using CARES Act funds to pay for the state’s share of the enhanced unemployment insurance benefit, Baker said. The governor said the CARES Act funding in most cases has already been designated for other needs. “It’s using most of a pot of money that’s already designated for a very particular purpose,” he said.

Baker said he would prefer that Congress step up and pass a comprehensive stimulus plan. “It’s really important that there be a fourth [stimulus] package,” he said."

Continue reading the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/baker-opposes-trumps-stimulus-alternative/

DESE released guidance on 'Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations' and 'Remote Learning'

July 24 - DESE Releases Guidance on:

• Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations https://t.co/2uxffPxv0K
• Remote Learning - https://t.co/7FvkM0WLm3 

pic.twitter.com/M1FH8HTlWB  — M.A.S.S. (@massupt) July 24, 2020

DESE released guidance on 'Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations' and 'Remote Learning'

You can get a copy of Remote Learning



Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations:

DESE: "What happens when a student or staffer gets sick at school this fall?"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"A kid sniffles on a school bus. A parent’s throat is sore. A teacher’s spouse feels sick. 

As schools reopen in the fall, previously common and insignificant situations will carry new prospects of danger. To guide districts’ responses, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education this week released protocols for when students, staffers, or families experience symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 — a 19-page plan that makes clear how complicated and challenging the new school year will be. 

“Even as we remain vigilant, and public health metrics in Massachusetts remain positive, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in school will not be zero,” the guidance reads. “No single strategy can ever be perfect, but all strategies together will reduce risk.” 

The guidance includes detailed instructions for various scenarios, which all stress the importance of assessing symptoms, isolating the sick, disinfecting spaces, testing, and staying home while awaiting test results and notifying the school. It says schools should promptly notify the families of any “close contacts” — anyone who came within 6 feet of the infected person in recent days for more than 10 minutes — so that family member can self-isolate and get tested too.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/21/metro/what-happens-when-student-or-staffer-gets-sick-school-this-fall/

Link to DESE guidance doc:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mo6FG3G2KJIAJ9Arct4uWHP4s0TEMCiK/view?usp=sharing

Or view the doc here

DESE: "What happens when a student or staffer gets sick at school this fall?"

Tracy Novick: "COVID doesn't care"

Great summary by Tracy Novick of the recently released guidelines for school districts on how to prepare for September.

• If you managed to read through the 27 pages, good. Check out this summary.
• If you haven't got there yet, check out this summary:

"COVID-19 doesn't care about your politics.
It doesn't care about the economy or small businesses or the GDP.
COVID-19 doesn't care about learning loss.
It doesn't care about language acquisition or student growth or meeting state standards.
COVID-19 doesn't care about socio-emotional learning.
It doesn't care about your mental health or your social connections or student support.
COVID doesn't care.

We can want, desperately, to have things back to normal, to have children back in classrooms, to have families back to work, to begin to repair what we've lost by schools being closed.

But COVID doesn't care."

Continue reading Tracy's summary
http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/06/covid-doesnt-care.html

The DESE guidelines can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/in-news-screening-children-for-covid-19.html

the dogwood tree in my backyard, a pleasant sight this time of year

In the News: "Screening children for COVID-19 symptoms will be the responsibility of parents"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Massachusetts released guidelines to superintendents Thursday with a goal of getting students back into classrooms this fall after the coronavirus pandemic forced districts to turn to remote learning in March.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley released the guidelines after weeks of discussion with members of the state’s Return-to-School Working Group, infectious disease physicians and pediatricians.

“Districts and schools should begin planning for a fall return that includes multiple possibilities, with a focus first and foremost on getting our students back into school buildings,” Riley said.

The suggestions are “initial guidance for school reopening this fall that prioritizes getting our students back to school in person -- safely, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200625/what-will-massachusetts-schools-look-like-in-fall-education-commissioner-says-masks-will-be-required-but-temperature-checks-will-not

"Today, @MASchoolsK12 released initial guidance for school reopening this fall that prioritizes getting students safely back to school in person, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3dBlFZ4"

Initial guidance  http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/return-to-school/guidance.docx

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassGovernor/status/1276190504145817601?s=09



Video update link = https://youtu.be/PGkn0y0m0VU

"called the new guidelines 'common sense suggestions'”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym.

These are some of the tips in long-awaited guidance from U.S. health officials about how to reduce risk of coronavirus infection for Americans who are attempting some semblance of normal life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the guidelines Friday, along with a second set for organizing and attending big gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies.

But the guidelines are “not intended to endorse any particular type of event,” the CDC’s Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200612/cdc-posts-long-awaited-tips-for-minimizing-everyday-risk

CDC Frequently asked questions  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Events and gatherings guidance
https://context-cdn.washingtonpost.com/notes/prod/default/documents/171bfa3b-654e-4852-ab8b-697300cf89bd/note/62e57521-13e2-40cc-98de-de35c5bb9e21.#page=1

All guidance from the CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/guidance-list.html?

All guidance from the CDC

Franklin, MA: Temporary Outdoor Dining Guidance and Application

In anticipation of Governor Baker's announcement to allow outdoor dining in the State, the Town of Franklin has compiled a list of temporary guidance and application process information for our local establishments. 

Please find it here, https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/webforms/temporary-outdoor-dining-guidance-and-application

We will continue to update the community on reopening procedures and guidelines as information becomes available. You can visit the Reopening Resources portal on our website here https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/reopening-resources

 

Franklin, MA: Temporary Outdoor Dining Guidance and Application

CDC Guidelines for reopening are now available

From the Washington Post, we find the CDC guidelines are available

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week laid out its detailed, delayed road map for reopening schools, child-care facilities, restaurants and mass transit, weeks after covid-weary states began opening on their own terms.

The CDC cautioned that some institutions should stay closed for now and said reopening should be guided by coronavirus transmission rates.

For schools, the CDC recommended a raft of social distancing policies: desks at least six feet apart and facing the same direction, lunch in classrooms, staggered arrival times, cloth masks for staff and daily temperature screenings for everyone.

It advised that buses leave every other row empty, bars add sneeze guards and child-care centers limit sharing of art supplies.

The 60-page guidance document was posted on the CDC website over the weekend without fanfare after weeks of delay and an internal debate over whether the guidelines were too restrictive."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/cdc-guidelines-released-at-last-offer-low-key-guide-to-reopening/2020/05/19/c99eb63a-99f8-11ea-a282-386f56d579e6_story.html

Download a copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15wQ1d0QP48nn6Iy7pHmFNxq_1Y5F0TnG/view?usp=sharing

or directly from the CDC page
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/CDC-Activities-Initiatives-for-COVID-19-Response.pdf

CDC Guidelines are now available

CDC releases edited coronavirus reopening guidance

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening.

The tools are for schools, workplaces, camps, childcare centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurants. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.

Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings. The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions, according to government emails obtained by the AP and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200514/officials-release-edited-coronavirus-reopening-guidance/1

Restaurants  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EJO4CY1czWcXshNxxjGbfxbZpdiSSzKx

Workplaces  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pO3A2iyJTXo2ERxL-B6sTdijtiE0NMok

Mass transit  https://drive.google.com/open?id=17v9IzGHx8X5KCDG49oeBWotQje2dxJSW

Schools  https://drive.google.com/open?id=131ML-PTTw2QqjJPpLKrVLR84yZFcc24i

Camps  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K7tfCnoO1wRvGrA4FGEPcM30X6QHNYLb

Child care  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1L28t20hUUdoDuT4cKo1WZkhvbDUp4RPF

https://www.cdc.gov/

"Each phase must ensure that cities and towns have full access to the resources needed to reopen"

From the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

"The MMA today (5/13/20) presented a comprehensive set of municipal priorities and recommendations to the state’s COVID-19 Reopening Advisory Board, the 17-member panel drafting the state plan that will be released on May 18.

The MMA is calling for:

• Timely notice to local government in advance of each reopening phase
• Strong and specific health and safety standards and directives from the state on how to protect the public and employees during each phase
• Delivery of resources to all communities to ensure equity and consistency in public services throughout the state
• Clear affirmation of local enforcement authority and high standards for industry to follow to ensure consistency across Massachusetts

Arlington Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine and MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith presented a detailed framework for action that was developed by a special MMA Reopening Advisory Committee of municipal officials from across the state.

The MMA emphasized the need for a careful and sustainable reopening process that is driven by public health needs above all, so that Massachusetts can avoid a second shutdown, which would devastate chances for economic recovery in the near term while lives are again at risk."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.mma.org/mma-presents-key-municipal-priorities-for-reopening-process/

The presentation copy can be found online
https://41g41s33vxdd2vc05w415s1e-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MMA_Presentation_to_RAB_FinalDraft_5.12.pdf

1 page of the summary on recommendations

Franklin: Good planning

Franklin: Good planning, originally uploaded by shersteve.

An example of good planning. To lay the bricks straight and even, there are guidelines on each corner. Three of those guidelines are pictured here.

Too bad the folks who just put in the sidewalk near the new fire station did not take similar planning precautions. Now they have some re-work to do.