Franklin School Committee gets a mid year update on the District & School Improvement Plans (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. All 7 members were present to participate in person.

Franklin TV video is available for review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4JTAfLa5E

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04142026-2250

The meeting packet folder contains the doc released before the meeting and after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/april-14%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/26737086

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRqOLinf4Pyzl_K-5sm6fjBuhOqbceig/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap

• The complete administrative leadership team across the district was present to provide a midyear update on the District and School Improvement plans
• The 'current' District and School plan can be found - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/24ecc9f7e5.html#page/1. The updates as approved last night should be update to the school page in a day or so.

 

Franklin, MA: Agenda for School Committee meeting Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7 PM

Franklin School Committee 

April 14, 2026 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers 

Call to Order Dr. Griffith

Announcements from the Chair

Pledge of Allegiance 

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

Portrait of a Graduate

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Dr. Griffith

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. District and School Improvement Plan

III. Citizens Comments

IV. Discussion/Action Items

A.   District Improvement Plan Approval

I recommend approval of the District Improvement Plan as presented. 

B.   School Improvement Plans Approval

I recommend approval of the School Improvement Plans as presented. 

C.   School Choice Vote

I recommend to NOT accept school choice students for the 2026-27 school year as discussed. 

D.   Foreign Exchange Student Vote

I recommend to NOT accept foreign exchange students for the 2026-27 school year as discussed. 

E. Establish New Revolving Accounts

I recommend the establishment of new Revolving Accounts as discussed. 

F. Policy - 1st reading

I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading as discussed.

• JRE - Student Achievement Recognition Signage KF - Community Use of School Facilities
• KF-E1 - Rules & Regulations
• KF-E2 - Franklin High Building Use
• KF-E3 - Facilities Rental Fee Schedule

G. New STRIVE Student Activity Accounts

I recommend the establishment of new STRIVE Student Activity Accounts as discussed.

V. Discussion Only Items

A. Monthly Financial Report

B. BICO Quarterly Report

VI. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your March 24, 2026 School Committee meeting as detailed. 

B.   Washington 3-5 Gift

I recommend the acceptance of $5,700.00 from the W3-5 PCC for field trips as detailed. 

C.   FHS Scholarship

I recommend the acceptance of $2,500.00 from DCU for a FHS scholarship as detailed. 

D. Lincoln St K-2 Gift

I recommend the acceptance of $628.52 from Ahold Delhaize USA, Inc. for Supplemental supplies at Lincoln St. K-2 Elementary School as detailed. 

E. FHS Scholarships

I recommend the acceptance of $3,500 for FHS Scholarships as follows: 

Meg Brackley $1,500.00 Jim Gray Scholarship

Van Drivers $2,000.00 Carol Maher Memorial

VII. Good of the Order

VIII. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

IX. Adjournment

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04142026-2250

The meeting packet folder contains the doc released before the meeting and after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/april-14%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/26737086

Franklin School Committee reorganizes, gets the scoop on what their about to do (audio)

FM #1586 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1586 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. All 7 members of the newly elected committee were present. 

Quick recap:

• Supt Giguere opens the session, solicits nominations for Chair. 

• One made by Callaghan for Griffith. Vote on the nomination passes 7-0

• Nominations asked for Vice Chair. One made, Griffith nominates Callaghan. Vote on the nomination passes 7-0

• Policy - 2nd Reading/Adoption. Superintendent recommends adoption of the following policies as discussed: 

• IKF - Graduation Requirements

• IKFE - Competency Determinations

• Discussion on the adjustments to the grad requirements and competency which fine tuned the language for clarity. Moved to accept as discussed, passes 7-0

• Discussion Only Items, informational for new members and for the weather as winter approaches for all

• A. Inclement Weather Notice

• B. Review of District/Superintendent’s Goals

• C. ACCEPT Quarterly Update

• Spent time on the rationale and objectives for each of the subcommittees or liaisons for the SchCmte to assist the new members as which ones to select. Chair will make alignment and reveal for next meeting so they can begin scheduling meetings as needed

Franklin School Committee (L-R): Hansen, Griffith, Callaghan, O'Sullivan, Mausolf, Charles, Karunakaran

The audio runs about 2 hours

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1586-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-11-1825/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea9CmNWJI1s 

The agenda doc can be found ->  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6138802/SCAGENDA11-18-25.pdf  

The meeting packet folder with other docs released for this session ->

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/november-18%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/862192 

My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xlF11yc5sLUZBOhYoY_95dGb6zI68i0e/view?usp=drive_link 

Pictures captured during the session are in one photo album -> 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TKFnfsbkzprJ5xSj9

 

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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 out. 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"

School Committee conducts their last session of their elected term - 10/28/25 (audio)

FM #1570 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1570 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. All 7 members of the committee were present. 

Quick recap:

• Recognition of Erin Gallagher & David McNeill not returning

• Pledge students, a nice touch

• Policy first readings

• Graduation requirements

• Competency determinations

• Superintendent’s Goals, aligned with District’s Goals

• October 1 report, enrollment trends

The audio runs about  1 hour 33 minutes. Let's listen in ->

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1570-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-10-28-25/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtitdxM_a2A  

The agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1977   

The packet folder also contains other docs released before or after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/october-28%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/859754   

My full set of notes in one PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-utM6sD6UggBNAMgWnQsG0g_lfmqo-on/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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 out. 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"

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan condenses the recent meeting to about 25 mins (audio)

FM #1566 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1566 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via Zoom on Thursday, October 30, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of October 28, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Recognition of Erin Gallagher & David McNeill not returning

• Pledge students, a nice touch

• Policy first readings

• Graduation requirements

• Competency determinations

• Superintendent’s Goals, aligned with District’s Goals

• October 1 report, enrollment trends 

The meeting recap runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1566-chalkboard-chat-10-30-25/

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

Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net   

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtitdxM_a2A 

The agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1977 

The packet folder also contains other docs released before or after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/october-28%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/859754 

My full set of notes in one PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-utM6sD6UggBNAMgWnQsG0g_lfmqo-on/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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 out. 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"

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan condenses the recent meeting to about 25 mins (audio)