Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee begins to coalesce around their work plan

FM #1778 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1778 in the series. 

This session shares the exclusive audio from the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee Meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2026. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room. 

 

The recording runs about 62 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1778-horace-mann-legacy-mtg-07-13-26/

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Meeting agenda 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2401 

My notes in one PDF 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11J-yJbzxMfv9e7G0IOUHFQ_Ouj6Q5xY9/view?usp=drive_link 

Horace Mann trifold used beginning at Strawberry Stroll

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KfKvOLhuXlzlor53vvErcTONj-6FFk24/view?usp=drive_link

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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"

Agenda for the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee - Monday, July 13 at 7 PM

Franklin Public Schools - Franklin School Committee

Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

July 13, 2026 = 7:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room

AGENDA

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed, and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● Campus Design Update

● Financial Review

● Farmer's Market Event

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2401

Audio replay of the Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte Meeting April 27, 2027 is ready (audio)

FM #1739 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1739 in the series. 

Horace Mann birthplace monument in Franklin 

This session shares the exclusive audio from the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee Meeting held on Monday, April 27, 2026. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room. 

 

The recording runs about 1 hour & 21 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1739-horace-mann-legacy-subcmte-mtg-04-27-26/

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Meeting agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2263 

My notes in one PDF 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K0YXyEp3-9Y9AVbFRFm9kub4XsBW11nx/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"

Audio recording of the Horace Mann Legacy Committee meeting April 30, 2026

FM #1704 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1704 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte Mtg held on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Meeting chaired by School Committee Vice-Chair Dave Callaghan. Members Ruthann O’Sullivan (in person) and Reis Hansen (remotely) participated. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Operations Colin Boisvert participated.

Quick recap

• History of the chocolate chip cookie shared Cookies provided for those present

• Resource doc for committee to collect information about Horace to build the

base of understanding for the group to help prepare the story to be used by the committee for the community awareness 

• May 2 film to be shown at museum Kids play area to understand Horace as he grew up. Presentation on the Research around the middle period of Horace's story in Franklin scheduled for Sunday. Multiple ideas to add to the weekend to augment the activity and improve the draw appeal

• Children's Museum checking with the Library to coordinate some younger age activities and info

• Motion to adjourn 

The meeting runs about 1 hour and 20 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1704-fps-horace-mann-legacy-subcmte-mtg-03-30-26/

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The agenda for this meeting can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2211   

My full set of notes in a PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/16dsOWdxcZ5Mn79mQAsfLMZVIDfbnTwXJ/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"

Agenda for Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee meeting Monday, March 30 at 7 PM

Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

March 30, 2026 = 7:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed, and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law." 

● Call to Order 

● Discussion of Kick-off Event 

● Breakout Session 

● Report Out

Agenda doc has remote participation info

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBAUflsZV5Ym_hIgk31oUFiseagFvWz8/view?usp=drive_link

Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee looking for interested community members

To all members of the Franklin, MA community,

I am writing to share with you an exciting new opportunity for civic engagement in Franklin via a role on the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee.

Horace Mann

Horace Mann was a Franklin native who is now considered the Father of Public Education due to his commitment to education reform, promoting universal public education and establishing the public education system in Massachusetts that was then adopted by most other states.

In August, the School Committee voted to create the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee as a means to guide the development of initiatives that honor the life, legacy, and enduring influence of Horace Mann. This work will focus on the following primary areas:

Horace Mann Campus Identity & Physical Recognition – Establishing a clear, consistent, and historically grounded identity for the Horace Mann Campus through visible but restrained physical and digital markers.

Community Awareness & Storytelling – Increasing public understanding of Horace Mann’s life, legacy, and connection to Franklin through educational and interpretive efforts.

Public Education Advocacy (Informational) – Supporting historical education and awareness related to public education, without engaging in lobbying or political advocacy.

We are seeking interested community members to serve as voting members of this committee! Specifically, we are seeking:

• 4 community members at-large

• 1 Franklin Middle School student representative

• 1 Franklin High School student representative

to serve alongside members from the Franklin School Committee, Historical Commission, Cultural Council, and Town Council on this 12-person subcommittee.

The subcommittee will meet monthly and is scheduled to serve until May 4, 2027 unless extended by School Committee vote.

If you are interested, please communicate your interest through the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/NjuLBgHVfQsREvRv7

All submissions will be reviewed at the next subcommittee meeting, currently scheduled for Friday, January 23, and interested parties will be contacted following this review.

If you have any questions, you can reach me at reish@franklinps.net.

• Submitted Respectfully by Reis Hansen on behalf of the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

Audio recording of the Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte Mtg - Nov 3, 2025 (audio)

FM #1575 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1575 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte Mtg held on Monday, Nov 3, 205 at 6:00 PM. Meeting chaired by School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. Members Ruthann O’Sullivan and KP Sompally participated remotely. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Operations Colin Boisvert participated.

 

QUick recap

• Draft doc for scope and mission of the subcmte being reviewed

• Overall question is how do we engage the entire community to understand, appreciate and honor his legacy with an education focus. But acknowledge that he did have other interests in his career

• Goals around three arenas: 

• The named campus, the physical presence

• Education 

• Advocacy

• Discussion on guardrails to keep subcmte from wandering off the tasks

• Discussion on composition of committee, representation from various stakeholder groups; final decision up to full School Committee

• Draft doc to be updated based upon discussion and used by next committee

• Motion to adjourn 

The meeting runs about 1 hour and 8 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1575-fps-horace-mann-legacy-subcmte-mtg-11-03-25/

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Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte

The agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1988 

My full set of notes in one PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D9Xt-u6fNJ-Tm36qwcYo2ywfj-2A-uC8/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"

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, November 3, 2025 ???

Monday, November 3

For additional details on Library events ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**   Town Meetings today   **

License to Store Propane Public Hearing (Continued from October 29, 2025)

Monday, November 3 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1987 

Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1988 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1984

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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 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-calendar