Franklin School Committee hears concerns from teachers before vote to approve FY 2026 budget (audio)

FM #1380 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1380 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025. All 7 members participated in Council Chambers. 

The public section of the meeting was comparatively short. They did enter Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations and did not return to the public meeting.

Quick recap

• The Keller Student Council stepped forward to lead the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting

• During the Superintendent's report, there was recognition of 4 FHS musicians who were selected to the All-State Music Festival; Emma Anderson (French horn), Ace Eagerman (string bass), Alex Fioavanti (?) and Emily Lou, (violin) 

• During the discussion prior to the vote on the budget, a number of teachers from elementary, middle, and high school stepped up to comment on the decline of funding over the years, the impact on the students and their educational development effects on college prep with a limit on foreign language options less than optimal and not talked of impacts to the new schedule at both elementary & middle levels while individual classes size is maintained within guidelines,the teacher workload increases

• The committee did vote 7-0 on the proposed budget; I assume it is possible to make further adjustments (as hoped for by some of the teachers) given the position we are in for this budget cycle

• The budget as approved does assume a successful  override although that decision remains before the Town Council at a March meeting, after the listening sessions are completed. Date and amount of override to be determined

• School calendar for the 2025-2026 year was approved. It does start after Labor Day this year to enable the move in Sept 2025 to be completed. Resumption of pre-Labor Day start is expected for the next school year

• Discussion on a draft of the School Committee meeting calendar covered multiple topics mostly around the local election in November and to prepare for a new committee to be able to transition into their new role more easily than prior

• Motion to enter into Executive session, not to return to public meeting for contract negotiation discussions

The recording runs about 1 hour & 40 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1380-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-02-11-25/

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Photos taken during the meeting can be found in one album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wUQtiMDnwKLSQyTa9  

 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfqefUMtloU&t=51 

The agenda doc can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_02112025-1571 

Meeting packet (other docs as they are released after the meeting will get posted here) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/february-11%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/756881 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUU7zppEaNgj9xN442EdbZnFvnqI3VSM/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. 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!

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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 & Supt Gigure posed with All-State Music Festival; Emma Anderson (French horn), Ace Eagerman (string bass), Alex Fioavanti (?) and Emily Lou, (violin)

Master Plan Update Cmte spends a few minutes to approve outstanding meeting minutes (audio)

FM #1374 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1374 in the series. 

This session shares the Master Plan Update Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, February 5, 2025. They met for the final time. The key item on the agenda was to approve some minutes from prior meetings.

The recording runs about 7 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1374-master-plan-updt-cmte-mtg-02-05-25/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/eCmkY0Hl6ow?&t=559 

The agenda doc -> https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1544 

My notes for this short meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jrQGcK9JolOVsljUYPob_1yxkLDisy-g/view?usp=drive_link 

“Final” version of the Master Plan (at least as of 1/20/25) -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report 

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

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"

Master Plan Update Cmte meets for their final time to approve outstanding minutes (audio)

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance Newsletter - Meeting Dec 6

Join us for our monthly meeting Thursday at Franklin TV!

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance In this newsletter we include an invitation to our next meeting and community events, including our next book club discussion, and include more opportunities to get involved. You Are Invited To Our November Monthly Meeting!   When: December 5th at 6:30 PM   Where: Franklin TV at 23 Hutchinson St. in Franklin   What: Come hang out and help make ornaments for the Franklin Senior Center! Announcing our new Events Coordinator...Rion James (he/they)!   "Rion has lived in Franklin since he was 3. He works at stop and shop filling online shopping orders, but aspires to be a preschool teacher one day. Rion loves to read and write, watch tv, play video games, and cuddle his dog Sonic. He is excited to put our group out more and hopefully bring in more people in the community and allies together."   Join us in welcoming Rion as a new FLA officer! FLA Events Join us for Wicked Queer Game Night!!   When: First Saturdays (December 7th)   Where: Pete's Nerd Emporium at 10 Main St in Franklin   When: 6:30 to 8:30pm LGBTQ+ Book Club on the second Wednesdays of each month! Join us December 11th at 6:30pm at Pete's Nerd Emporium (10 Main St, Franklin) Join us as we read Guapa by Saleem Haddad!   You can get your copy at the Franklin Public Library.    "Set over the course of twenty-four hours,  Guapa follows Rasa, a gay man living in an unnamed Arab country, as he tries to carve out a life for himself in the midst of political and social upheaval. Rasa spends his days translating for Western journalists and pining for the nights when he can sneak his lover, Taymour, into his room. One night Rasa's grandmother—the woman who raised him—catches them in bed together. The following day Rasa is consumed by the search for his best friend Maj, a fiery activist and drag queen star of the underground bar, Guapa, who has been arrested by the police. Ashamed to go home and face his grandmother, and reeling from the potential loss of the three most important people in his life, Rasa roams the city's slums and prisons, the lavish weddings of the country's elite, and the bars where outcasts and intellectuals drink to a long-lost revolution. Each new encounter leads him closer to confronting his own identity, as he revisits his childhood and probes the secrets that haunt his family. As Rasa confronts the simultaneous collapse of political hope and his closest personal relationships, he is forced to discover the roots of his alienation and try to re-emerge into a society that may never accept him. (goodreads)"   We hope you will read with us!  If you are not on our email list, sign up to receive future emails with this form.  This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content -> View this email in your browser

FBTRC schedules Monthly Meeting Sep 10 at the Franklin TV Studio

Meeting Tuesday night at Franklin.TV. We'd love to see you there

View this email in your browser FBTRC schedules Monthly Meeting Sep 10 at the Franklin TV Studio

September Monthly Meeting Hello!   Tuesday night we will have our monthly meeting at Franklin.TV, 23 Hutchinson Street, Franklin at 7pm. The meeting will be BYOB.  We'd love to see you there! The minutes from our previous meeting can be found here on our web site. The agenda for this month's meeting is here.   Warm regards, Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

Copyright © 2024 Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have opted in to stay informed about the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Our mailing address is: Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee PO Box 68 Franklin, Ma 02038

Yankee Quilters Welcomes Members New and Old to Fall Events

Yankee Quilters, a local guild of dedicated quilters, will begin its program year on Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 PM at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in the Horace Mann Plaza in Franklin. Quilters from new to experienced are welcome to join throughout the year.

Yankee’s Comfort Quilts team of dedicated members work together to create beautiful quilts for Dana Farber cancer patients, homeless/displaced children and for international aid groups through the “Wrap the World in Quilts” organization. Yankee members also contribute quilt blocks for Quilts of Valor for veterans. Each of these charity projects is a great opportunity for learning and practicing quilt skills with friendly volunteers using fabric provided by the guild. Comfort Quilts meets Mondays 10 – 2 at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in Franklin.

Yankee Quilters Welcomes Members New and Old to Fall Events

Newcomers are encouraged to come and help get beautiful quilts into the hands of people who truly appreciate the gift. The nurses at Dana Farber – Milford recently sent a thank you note to the Yankee volunteers with confirmation that the quilts bring much joy. One nurse wrote “Our patients treasure them and feel the love. You all are making a difference.”

In addition to monthly meetings on the second Tuesday, the group offers speaker programs, member “show and tell” demonstrations and opportunities to sew together throughout the year including a four-day sewing vacation in the spring. Updates are posted on the group’s Facebook page.

In October, Yankee will collect used clothing, “soft goods” such as sheets and blankets, and books to raise funds for guild activities. Members use mostly donated materials to make these quilts; however, funds are needed for batting which adds warmth and texture to the quilt. This fundraiser also helps pay for lectures to improve members’ skills. The collection day will be Saturday, October 5th from 9 am to 12 Noon at Prime Storage, Route 126, in Bellingham. Details are available by writing to Yankeequilters11@gmail.com for drop-off or pick-up.

The regular Guild meeting on Tuesday, October 8th, will include a potluck supper, and a presentation on quilts that Yankee volunteers have donated for children. The first meeting for newcomers is free; annual dues for new members are $40.00; returning members $30.

This year’s Fall Staycation will be Friday October 18th to Sunday October 20th at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Central Street, Holliston. Three different craft techniques will be offered include a Scrappy Log Cabin pattern, Barn Quilt Painting on wood, and Glass Etching. Prices, food and signup information are posted on Yankee’s page.

In November, a clinic on how to fix problem quilts will be given. Speakers Lynn Thibault of Leominster and Nancy Sullivan of Phillipston encourage members to bring quilts that need help, rulers that are difficult to use and questions about patterns.

For more information about any of these events, please contact YankeeQuilters11@gmail.com.

Yankee Quilters Guild is a 501-c-3 charitable organization based in Franklin with members throughout the region. The Guild meets on the second Tuesday each month at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in Franklin, Horace Mann Plaza, East Central Street, Franklin in space generously donated by the store. Donations to the Guild are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by current law.