Showing posts with label report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label report. Show all posts

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Franklin Public Schools: Superintendent’s Report to School Committee - June 23

Superintendent’s Report to School Committee
June 23, 2020 School Committee Meeting

Active Anti-Bias Education in Franklin Public Schools

At the last school committee meeting, Ms. Stokes asked for an update related to the work of FPS in being inclusive and combating bias, hate, and discrimination. I humbly submit some of the actions within FPS over the past several years to be a more equitable and inclusive school community:

1. Establishment of our core values including a Safe and Inclusive School Culture
2. In 2019-2020, placed cultural proficiency as a theme across all four district goals, instead of a stand-alone initiative: social-emotional learning; rigorous and engaging curriculum;
high-quality instruction to meet the needs of each learner; effective two-way communication.
3. Developed a district-wide response protocol for incidents of hate, bias, and discrimination based on Teaching Tolerance’s “Responding to Hate and Bias at School”
4. Professional development on cultural proficiency
  • a. Administrative professional development -- 10-hour course with Dr. Kalise Wornum of KWD Diversity 2019-2020.
  • i. Outcomes: studying your students and their families; examining one’s bias; “marking the moment” to address incidents of bias, and having difficult conversations
  • ii. Theme of 2019-2020 -- get to know your students
  • iii. Sent administrators to see Dr. Adolph Brown (via membership in Middlesex Partnership for Youth) to build the capacity of our leadership team
  • iv. Administrative Team is reading White Fragility this summer as an anchor text
  • b. Curriculum leaders and professional development -- 30-hour session on curriculum development using Understanding by Design; thread through the sessions on culturally proficient/responsive curriculum design
  • c. School-based professional development led by building principals
  • i. Outcomes: marking the moment; understanding one’s bias; examining materials and resources for bias
  • d. Courses at FHS
  • i. Offered “Race in America” during 2018-2019 but didn’t run in 2019-2020 due to low enrollment
  • ii. Being offered for 2020-2021
  • iii. Seal of Biliteracy in 2020-2021, a credential that promotes second language acquisition, and recognizes this skill among our English Learners
  • iv. Economics for Citizenship-”...understanding and navigating national and global economic questions and concerns.”
5. Expanding literature and reading materials in elementary classrooms
6. A World of Difference Peer Program at all three middle schools and Franklin High School where student peer leaders (under the guidance of faculty advisors) provide instruction to their fellow students on understanding and eliminating bias within the school community
7. Clubs at Franklin High School: Diversity Awareness; SAGA; International Club, World of Difference, American Sign Language Club
8. Examining current practices to address systemic racism more explicitly, which is an expectation of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during their regular program review, including around Civil Rights

We are certainly not perfect and there are more actions to pursue. FPS is committed to anti-racist and inclusive practices. We plan to return to the School Committee in the fall with a more in-depth presentation as well as additional steps within our improvement goals/initiatives.

We also especially look forward to ways to engage with the broader community to promote this work across the town of Franklin.


ESY Information
Remote Extended School Year (ESY) services will begin on July 8th. Updated individualized Remote Learning Service Plans outlining what remote ESY services will be provided and how they will be provided will be sent to parents/guardians by the end of this week.

On June 7th the district received Summer 2020 Guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The Student Services administration is carefully reviewing the guidance to determine if we can meet the health and safety requirements and provide, on a limited basis, some in-person instruction later this summer to students with the highest level of need. Further guidance from DESE is expected later this week. We want more than anything to be able to provide in-person ESY services this summer but the health and safety of our students, families, and staff is the top priority. We will continue to provide ongoing communication with families throughout the process.

Art Highlight from RMS
In the spirit of sharing highlights from the school year, I am very proud to be sharing a project by Ms. Jane Pichette, an art teacher at Remington Middle School. She drew sketches of each of the graduating grade 8 students and as a parting gift, sent them this postcard to their homes.

A slideshow of her work can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ksNRA_aNGfhxF0yJcNAeUjeGjnjhwBid/view

The Superintendents Report can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/superintendents-report-6232020



In the News: “This report lays out in heartbreaking detail the terrible failures that unfolded"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The leadership of a home for aging veterans in Massachusetts where nearly 80 residents sickened with the coronavirus have died made “substantial errors and failures” as the disease began to spread, likely contributing to the high death toll, according to an independent investigation released Wednesday.

The superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home was not qualified to manage a long-term care facility and he and his leadership team made decisions that were “utterly baffling from an infection-control perspective,” the report said. Among them was a decision to move veterans from one dementia unit into another, both of which housed veterans who already had the virus.

“Rather than isolating those with the disease from those who were asymptomatic — a basic tenet of infection control — the consolidation of these two units resulted in more than 40 veterans crowded into a space designed to hold 25. This overcrowding was the opposite of infection control; instead, it put those who were asymptomatic at even greater risk of contracting COVID-19,” the report said."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200624/report-leadership-failed-to-control-outbreak-at-vets-home

Press release on report  = https://www.mass.gov/news/independent-investigation-examining-the-tragedy-at-the-holyoke-soldiers-home-released

Report itself = https://www.mass.gov/doc/report-to-governor-baker-re-holyoke-soldiers-home/download

Video update = https://youtu.be/zYcmyapiQjU


Monday, June 15, 2020

Franklin Public Schools: Remote Learning Update - June 15, 2020

June 15, 2020

Dear Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

The purpose of this message is to update families and faculty/staff on Remote Learning.

Planning for Re-Opening School in the Fall
A District Re-opening Taskforce -- comprised of district and school-based administrators, faculty/staff, school nurse leader, school physician, Facilities Department, Food Services, Lifelong Learning, Athletic Director, and a School Resource Officer -- has begun to plan for reopening school in the fall. We will be including parent/family and student voice as well.

The group’s efforts are focused in five areas: operations, healthy, and safety; whole child supports; personnel; academics; and distance learning. We expect that preliminary guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, containing more details around teaching and learning, will be issued soon. The guidance issued on June 5, 2020 was specific to ordering Personalized Protective Equipment (PPE) and should not be interpreted as what school will look like in the fall.

The District will be surveying families, staff, and students. Please be on the lookout for a survey soon. You can expect a communication from the Re-opening Taskforce mid-summer, in advance of the opening of school, for your planning purposes.

Chromebook Collection
At this time, the District will not be collecting Chromebooks from families whose children will return to Franklin Public Schools in the fall.

If your child is not returning you may complete a “request for remote support” form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf--tUJyJtg2OIFTEIXaoyJCmDbrqBEkvFgPYe9AJ3q7F3Asg/viewform) and then drop the Chromebook off at the rear of Franklin High School at the technology office on a Wednesday from 4-6 PM.

If your child is returning to FPS but you would like to return the Chromebook, please also complete the request for remote support form and drop it off on a Wednesday from 4-6 PM at the rear of Franklin High School at the technology office.

Alternatively, you can connect with a building administrator for a time when you can drop it off at your child’s school.

Last day of School 6/18
The end of the year certainly doesn’t look like how we envisioned when we began the school year on August 27th. Our last day of school will be Thursday, June 18th. In order to accomplish end of year tasks, the day will be modified where the secondary block will run from 8:30-10:30 AM and the elementary block will run from 9:00-11:00 AM. Afternoon instruction/meetings will be rescheduled. Current Kindergarten students will participate. More specific information may be issued from your child’s school. The last day of ECDC will be June 16th with their end of the year “Fun Fair” on June 17th.

Elementary and Middle School Report Cards
Please see the following links about report cards at the elementary and middle levels:
Elementary Report Card Letter (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HJCijpl2DrqyddwbtKyt3UdBqWV27ImIS3DQLYbx3gk/edit?usp=sharing)
Middle School Report Card Letter (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xkXgkjG7keyq6Sz0Pj1MN_OijOHCnkOvXtTu60QVGeY/edit?usp=sharing)

P-EBT Card for Students who Qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch
Families whose students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch started to receive P-EBT cards in the mail on Friday, May 29, and we hear that there has been some trouble with activating cards. The following information comes from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in order to assist you with activation:

Call DTA's Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363 and press 6. Their staff can help families to get the case information.

We are pleased to announce that the Food Services program has been awarded a grant in order to continue food service this summer, serving breakfast and lunch, to any child in Franklin.

This has certainly been a challenging spring for everyone. We want to thank the Franklin community for working together to keep each other safe and for cooperation, patience, and communication in shifting the entire instructional and support system to be remote. We have learned much in these difficult days, most notably emphasizing how much we value the opportunities we have to be together.

We want to wish all of our faculty/staff, students, and families a healthy and safe summer. 

Kind regards,
Franklin Public Schools

Please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 508-553-4819 with any questions. Please leave a voicemail. Although we are working remotely, voicemails are sent to email and will be responded to in a timely fashion.

PDF version (not yet on schools web page)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vwE7rFD_YckvgvfBcyBwDRdBBsYdFqw3/view?usp=sharing

Franklin Public Schools: Remote Learning Update - June 15, 2020
Franklin Public Schools: Remote Learning Update - June 15, 2020

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

FTC Consumer Alerts: Credit reports are now free, every week




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission
by Cathlin Tully - Attorney, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection

If you're feeling anxious about your financial health during these uncertain times, you're not alone. That's why the three national credit reporting agencies are giving people weekly access to monitor their credit report — for free.

Read more
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/05/credit-reports-are-now-free-every-week?

This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.


https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/coronavirus/financial-impact
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/coronavirus/financial-impact

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

“We didn't have weeks to act. We barely had days and we might be too late”

When the pandemic is by us (and no one know how long that will take), this story will be one of the contemporary pieces to go back to for the analysis of what happened and what could have happened. We will need to develop the 'lessons learned' from this pandemic for next time. The pandemic is a reminder that while it was predicted, it is likely to repeat until we change.

WBUR shares this reporing: 'We Knew The Inevitable': Why Mass. School Leaders Had To Close Schools On Their Own

“I said, ‘I think we have a kid,’ ” he said. “You could just see that everyone's face was like, ‘OK, this just got real.’ ”

And it got critical. Classes were starting at the school in less than 30 minutes. Immediately, Tremblay divided everyone into smaller groups and assigned tasks. Track down all students and staff who might have had contact with the symptomatic student. Inform those families and advise them to self-quarantine for 14 days. Tell bus drivers to stand by in order to bring kids home.

Some of the Framingham families who needed to quarantine didn’t speak English. Tremblay brought translators into the room. They wrote all official messages into Spanish and Portuguese simultaneously, working in Google docs.

“This escalated, as you can imagine, pretty quickly,” Tremblay said.
Continue reading the article online
https://www.wbur.org/edify/2020/03/30/behind-school-closure-decisions

“We didn't have weeks to act. We barely had days and we might be too late”
“We didn't have weeks to act. We barely had days and we might be too late”

Friday, December 6, 2019

FM #184 - Town Administrator's Report to Town Council - 12/4/19

FM #184

This internet radio show or podcast is number 184 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares Town Administrator Report segment from the Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019.

Updates on:

  • New Board of Health Director, Cathy Liberty replacing David McKearnery who is retiring
  • Cindy Souza, of Animal Control is also retiring sometime in January
  • Update the turf field issue now that the DEP letter has arrived
  • Open Meeting Law special session on Dec 11
  • Thanks to the DPW and others for the look of the Town Common
  • Thanks to the DPW for their work on the first and long snow fall this week
  • Update on the Spring St issue raised by the Cochran’s in the Citizen Comments section


Maybe I am getting lazy, maybe it is just worth a try, Jamie’s update from each Town Council meeting is not covered in detail by my notes (and yes, I strive to get better on that) so I thought it important to share the audio of his report to the Town Council in a timely manner. The Town generally publishes an “Actions Taken” doc to highlight the recorded votes. So rather than wait for the full minutes to be approved and available, I’ll share the audio segment of the TA Report.

The statement runs approx 9 minutes.

Link to DEP letter as mentioned
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15WMp_zZiMXs_7MfpUQJd5hgtaVbrlkY_/view?usp=sharing

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hc0j5J4X




What we know about the "turf issue":



What we don’t know:


  • What happened to the Conservation Commission mitigation measures from when the field was first installed (in 2004?)?
  • Where was the old carpet and bags of unused infill taken?
  • What will the State and/or Federal agencies do with PFAS and the recent revelations (if anything)?

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

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:
  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
  • If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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!

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


The prior statement by Jamie Hellen can be found online


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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Sunday, December 1, 2019

"Unprecedented changes in all aspects of society will be required to avoid the worst effects of climate change"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Massachusetts is trending toward its long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, but the effort to reduce global emissions is failing, according to a new United Nations report.

“The summary findings are bleak,” the UN reported in the 10th edition of its emissions gap report. “Countries collectively failed to stop the growth in global GHG emissions, meaning that deeper and faster cuts are now required.”

The report, prepared by scientists who assessed “all available information,” concluded that greenhouse gas emissions have risen at a rate of 1.5% per year in the last decade, and total greenhouse gas emissions reached a record high in 2018. Emissions from energy use and industry grew 2% in 2018.

The UN said there’s a growing political focus on “the climate crisis” in several countries, driven in part by protests, and that “technologies for rapid and cost-effective emission reductions have improved significantly.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191201/un-reports-bleak-findings-on-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions


"The annual Sustainable Development Goals Report provides an overview of the world’s implementation efforts to date, highlighting areas of progress and areas where more action needs to be taken to ensure no one is left behind.

Four years since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2019 Report notes progress in some areas, such as on extreme poverty reduction, widespread immunization, decrease in child mortality rates and increase in people’s access to electricity, but warns that global response has not been ambitious enough, leaving the most vulnerable people and countries to suffer the most."
From the UN page on the SDG Report 2019 
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/progress-report/

The report itself can be found in sections or downloaded as a PDF from here
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/


"Unprecedented changes in all aspects of society will be required to avoid the worst effects of climate change"
"Unprecedented changes in all aspects of society will be required to avoid the worst effects of climate change"

Thursday, November 28, 2019

School Committee Actions Taken/Superintendent's Report from meeting held 11/26/19

School Committee Actions Taken 11/26/19

From the School Committee "Actions Taken" document we share:

The Chair announced subcommittee/liaison assignments as follows:
  • Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation – Anne Bergen (chair), Elise Stokes, Jennifer D’Angelo 
  • Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis – Elise Stokes (chair), Judith Pond-Pfeffer, MJ Scofield
  • Budget – Anne Bergen (chair), Tim Keenan, Denise Spencer
  • Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy – Denise Spencer (chair), Judith Pond-Pfeffer, Anne Bergen
  • Policy – MJ Scofield (chair), Elise Stokes, Denise Spencer
  • Transportation – Tim Keenan
  • Joint PCC – Judith Pond-Pfeffer (Anne Bergen –alternate)
  • Substance Abuse Task Force – Anne Bergen (Jennifer D’Angelo –alternate)
  • School Wellness Advisory Council – Denise Spencer, Elise Stokes
The full doc can be found here
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/news/scagenda_11-26-19_actions_taken.pdf


Superintendent’s Report to School Committee

The full contents of the Superintendents Report can be found
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_novmeber_26_2019.pdf

School Committee Actions Taken/Superintendent's Report from meeting held 11/26/19
School Committee Actions Taken/Superintendent's Report from meeting held 11/26/19
Note: I was out of town and missed this meeting. Will try and catch up to it when the video replay is available.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Who’s reporting robocalls?




Who’s reporting robocalls?
by Paul Witt, Lead Data Analyst, Division of Consumer Response & Operations

Have you ever reported an unwanted call to the FTC, whether it's a robocall (where you hear a recorded message) or call from a live person? If so, thank you. 

Reporting, I'm sorry to say, won't end these annoying calls, but it helps the FTC and other law enforcement agencies investigate and bring cases against scammers and businesses that aren't following the law. In fact, the FTC's recent actions against robocallers show what your report can do. 

Read more
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/07/whos-reporting-robocalls?utm_source=govdelivery 

This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.


Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Live Reporting: Town Council - March 20, 2019

Present: Hamblen, Casey, Dellorco, Kelly, Padula, Earls
Absent: Mercer, Pellegri


Agenda ItemSummary
Town Council Meeting Agenda
Meeting of March 20, 2019
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
2. CITIZENS COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda.  The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
None
5. APPOINTMENTS
None
6. HEARINGS
None
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
None
Citizen comments - 
Alan Earls

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative - better access to the area, Apr 11 input schedule to review findings - location at King St Fire Station 
6:30 PM 

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
8a. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Auditors- Independent Auditors Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2018
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/franklin_ma_sa18_final_1.pdf

Zack Bentros, Auditor
Chris and Kerry

page 1 (after table of contents)
clean opinion, best opinion

narrative summary, page 14 state of net position
library project as completed moved from a project to an asset accounted for as depreciation

Norfolk Retirement changed assumption rate
increase in liability offset by an increase in investment revenue
$4.4M decrease in liability

Net OPEB liability
big change for town and all communities
change in accounting statements reflected in the changes here
full liability required to be presented in full, as opposed to spread of 30 years
users of statements won't be shocked by the change

P 16
$1.3M current taxes or liened, good job on tax collections
$11.9M an increase over the prior year; starting point of DOR amount of free cash
a little over 10%, and an increase over the prior year, favorable

P  20
highlights the unassigned fund balances
$1.9M more revenue than expected
$1.3M less expenses than budget

used $2.2M in free cash but then gave back more than used

amount set aside for OPEB is about average for other communities

the Town is in a very strong financial position, there are no items in a management letter to be addressed, only about 20% of the communities don't get a letter

thanks to Kerri and Chris, Audit is a cumbersome process and they did very well


Sunday, December 16, 2018

School; Committee - partial recap - Dec 11, 2018

I reported on the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening for about 45 minutes before tuning out to conduct a meeting for work. 

The agenda was posted here
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/agenda/school-committee-meeting-agenda-12112018

The Superintendent's report is posted online
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_december_11_2018.pdf

The presentation document used for the Report Card discussion
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/report_cards_presentation_to_the_franklin_school_committee.pdf



Other documents released for the meeting can be found in the meeting packet folder
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-11-2018-school-committee-packet-documents


My notes from the meeting were recorded via Twitter:

















School; Committee - partial recap - Dec 11, 2018
School; Committee - partial recap - Dec 11, 2018

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Dec 11, 2018

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A
“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.”



1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments
i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH
c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Report Cards – Dr. Sara Ahern and Dr. Joyce Edwards

3. Discussion / Action Items
none

4. Discussion Only Items
a. BICO FY18 Annual Report

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s
Evaluation)
b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; School Start Times Advisory
Committee [SSTAC], MASC)

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your November 27, 2018 School Committee Meeting.
b. Chamber Chorus Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Olivia Goliger for the recurring trip to Providence College on February 1, 2019 to participate in an invitational HS Choral Festival as detailed.
c. Boys Ice Hockey Team Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Chris Spillane to take the Boys Ice Hockey Team to Barnstable, MA from February 21 – 22, 2019 for a Hockey Tournament as detailed.
d. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $900.00 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips as detailed.
e. JF Kennedy Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $675.00 from the JFK PCC for field trips as detailed.

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence 
– Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

11. Executive Session
a. Strategy with respect to collective bargaining

12. Adjournment

The agenda for the Dec 11 meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/scagenda_12-11-18.pdf

Documents released for the Dec 11 meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-11-2018-school-committee-packet-documents

a view of FHS
a view of FHS