Reis & Stephen recap the June 9 School Committee meeting (audio)

FM #1767 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1767 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee members Reis Hansen and Stephen Karunakaran.  We had our discussion in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. 

Our conversation covered the following topics from the School Committee meeting of June 9, 2026:

• Strawberry Stroll, Kickball Tournament, field day, and other events coming up

• Superintendent review and evaluation process

• Facility updates to get to the redistricting, and next steps this summer

• Working group report on artificial intelligence

Our conversation runs about 47 minutes. Let’s listen

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1767-chalkboard-chat-06-16-26/

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School Committee page (with contact info) - https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee 

School Committee subcommittee assignments - 

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/hgHgIZ5L_iY?&t=235 

The agenda document https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2356  

The presentations documents should be posted in a couple of days to this folder   https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/june-9%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/28109200 

Photos of the Facility presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t3rkbwCxnDm6A9Wy6 

Photos of the AI discussion presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TqNxhuTk8og7WqRp8 

My notes from the meeting in one PDF  https://drive.google.com/file/d/10XRFLsUqujf3Z3QPzGOKU6cEOS-mWuoS/view?usp=drive_link  

Capital campaign fund raising link - https://givebutter.com/FPSCaptialCampaign2026

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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!

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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 gets updates on Facilities, AI, and evaluates the Superintendent (audio)

FM #1766 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1766 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM. 6 members of the Committee participated, 1 absent. 

Quick recap

• Presentation and discussion on Facilities focused on school projects completed as part of the redistricting, and those left remaining, some of which are funded, some are pending funding and some are for future

• Presentation and discussion on the potential intentional implementation of AI as an educational tool as well as how to use AI being taught to the students. The work over the last four months has developed 4 main principles to guide the further discussion and planning. Additional updates will be made as progress is made

• Superintendent evaluation was discussed and approved. The doc with the feedback, goals and accomplishments is to be posted to the Schools page soon

• The Committee entered into Executive Session not to return to open meeting for contract negotiations approx. 10:30 PM

Let’s listen (approx. 3 hours & 15 minutes)

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1766-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-06-09-26/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/hgHgIZ5L_iY?&t=235 

The agenda document https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2356  

The presentations documents should be posted to this folder   https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/june-9%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/28109200 

 

Photos of the Facility presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t3rkbwCxnDm6A9Wy6 

Photos of the AI discussion presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TqNxhuTk8og7WqRp8 

The working 4 guiding principles on AI as presented

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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"

Integrated Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School during the week of March 9, 2026. 

Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.  

DESE

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity. For additional information please also see Integrated Monitoring Parent and Family Orientation.

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Charles Agong, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3753 or Charles.O.Agong@mass.gov to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the charter school with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html.

FTC warns businesses about fake reviews

FTC warns businesses about fake reviews By BCP Staff Whether you're hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first.  Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd.  But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews — and that hurts people and honest companies. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/12/ftc-warns-businesses-about-fake-reviews?utm_source=govdelivery

Be sure to tell the FTC about the fake reviews you spot at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

During the week of January 16th the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Charter School. 

The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping. 

In addition to the virtual visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. 

Parents and other individuals may call David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at 781-338-3466 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at
BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the charter school with a report with information about areas in which the

 charter school meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the charter school requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/25 (audio)

FM #1392 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1392 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators Review. The meeting was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Council Chambers. 

Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger opens the meeting. Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Glenn Jones participate. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and many Town department heads are also present and contribute to this session.

Quick recap:

• Exemplary performance review; Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better

• In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item

• Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie

The meeting runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators review meeting. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1392-franklin-ma-town-administrator-review-02-27-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaqeHc6eII 

The agenda doc includes the draft review ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604 

My notes captured during the meeting -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AssnKA3WLeBxDqbwfKc6owJY6MQ9d6pM/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"

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (audio)

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/25 (video)

The Ad-Hoc Sumbcommittee of the Town Council assigned to conduct the annual review for Town Administrator Jamie Hellen met on Thursday evening Feb 27, 2025 as scheduled. Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger open the meeting with Councilors Hamblen and Jones present.

Franklin TV video available for replay  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaqeHc6eII

The agenda doc includes the draft review ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Quick recap:

• Exemplary review, Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better
• In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item
• Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie

My notes captured during the meeting -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AssnKA3WLeBxDqbwfKc6owJY6MQ9d6pM/view?usp=drive_link

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (video)

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, February 27, 2025 ???

Thursday, February 27

5pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

for additional details on Library events ->  https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) - No meeting, next scheduled meeting March 13

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1539

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

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-calendars

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATION AD HOC COMMITTEE

Agenda & Meeting Packet

February 27, 2025 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATION DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATION

a. Chair Memo & Evaluation

b. Town Council/Town Administrator Goals list September 2024-25

c. Town Administrator Contract Language

d. Staff Input:

• i. James McLaughlin, Fire Chief
• ii. Ryan Jette, Recreation Director
• iii. Felicia Oti, Library Director
• iv. Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator
• v. Kerri Bertone, Chief Financial Officer
• vi. Other Department Heads

3. ADJOURN

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025