Finance Cmte approves Pledge doc and goes line by line through General Government functions (audio)

FM #1196 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1196 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee budget hearing, the first of 3 sessions conducted on Monday, May 6, 2024.

The 2nd session is scheduled for May 8, the 3rd and final session scheduled for May 15, 2024. Then the Town Council does their budget hearing over 2 nights, May 22 & May 23. 

Quick recap:

• minutes of the April meeting moved to May 15 meeting for approval

• discussion on the override and pledge doc, led to approval by 8-0-1 (1 absent, Grace)  vote via roll call

• Committee then proceeded line by line through the departments, some questions raised, answered, some departments not questioned (Recreation for example touted as a 'net zero,' everything they are allocated for they return in fees raised)

• discussion on net school spending, how some budget expenses are on the Town side, some on the school side, all does get rolled up into net school spending annually by DESE with reporting from Town and School. The FY 2023 net school spending report coincidentally I had downloaded in answer to a question last week. The link is provided below 

The conversation runs about 2 and a quarter hours. Let’s listen to the first of 3 budget hearings. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1196-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-1-of-3-05-06-24

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gUpsku8VOg 

The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_may_6.pdf 

Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf 

My notes captured in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUBq2dVYhvNtq8VA3dREQESDo3U4awWM/view?usp=drive_link 

The net school spending report for Franklin (so yes this does include charter school students) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-flBF-M1oNTIzcOTMjc7CDmYR9QEkWt2/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

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

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.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!

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

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

Finance Cmte approves Pledge doc and goes line by line through General Government functions (audio)

FinCom goes line by line through General Government functions, approves Pledge doc (video)

The Finance Committee met on Monday, May 6, 2024 as scheduled. 8 of the 9 members were present, 6 in person, 2 remote (hence roll call votes). 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gUpsku8VOg

The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_may_6.pdf

Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf

Quick recap:

• minutes of the April meeting moved to May 15 meeting for approval
• discussion on the override and pledge doc, led to approval by 8-0-1 (1 absent, Grace)  vote via roll call
• Committee then proceeded line by line through the departments, some questions raised, answered, some departments not questioned (Recreation for example touted as a 'net zero' everything they are allocated for they return in fees raised)
• discussion on net school spending, how some budget expenses are on the Town side, some on the school side, all does get rolled up into net school spending annually by DESE with reporting from Town and School. The FY 2023 net school spending report coincidentally I had downloaded in answer to a question last week. The link is provided below

My notes captured in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUBq2dVYhvNtq8VA3dREQESDo3U4awWM/view?usp=drive_link

The net school spending report for Franklin (so yes this does include charter school students) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-flBF-M1oNTIzcOTMjc7CDmYR9QEkWt2/view?usp=drive_link

FinCom goes line by line through General Government functions, approves Pledge doc (video)

Talking about Teaching & Education with FEA President Donna Grady (audio)

FM #1194 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1194 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Franklin Education Association (FEA) President Donna Grady. We recorded this talk in the Franklin TV Studios on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. 

The Franklin Education Association (FEA) is the union representing all the educational personnel in the Franklin School District. Donna is the unit president and has been for 8 years. She teaches kindergarten at Keller, previously Jefferson, and has been teaching for 35 years.

We talked about education today in the Franklin schools from elementary to middle school to high school. The nature and challenges of teaching our wonderful kiddos through the grade levels.

The recording runs about 55 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1194-teaching-education-with-donna-grady-fea-president-04-3024

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Donna’s school contact info -> gradyd@franklinps.net 

Franklin Education Association web page -> https://franklin.massteacher.org/ 

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

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

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"

Talking about Teaching & Education with FEA President Donna Grady (audio)

School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The started late, left just before 7 PM and hence the full Committee meeting started a little late.

The agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_public_schools_budget_sub_committee_meeting.pdf

Download the PDF  handout of fee increases ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9L1xop0J7YXYmy9K0rcb0cuMehLj9gy/view?usp=drive_link

My notes captured during the meeting

• Chair David McNeill opens meeting at 6:09 PM, business meeting public invited with watch listen, to participate at discretion of the chair
• Recap of the 4/24 Joint Meeting by Supt Giguere. Coordinated with OCPF to get opinion on videos prepared, can host, can't send directly
• Once the TA FY 2025 budget was released, they could work toward how to cover the shortfall ($6.3m) if the override is not approved by the Town Council, or if approved but does not pass the community vote. Some fee increases, anticipating approx 30 FTE...
• Reduction of supplies within buildings across the board, stipends, mentor, etc. $4.7m reductions after the fee increases. 30 FTE is a significant reduction, negative impact to quality of education, class size, offerings, extra curricular activities, etc.
• The model was put forward, if any variation, that would require an adjustment somewhere else in the budget
• No decisions have been made on positions or roles specifically, they will continue to look at the numbers as the scenario develops/evolves (i.e. override yes and what the # might be)
• Potential use of retirement to help balance but that position is removed ... A loss to the district if the position is not filled
• Fee increases proposed were designed to self fund the program, not to generate additional revenue to be used overall (can't be done anyway). The natural area to look at is class size, then to the required programs looking at electives and AP classes, can't charge for an ...AP course, can only charge for the AP exam.
• Even with fee increases to meet the purpose, as astronomical as they appear, they don't help alleviate the other cuts. Largest expense for the district is staff, period. So reducing expenses means reducing staff
• Athletics first, total cost for each sport, then worked to get to a cost per student, divided into tier, largest cost tier 1
• All programs for athletics is about $1m; approx $400k from fees currently, $600k balance previously covered by budget ...
• Tier 1 fees approx $1k, tier 2 at about $600, tier 3 at about $350 Does include post season costs assuming teams were successful enough to gain that.
• Attrition could be seen at the JV and subJV levels affecting the varsity level at some point with talent feed/development
• Transportation currently at $600 could go to $1100/per to self funding this program. Even with an override, transportation fees may rise anyway to keep pace with cost
• 20% increase for ECDC anticipated, IEP students do not pay, building use rental increase of 5% projected tier level of support required
• Possible parking fee, $125/vehicle to manage overall parking process
• Model can be posted, didn't want to get ahead of the guidance of the subcmte
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0
  

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1185-fps-budget-subcmte-mtg-04-30-24

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

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

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 Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

Why are so many school districts faced with funding issues this year? 

There is a common thread and it points to a flaw within the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funding model. Yes, the model that was redesigned in 2019 to add more funding to the schools in need but some have identified a technical issue in the formula as summarized in this article:

"Fix the funding flaw

A not common alliance is calling on education officials to fix a calculation in Chapter 70. That group, Novick’s MASCA, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts created a FAQ to explain how inflation of the last two years, between 7% and 8 % is a factor.

"... the [Chapter 70] law caps the annual inflation adjustment of the foundation budget at 4.5 percent," the FAQ said. "As a result, districts did not receive funds to cover a significant portion of inflation that they had to pay for in expenses.”

The way the Chapter 70 formula originally worked, the FAQ said, “that would not be a long-term problem because the lost inflation would automatically be added back into the foundation budget in the following year. But a technical change made almost a decade after the law was passed inadvertently changed that. Now when the cap reduces aid below the level needed to keep pace with inflation, that reduction is locked in forever and reduces future aid.”

Continue reading the New England Public Media article online -> https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2024-04-25/massachusetts-schools-need-more-funds-some-point-to-flaw-in-education-finance-law

Thanks to Mass Municipal Association for the pointer to the article ->

https://twitter.com/massmunicipal/status/1783926637169442860

NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

Town Council and School Committee hear from residents for or against an override, for June, or for Nov (audio in 2 parts)

FM #1179-80 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1179-80 in the series. 

This session shares the Joint Town Council & School Committee meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in 2 parts. All 9 Town Councilors and all 7 School Committee members participated.  Many town and school department managers were also present in the first couple of rows of the auditorium.

Over 400 folks were in the FHS auditorium, another 2-300 were online via YouTube at one point or another (and that tallied 800+ unique individuals by the time the meeting ended).

Part 1 

Covers the first 90 minutes of the meeting

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented the FY 2025 budget

• School Superintendent Lucas Giguere accompanied by Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch presented the school budget and issues

Audio link P1 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1179-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p1-of-2

Part 2

The remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes covered the public comment and question section. Speakers were allocated 1 minute, most kept to the point.

Audio link P2 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1180-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p2-of-2

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The Franklin TV broadcast of the 3 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/xMN27_nBPUU?si=aeSWZvxA-SMPJ6wo

Agenda for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf 

Town presentation

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-04-24_fy25_budget_update_joint_sc_tc_meeting.pdf

School presentation

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_super_budget_sc_tc_presentation_4_24_24.pdf

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_7qKlYxPivFDjatz9mjtDg8lU-WMY_q/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday

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

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

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

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"

best depiction of 4 budgets for the portrait of a graduate