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| Franklin School Committee Newsletter |
Showing posts with label school committee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school committee. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2025
Franklin School Committee Newsletter
The newest edition of the Franklin School Committee newsletter is available to read
Thursday, August 28, 2025
School Committee approves handbooks, gets updates on opening, approves Horace Mann Campus name (audio)
FM #1498 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1498 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. All 7 members of the committee were present.
Quick recap:
Excitement among the teachers and school personnel as they all make the final preparations for the redistricting to open with schools on Tuesday, Sep 2. Minor tweaks to some of the bus routes, stops will be notified shortly. 56 personnel hired this summer, 2 teacher openings, 13 ESP's openings remain and sone nonunion positions too, work is still underway attempting to fill the positions
Handbook significant changes, only a few were discussed. There is only one elementary handbook now for the 4 schools in the 2 buildings. All the handbooks were approved unanimously in separate votes (ECDC, elementary, middle and high school)
Voted to create a subcommittee to expand upon how to honor the legacy of Horace Mann, beyond the naming of the campus where ECDC, the Middle School and High School are now located on Oak St. The campus naming was a second vote as the two items were related and there was good discussion among the committee as to the scope and objectives of the proposed (now approved) committee. Members of the full SchCmte will notify the Chair of their interest. The Chair will confirm, the subcommittee will craft a scope and objectives doc for the full committee to approve. Members of the community including the Historical Commission and other such stakeholders will be involved.
The recording runs about 1 hour & 30 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1498-school-cmte-mtg-08-26-25/
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Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/EWVb7O-b_ag?&t=67
Meeting agenda -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979277/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf
Meeting packet folder (items released for the meeting, in some cases posted a day or two after the meeting) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-26%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/846929
My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VB3GuDdCAG-U80a3pT3nIp5GSZZhUSJ/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!
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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 catches up on Summer Activities at Aug 12, 2025 meeting (audio)
FM #1497 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1497 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Both the Chair and Vice-Chair were away so Ruthann O'Sullivan hosted the session. The remaining 5 members of the committee were present.
Quick recap:
Summer Learning Review - Paula Marano & Patty Gay, updates on lifelong learning, as well as extended school - link to album which captured the slides shared found https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwFUYqSSqCrzx6gH8
Summer Move Update - Colin Boisvert - great detail, well organized, there is a whole lot happening across the redistricting move efforts, getting rooms and building ready, signs completed (shared here earlier), transportation updates due next week via bus routes, bus stops, additional drop off, pick up info also scheduled from principals. Photo album of the slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/JRbK3Ez1K9yxjCAX9
2024 Annual Report Draft Review - discussed verbally, no doc shared, feedback due soon
The recording runs about 1 hour & 15 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1497-school-cmte-mtg-08-12-25/
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Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RElB5OknJg
Meeting agenda doc ->
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851
Meeting packet folder contains the docs released before and after the meeting ->
My notes in one PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsjvTsjM0u3b3Qs_pJUcNlGr8falxQ03/view?usp=drive_link
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| Summer Move Update |
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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"
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
School Committee approves handbooks, gets updates on opening, approves Horace Mann Campus name (video)
The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, August 26 in Council Chambers. All 7 members were participated in person.
Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/EWVb7O-b_ag?&t=67
Meeting agenda -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979277/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf
Meeting packet folder (items released for the meeting, in some cases posted a day or two after the meeting) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-26%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/846929
Quick recap
- Excitement among the teachers and school personnel as they all make the final preparations for the redistricting to open with schools on Tuesday, Sep 2. Minor tweeks to some of the bus routes, stops will be notified shortly. 56 personnel hired this summer, 2 teacher openings, 13 ESP's openings remain and sone nonunion positions too, work is still underway attempting to fill the positions
- Handbook significant changes, only a few were discussed. There is only one elementary handbook now for the 4 schools in the 2 buildings. All the handbooks were approved unanimously in separate votes (ECDC, elementary, middle and high school)
- Voted to create a subcommittee to expand upon how to honor the legacy of Horace Mann, beyond the naming of the campus where ECDC, the Middle School and High School are now located on Oak St. The campus naming was a second vote as the two items were related and there was good discussion among the committee as to the scope and objectives of the proposed (now approved) committee. Member of the full SchCmte will notify the Chair of their interest. The Chair will confirm, the subcommittee will craft a scope and objectives doc for the full committee to approve. Members of the community including the Historical Commission and other such stakeholders will be involved.
My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VB3GuDdCAG-U80a3pT3nIp5GSZZhUSJ/view?usp=drive_link
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 ??
Tuesday, August 26
12:00pm Community Closet (Franklin United Methodist Church)
2:30pm Rainbow Cafe (Franklin Senior Center)
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| Library & Senior Center events |
For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->
** Town Meetings today **
Design Review Meeting
Tuesday. August 26 Time: 7:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08262025-1870
Franklin School Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 26 Time: 7:00 PM
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| What's happening in Franklin, MA |
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
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar
Monday, August 25, 2025
What "one" question would have for a candidate in the Town of Franklin Biennial Election Nov 4, 2025 ???
As the ballot gets closer to being finalized, we can take review the questions we have used in previous elections (link for 2023 & 2021 provided below) and see if there are any updates required.
You can make multiple question entries to ask your "one" question for each role. For example, the question for a Town Council candidate would likely differ from a Planning Board candidate.
You can help with this effort by submitting your "one" question for each candidate role with a 3 step process.
- Enter your email (required for validation of the question)
- Select the candidate role for your question
- Enter your question
The final set of questions will be published after the analysis is complete.
Link to question survey -> https://forms.gle/aoVd8bRz1ULwkCnq8
Questions being gathered for use by Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio candidate interviews for the Town of Franklin 2025 Biennial Election.
Questions used for the 2023 Biennial Election -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OdCjTIczcePZDciQuW8HZSfF34LAnCVh/view?usp=drive_link
Questions used for the 2021 Biennial Election -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GkFh21gYukaMheQL-P4C0T_EEaItvcAu/view
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| What "one" question would have for a candidate? |
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Number of School Committee and Town Council candidates for Biennial Elections from 2003 to this year (as of 8/22/25)
Tabulating the total number of candidates for Town Council and School Committee via the PDF Annual Reports available from the Town of Franklin web page reveals the following information:
- Currently the most candidates for Town Council is found this year (with nomination paper data as of 8/22/25)
- The School Committee has the most variation in number of candidates from a negative 1 (6 for 7 spots) in 2005 to a plus 5 (12 for 7 spots) in 2021 to a current plus 3 (as of 8/22/25)
- There were 4 elections where all you needed was to get on the ballot to get elected to the School Committee vs. the Town Council where in 2 elections there were 10 candidates and at the end one was left out
Town Council - chart of candidates plus or minus by year since 2003
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| Town Council - chart of candidates plus or minus by year since 2003 |
School Committee - chart of candidates plus or minus by year since 2003
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| School Committee - chart of candidates plus or minus by year since 2003 |
The PDF Annual Reports can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=39
The data table, compiled from the PDF copies, that drove the charts can be found -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jWlQaxx40GKbSTSY2-81Jgfpm6isnqXp/view?usp=drive_link
Franklin, MA: School Committee agenda for meeting August 28, 2025
Franklin School Committee
August 26, 2025 - 7:00 PM
Municipal Building – Council Chambers
Call to Order Mr. Callaghan
Announcements from the Chair
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan
C. Payroll Mr. McNeill
D. FHS Student Representative Comments
E. Superintendent’s Report
II. Guests/New Presentations
A. New Hires Update
B. 2025-26 Family Handbooks Presentations
III. Discussion/Action Items
A. 2025-26 ECDC Family Handbook Approval
I recommend approval of the 2025-26 ECDC Family Handbook as discussed.
B. 2025-26 Elementary Family Handbook Approval
I recommend approval of the 2025-26 Elementary Family Handbook as discussed.
C. 2025-26 Middle School Family Handbook Approval
I recommend approval of the 2025-26 Middle School Family Handbook as discussed.
D. 2025-26 FHS Family Handbook Approval
I recommend approval of the 2025-26FHS Family Handbook as discussed.
E. Horace Mann Campus Naming
I recommend that the Franklin School Committee designate the school land located on Oak Street and Panther Way encompassing the Early Childhood Development Center, Franklin Middle School, and Franklin High School as the Horace Mann Campus as discussed.
F. Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee creation
I recommend the creation of the Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee as discussed.
IV. Discussion Only Items
A. None
V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
B. School Committee Liaison Reports
VI. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your August 12, 2025 School Committee meeting as detailed.
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| School Committee agenda for meeting August 28, 2025 |
VII. Citizen’s Comments
VIII. New Business
To discuss any future agenda items
IX. Executive Session
X. Adjournment
Meeting agenda (includes remote participation info) -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979277/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf
Meeting packet folder (items released for the meeting, in some cases, a day or two after the meeting) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-26%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/846929
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)
FM #1494 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1494 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via Zoom on Thursday, August 14, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap both the School Committee meeting of August 12, 2025.
We cover
Summer Learning Review - Paula Marano & Patty Gay, updates on lifelong learning, as well as extended school -
link to album which captured the slides shared found https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwFUYqSSqCrzx6gH8
Summer Move Update - Colin Boisvert - great detail, well organized, there is a whole lot happening across the redistricting move efforts, getting rooms and building ready, signs completed (shared here earlier), transportation updates due next week via bus routes, bus stops, additional drop off, pick up info also scheduled from principals.
Photo album of the slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/JRbK3Ez1K9yxjCAX9
2024 Annual Report Draft Review - discussed verbally, no doc shared, feedback due back to Supt Giguere soon
Engagement, budget, candidates
The recording runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen in.
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1494-chalkboard-chat-08-14-25/--------------
Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net
Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RElB5OknJg
Meeting agenda doc ->
https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851
Meeting packet folder contains the docs released before and after the meeting ->
My notes in one PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsjvTsjM0u3b3Qs_pJUcNlGr8falxQ03/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"
 |
| Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio) |
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