Conversation with Jeff Nutting; how he is keeping busy these days & his insights on override and school's plan (audio)

FM #1200 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1200 in the series

This session shares my conversation with Jeff Nutting, former Franklin Town Administrator and now retired. Or really, having fun while ‘failing at retiring.’ We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. He is keeping busy with interesting temporary municipal positions in a variety of communities.

Jeff Nutting

We talk about

●     His insights on the current Franklin situation

○     School redistricting plan

○     Override vote scheduled for June 11

○     Riding with Phat Tuesday in prep for his 18th Pan Mass Challenge

○     Various volunteer efforts

The recording runs about 47 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1200-conversation-with-jeff-nutting-05-07-24

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Jeff Nutting’s PMC fundraising page -> www.pmc.org/jn0077

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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 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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FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report

May 10, 2024

 

Dear FPS Community,

 

This is a follow-up to the FPS Comprehensive School Facilities Analysis recommendation presented to the School Committee on April 30th. Based on the questions we received from the community, we created a Comprehensive School Facilities Recommendation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) linked to the FPS website to answer as many questions as possible at this time. 

 

Thank you to all who submitted your questions. The FAQ is categorized under the following topics:

1. Process

2. Community

3. Student Support

4. Transportation/Traffic

5. Budget

6. Facilities

7. Human Resources

8. Other

We will continue to update the FAQ with additional responses and provide more information as it becomes available.  As previously shared, some information can only be determined if the recommendation from the architectural firm and master planner is approved.  In addition to the FAQ, please find the FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report linked on our FPS website. 

 

We recognize these options result in significant change within the district.  The recommendations from the architectural firm and master planner were put forth with great respect and consideration for the educational experience of all Franklin students. Our goal is to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of enrollment, resources, and opportunities while striving for the most modern facilities to support our students' growth and development.

 

Maintaining students' connectedness to school and community remains paramount. Should the school committee vote to approve the recommendation, you can anticipate routine updates regarding the next steps and future community engagement opportunities throughout the process. The district is also drafting a preliminary implementation framework that expands upon the recommended timeline guided by master plan recommendations.   

 

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Facility Master Plan Report ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/franklin_public_schools_school_facilities_and_educational_master_plan_report_redacted11.pdf

FPS School Facilities and Educational Master Plan Report

Redistricting FAQs published, add your questions if they aren't already on the listing

Dear Franklin Public Schools Community,

This is a follow-up to this week’s presentation to the School Committee regarding the recommendation of the Comprehensive School Facilities Assessment.  We believe this recommendation will bring balance and equity to the district while stabilizing enrollment fluctuations and creating a more sustainable model for the future.

We listened to the committee and public comments, and we are in the process of gathering questions and grouping them into themes in an FAQ to address the questions that we can answer at this time.  You are invited to continue sharing questions via email (facilities-planning@franklinps.net), and we will use those questions as we update this FAQ document. 

A vote on this recommendation will come on May 14. 

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Redistricting FAQs published, add your questions if they aren't already on the listing

Find all the info in one place -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/comprehensive-school-facilities-assessment

What's happening Tuesday, April 30, 2024?

Tuesday, April 30

9:00am Fallen Hero: John E Pasquantonio (Veterans Walkway, Town Common)
2:30pm Rainbow Cafe (Senior Center)
6:00pm Family Game Night (Franklin Public Library)
6:00pm FPS School Budget Subcommittee Meeting (Municipal Bldg)
7:00pm Franklin School Committee Meeting (Municipal Bldg)
7:00pm Trivia Night (Raillery Public House)

What's happening Tuesday, April 30, 2024?

Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

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:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Comprehensive School Facilities Planning proposal to right size the school district in fewer schools

Good Evening, FPS Community,

I am writing to provide an update on this evening’s Comprehensive School Facilities subcommittee meeting.  As previously shared on 4/19/24, Locker Master Planning and Kaestle Boos and Associates are finalizing their assessment of the district’s facilities to identify both short-term, midterm, and long-term solutions to continue providing high-quality education opportunities for our students while creating a more fiscally sustainable model for our district.

Two options emerged from this work, which were shared and discussed. Visual maps that depict both options are attached to this email to provide more context.

Both options developed resulted in two strategic changes for the 2025-26 school year.

1. Unifying our three middle schools into one middle school in one location, the current Horace Mann/Oak Street complex. This will result in the closure of the three middle schools as they currently exist.

2. Unifying our five elementary schools into four elementary schools in two locations, the current Remington/Jefferson Complex and the current Annie Sullivan/Helen Keller Complex. This will result in the closure of the five elementary schools as they currently exist and the redistricting of all students between these complexes.  As a result, the Kennedy and Parmenter Elementary Schools would become unoccupied in their current capacity.

school district in fewer schools

Further, the two recommended options differed in grade-band structure at the K-5 level.

Option A

Identifying two K-5 complexes, the current Keller/Sullivan and Remington/Jefferson complexes, that would function as four elementary schools.  Labeled on the map are “North Elementary K-2” and “North Elementary 3-5” schools at the Keller/Sullivan complex, and “South Elementary K-2” and “South Elementary 3-5” schools at the Remington/Jefferson complex.

Option B

Identifying one K-2 elementary site at the current Keller/Sullivan complex and one 3-5 elementary site at the current Remington/Jefferson complex.  However, the Comprehensive School Facilities subcommittee determined this was not a viable option to move forward to a School Committee vote. This decision was made when considering the impacts of transportation, additional school transitions for students, and the creation of a large number of class sections within each grade level, which does not align with the stakeholder feedback to preserve smaller learning communities within larger schools.

Lastly, both options maintain ECDC at its current site and allow for future expansion at the current Kennedy Elementary School.

The results from the Master Facilities Plan will be shared at the next school committee meeting on April 30, 2024, along with a recommendation to the School Committee.  Franklin stakeholders are invited to share input during public comment at that meeting.

School Committee Members will vote on a final recommendation at the following School Committee meeting on May 14, 2024. A vote to take action on this option will result in strategic master planning during the 2024-25 school year, followed by implementation for the 2025-26 school year.

We recognize these options result in significant change within the district, and we are committed to thoughtfully planning and sharing information as it becomes available. Please be on the lookout for a follow-up email from your building principals as well.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent

The map of the current district along with that for Option A and Option B can be found in this PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DO3B2-nn1S1wNucsrODU-nrIAWL7Meib/view?usp=drive_link

Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program - Invitation for Bid

IFB - Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program

In accordance with MGL c.30B, it is the intention of the Town to enter a contract for the 2024-2025 school year with a supplier and distributor of paper products for the school nutrition program for the Franklin Public Schools. 

Additional Information:  Paper Products for School Nutrition Program

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-paper-products-school-nutrition-program

Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program - Invitation for Bid

Invitation for Bids (IFB) - Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program

Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program

In accordance with MGL c.30B, it is the intention of the Town to enter a contract for the 2024-2025 school year with a supplier and distributor of paper products for the school nutrition program for the Franklin Public Schools. 

Additional Information:  Paper Products for School Nutrition Program

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-paper-products-school-nutrition-program

Invitation for Bids (IFB) - Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program

Franklin Public Schools Announce Upcoming Musical Performances, Highlights Music Program

Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere, 355 East Central St. Franklin, MA 02038 Franklin Public Schools Announce Upcoming Musical Performances, Highlights Music Program FHS orchestra students. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools) FRANKLIN — Superintendent Lucas Giguere and K-12 Music Director Diane Plouffe are pleased to share information about the Franklin Public Schools Performing Arts program and upcoming musical performances. The FHS music program provides a variety of musical and theatrical opportunities to all students in grades K-12. Students gain a strong foundation through singing and playing recorders and ukuleles beginning in fourth and fifth grade. Beginning in the sixth grade, all students are offered the opportunity to learn to play a band or orchestra instrument, or sing in the chorus. Students participating in a school ensemble have three performance cycles per year: December, March and May/June. Students are currently preparing for the upcoming Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) State Music Festival.   "The MICCA Concert Festival encourages the improvement of an ensemble's musical standards by providing musical adjudication by highly qualified judges," said Plouffe. "Attendance at a festival also affords organizations an opportunity to hear performances by other groups and experience the presentation of a wide variety of musical literature." Prior to the festival, on Tuesday, March 12, 200 students will perform in the upcoming All Town Chorus and Orchestra concert. On the following Wednesday, March 13, the All Town Band concert will take place, featuring over 250 students. Both concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the FHS Auditorium. Admission for both shows is $5 at the door and all proceeds will go to Franklin Music Boosters. FHS students also recently auditioned for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA). There were 17 FHS students in the music program who were accepted into the Central District Honor Ensembles and 21 middle school students accepted into the Junior Festival. Music students attend one state festival per year, consistently earning silver and gold medals. Additionally, students who are looking for more performance opportunities may elect to perform in chamber music recitals, jazz band concerts, community service performances, musical theatre performances or audition for honor ensembles such as the Central District and All State Music Festivals. In addition to in-school classes, the tuition based Lifelong Music Academy is an after school music program offering private lessons and jazz band at each middle school and the "Footlighters," which is a middle school musical theater club. FHS has a full schedule of performance and non-performance musical opportunities for students throughout the year. Non-performance classes include: Music Production I, II, III, Podcasting, Music Theory I, AP Music Theory, Guitar, Piano, History of Rock and Rock Band. All students who elect to participate in the wind ensemble, concert band, orchestra or chorus perform in three main concert cycles; one in December, March and May.  "Our schools' music program is a journey of exploration and expression for our students." Plouffe said. "Through engaging lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and community performances, we are fostering a love for music and nurturing the next generation of musicians."  FHS students performing in a jazz combo at a recent concert. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools) A message from Franklin Public Schools John Guilfoil Public Relations, P.O. Box 22, Georgetown, MA 01833, United States, (617) 993-0003

Franklin's Three Middle Schools Receive Grant to Support STEM Career Learning

 

Superintendent Lucas Giguere is pleased to announce that the Remington Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School and Annie Sullivan Middle School recently received grant funds from the One8 Foundation to offer an expanded curricular program from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) to support STEM career learning.

The One8 Foundation collaborates with partners to identify, support and scale high impact programs, like PLTW, to help schools and teachers prepare students for success.

PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers through coursework in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Franklin's three middle schools join more than 12,000 schools across the country offering PLTW programs to millions of students.

“Receiving these grants gives us the opportunity to realize what we imagine for our students," said Director of Curriculum STEM Eric Stark. "By expanding our partnership with the One8 Foundation, our computer science and STEM teachers will join a nationwide community of educators, and our students will gain access to an engaging and rigorous curriculum and high-quality instructional materials."

The grant funds will be used to implement three PLTW Gateway units for the first time in Franklin Public Schools. In the first unit offered, Design and Modeling, students will discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They will be challenged to use and apply what they have learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

"We are so excited to be a part of this partnership with Project Lead the Way for the first time,” Superintendent Giguere said. "We are looking forward to seeing our students participate in these programs and how they can apply their skills across the computer sciences, shaping them for real-world experiences."

The second unit that will be offered is Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. Students will discover computer science concepts and skills by creating personally relevant, tangible and shareable projects. Throughout the unit, students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that bring their physical designs to life.

The third unit that will be offered is called App Creators. This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society. Students will customize their experience by choosing a problem that interests them in the areas of health, environment, emergency preparedness, education, community service and school culture.

Funds from the grant will also support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in PLTW courses. In addition, as a school with PLTW programming in Massachusetts, each school will have access to a regular set of teacher professional learning opportunities, student project showcases, and connections to industry professionals offered by the Mass Learning Project and the One8 Applied Learning Hub.

“Students are hungry for experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning to solve real-world, meaningful problems," said One8 Foundation President Joanna Jacobson. "Providing equitable access to hands-on applied learning programs that deliver academic gains while building critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills ensures students are engaged and interested in school and prepared for success in this ever-changing world."

About Project Lead The Way

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the country. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW's teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning.