Chalkboard chat condenses the 4 hour Jan 13, 2026 School Cmte meeting to an hour (video & audio)

FM #1627 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1627 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee member Reis Hansen.  We had our discussion via Zoom on Friday, January 16, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting January 13, 2026.

Our conversation covered the following topics:

Early insights on role as school committee member

Subcommittee work on Policy & Horace Mann Legacy

Meeting recap

Recognition of cheerleaders

FHS trip to Galapagos for 2027 was approved

FHS 2026-27 Program of Studies Update

how courses are added, selection by students  

Office of Teaching & Learning District Assessment Presentation

The role of teaching & learning

The use of data to provide support and interventions as needed

MCAS still used just not a requirements for graduation

Franklin Childcare Presentation

The planning underway for initial opening for 9 student with 2 teachers

For school dept personnel first, then Town employees

Further expansion possible for community over time

Can provide revenue to sustain program 

We close with a discussion on screen time and use of technology in the classroom

    based upon a resident comment

Our conversation runs about 72 minutes. Let’s listen

Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnBKBSydGU4

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1627-chalkboard-chat-01-16-26/

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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 for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaXy2prDrCI 

Agenda ->  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2086 

Meeting packet folder (copies of the presentation are not yet available, once posted they should be in this folder) ->  https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-13%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24614180 

Pictures of the slides shared captured in one album for 

The Galapagos trip presentation ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/amcYuXHUxJfRbu6Y7 

The FHS Program of Studies -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/p5zRxxEXyke76hV66 

Teaching & Learning update -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/LotQq5wCQJ8qJmUy9 

Little Solutions Childcare update ->    https://photos.app.goo.gl/JoMPxdB2v7a2TMV26 

 

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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"

Decision tree to help determine if a Smart Phone is right for a 13 year old?

"It’s hard to raise a child in a world their brain wasn’t built for.

Decision tree to help determine if a
Smart Phone is right for a 13 year old?

Smartphones feel essential to daily life, but for kids they bring adult content, comparison, cyberbullying, dopamine issues and levels of stimulation their developing brain can’t regulate.

Most kids aren’t “bad with phones”.

They’re just young – and overwhelmed.

This flowchart isn’t saying your child should never have a phone.

It’s showing that giving one too young, and without guidance, is like dropping them into a city without a map.

What matters most is getting them ready for what they’ll find there – through small, honest conversations that protect their brain, their confidence, and their safety.

If your child already has a phone, you haven’t “messed up”. You can start these conversations today.

This isn’t about banning childhood tech. It’s about giving kids the grounding and confidence to meet it when they’re ready. 

For some families that means supporting a child who already has a phone; for others, it means waiting until the time is right.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

🎨 Created by @tjpower and @smartphonefreechildhood 

🧠 Inspired by @mindandchild"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DSIAaxsCFHw/

If you missed the podcast episode with Dr Carolyn Kuehnel and Dr Cindy Ballou, we ended up talking about screen time and will have a follow up conversation in the near future.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/kuehnel-psychological-services.html

Kuehnel Psychological Services supporting youth, parents, families & very concerned about screen time (audio)

FM #1609 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1609 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Dr. Carolyn Kuehnel and Dr. Cindy Ballou. We had our conversation in their office in downtown Franklin on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. 

Dr Carolyn Kuehnel is the owner of Kuehnel Psychological Services, PLLC.

In the course of our discussion we covered

• 

  Kuehnel Psychological Services

  Their individual road to this role

• The services they provide

• Supporting parents and families

• The need for a community approach

• The dangers of screen time

The recording runs about 59 minutes so let’s listen to my conversation with Carolyn and Cindy.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1609-kuehnel-psychology-12-09-25/

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Kuehnel Psychological Services  https://kuehnelpsych.com/ 

The Wait Until 8th organization website ->  https://www.waituntil8th.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

• 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"