Bi-County Collaborative Awarded More Than $420,000 in State Grants to Strengthen Literacy Instruction Across All Grade Levels

Bi-County Collaborative is pleased to announce that it has received more than $420,000 in competitive state grants to expand access to high-quality English Language Arts (ELA) instruction and professional development for teachers.

BICO was awarded $294,000 through the state's PRISM II grant program to support early literacy instruction in grades K-3, and an additional $127,500 through the PRISM III program for literacy instruction in grades 4-12.

From left, Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, BICO Professional Development and Curriculum Specialist Ann Buckley, DESE ELA/Literacy Content Specialist Octavia Nixon, Department of Early Education and Care Early Literacy Practice Specialist Jennifer Crandell, Bi-County Collaborative Executive Director Jeanne Sullivan, and DESE ELA/Literacy Content Specialist Lori McNally at the Literacy Launch event at the Easthampton Public Library on Aug. 18. (Photo Courtesy Bi-County Collaborative)

These substantial awards, part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's multiyear investment in literacy education, will allow BICO to purchase brand-new, high-quality instructional materials for students in all grade levels and provide extensive professional development for educators.

"This funding is transformative for our Collaborative," said Ann Buckley, the Professional Development and Curriculum Specialist for BICO. "It ensures our students have access to rigorous, high-quality instructional materials, while also giving our teachers the time, resources, and coaching they need to strengthen instruction. Ultimately, it's about equity and making sure every student, regardless of background or disability status, has access to the same level of opportunity."

With the PRISM II grant, BICO will roll out HMH Into Reading as its new K-5 ELA curriculum. The PRISM III grant will fund the adoption of StudySync for grades 6-12. Both selections were made last year after a collaborative vetting process involving BICO educators, with support from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and its high-quality instructional materials curriculum evaluation networks.

The grant funds will also cover costs for staff participation in professional development and curriculum planning, including substitute coverage and teacher stipends for work beyond the school day; support instructional coaching from The New Teacher Project; and provide long-term investment in curriculum materials, with funding supporting a four-year adoption cycle.

Through these initiatives, BICO will strengthen early literacy instruction, enhance high school literature studies, and close achievement gaps by ensuring equitable access to world-class materials and teaching practices.

"These grants represent a significant investment in our students and educators, and we are extremely grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this funding," said Executive Director Jeanne Sullivan. "They will allow us to expand access to the very best instructional tools and practices, while also providing the time and support teachers need to make them successful in the classroom. This work strengthens literacy from the earliest grades through high school and will have a lasting impact on achievement and equity across our Collaborative."

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

 

Melissa & Brandon talk about the G&C Plumbing Teacher back to school giveaway (audio)

FM #1490 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1490 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Brandon Sheck, Operations Manager + Co-Owner/Vice President and Melissa Merlino, Social Media & Community Outreach Specialist. We had our discussion on Friday, August 1, 2025 in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio.

 

We talk about 

• G&C originated in Franklin, located in Bellingham

• Focused on residential business for all aspects of plumbing

• Teacher Giveaway, open thru August 14 for Franklin or Bellingham based teachers

The recording runs about 18 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1490-gnc-teacher-giveaway-08-01-25/

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Melissa & Brandon talk about the G&C Plumbing
Teacher back to school giveaway (audio)

G&C web page -> https://www.gandcplumbing.com/ 

Teacher Award info and nomination page -> https://www.gandcplumbing.com/back-to-school-giveaway/ 

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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. 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"

More Perfect Union - WFPR: Should teacher's be able to legally strike (audio)

In this episode, the group and guests Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of the United Teachers Los Angeles, discuss if teacher's should be able to legally strike, and why they would want to strike.

Audio link -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/100-teachers-union

More Perfect Union - wfpr

More Perfect Union - WFPR

Discussing American Politics and Current Events

Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Jeff Roy, hold a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States.

Find all the More Perfect Union episodes online -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episodes  or subscribe with your favorite podcast app

Nominate a Teacher – G&C’s Back-to-School Giveaway! (nominations due Aug 14, 2025)

At G&C Plumbing & Heating, we believe in giving back to the amazing educators who make a difference in our community every day. That’s why we’re excited to launch our Nominate a Teacher Giveaway!

Do you know a local teacher who goes above and beyond for their students? Let’s help them start the school year strong! 

Simply nominate a deserving educator, and G&C will select 2 teachers and purchase items directly from their Amazon classroom wish list to support their classroom needs up to $500!

Nominate a Teacher – G&C’s Back-to-School Giveaway!

This is our way of saying thank you to teachers and giving back to the people who shape our future.

Nominations Close 8/14/25

Click HERE to Nominate your favorite teacher today and help us spread some well-deserved appreciation!  -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSxXT2aOvR_qS2SkhVPhGZLb77lEvUzBiM2e7pFxVx6uUAjQ/viewform

*Exclusions apply: Teachers nominated must be from only Franklin or Bellingham.

Shared from G&C page -> https://www.gandcplumbing.com/back-to-school-giveaway/

2 FHS teachers on the joy of teaching & the hard things about budget issues (audio)

FM #1401 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1401 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri and Katherine Kellett, both teachers at Franklin High School. We had our conversation at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, March  3, 2025.  

Katherine Kellett, Teacher - English

Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri, Teacher - World Language

• We cover their road to Franklin and FHS

• We talk about the joy in teaching

• And the issues faced with continued budget cuts

• Only one language to be offered at the middle school

• Reduces the total of language classes High School graduates can carry forward to college

• Text book & curriculum cuts challenge the appropriate delivery of curriculum

• Loss of shared intellectual capital with colleagues cut due to budget

• Language lab is a resource heavily utilized and will no longer available (per budget)

• Struggle to attract and retain substitute teachers

• Ripple effects for curriculum coverage that is lost and how that affects students and the next year’s teachers for that subject

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Leah and Katherine on teaching in challenging budget times

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1401-2-franklin-high-school-teachers-03-03-25/

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Franklin High School page -> https://www.franklinps.net/o/fhs 

Franklin School District budget page -> FY 2026 https://www.franklinps.net/documents/about-us/school-district-budget/fy2026-budget/728831 

Joint budget listening sessions archive -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html 

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

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"

A couple of Ben Franklin's gift books to the Town

Voices of Franklin: Asks why we are telling students that "they are far less important than the bottom line?"

I’m Helen Hoffenberg and I have been an educator in Franklin for the last 18 years teaching English at FHS. 

I’ve worked under 6 different department heads, 5 different principals, 5 different superintendents and with dozens of amazing colleagues that have since left our community. Although the insane turnover rate of highly qualified teachers is an important discussion point, I’m going to use this moment to talk about the Franklin Arts Academy- an amazing program that is currently being phased out due to budget cuts. 

Fifteen years ago I helped create this program that aims to teach core subjects like English, History, and Science to brilliant and creative students. Actually, they are artists, and they have thrived in this program for 15 years. 

Unfortunately, this group of often marginalized students will no longer have a specific space that helps them foster and apply these important critical and creative skills to the content, further putting them at a disadvantage. 

Ironically, my current FAA class sizes fall within the 18-22 students recommended by the School Committee while my English 11 Honors classes have 25 or more students in each class.  The FAA program has been paramount in distinguishing FHS as a progressive school that cares about all students and all learning styles.

In fact, ten years ago we applauded the FAA during a NEASC visit yet here we are phasing out the program and, essentially, those students, telling them that they are far less important than the bottom line. 

Helen Hoffenberg 

FHS English Teacher

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin:  Asks why we are telling students that "they are far less important than the bottom line?"

Voices of Franklin: The impact of school budget cuts

My name is Katherine Kellett, and I am an English Teacher at Franklin High School.

Thank you, Superintendent Giguere and School Committee Chair Callaghan for giving educators the opportunity to share our thoughts and perspectives tonight. We especially appreciate the opportunity to speak early in the evening so that we don’t have to stay up too much past our bedtimes.

We are here tonight to talk to you and to the Franklin community about the impact of the budget cuts on educators and students over the past year. As educators, we come to this profession with a passion for helping students become the best versions of themselves. We want them to reach their potential and become thoughtful, productive, caring citizens of this world. We celebrate their successes with them, and we pick them up when they are in crisis.

However, the strain on resources in this community has affected our ability to educate in the fullest way we can. Over the last two years, we have lost over 50 educators, 20 of whom were given pink slips last week due to the reorganization. Let me give you an example from my experience.

In the English department at the high school, we have lost three teachers over the last two years. Their students have been distributed to the remaining English teachers, creating larger class sizes. I have four AP English Language sections this year, each with 25-26 students. This class size is up from 18-21 students last year. I have had to reduce the number of timed essays I assign because of the physical limitation on how much I can grade (and I am a fast grader!). 

Moreover, we have been told that without a significant reduction of paper usage, teachers may face a white paper freeze in the coming months. I teach a diverse group of students, many of whom struggle with impulse control, so to rely solely on screens and technology to deliver my instruction would mean that I am not meeting the needs of all students, a charge from the state that I take very seriously. 

Educating students is the most important–I would dare say sacred–responsibility that a community has. To do that, educators and students need adequate resources. The Town of Franklin must choose to fund schools adequately in order to maintain the standard of excellence that I and my colleagues hold dear. Franklin must prioritize student-facing positions above all else–that means teachers, counselors, speech and occupational therapists, psychologists, and nurses–as well as the physical resources–yes, including paper–that they need to succeed and reach their full potential.

I stand here tonight with many colleagues, who are eager to share their personal stories. Thank you again for your willingness to hear our voices as the town works to construct a budget for next year

Katherine Kellett

Franklin High School English Teacher

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin:  The impact of school budget cuts

FPS teacher percent salary increase over the contract years from 1999-2000 to 2024-2025

Shared from Al Charles, Franklin School Committee

"The image shows the yearly contract increases for the Franklin educators since 1999. 64% of the yearly increase was less than 2.5%. This includes years with a 0 or 0.5% increase.  

Over this duration the average increase was 2.23%. Without the 3 years with a 4% increase the average drops to 2.02%.  

Did the 4% improve the town budget concerns, no.  

Was it the primary driver of the town's financial problems, no. The "pie" is just not big enough."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/Q3iGKjtNuasaDk8f/

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)