FM #283 Teachers to Run Marathon for Franklin Food Pantry 5/28/20 (audio)

FM #283 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 283 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin teachers Nick Goldman and Paul O’Donoghue. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about how their teaching experience and schedule has changed during this pandemic period.

We talk about their plans for the fund raising effort for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

They will run a marathon on June 13 in Franklin. The community can assist in three ways:

1. by donating and picking a mile slot to run with Paul or Nick
2. by cheering them on along the 3 mile loop course through Franklin
3. by donating directly to the Franklin Food Pantry

Links to the web page with additional info on the course, to sign up, or to donate are included in the show notes

The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Nick and Paul    audio file = https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-283-teachers-to-run-marathon-for-food-pantry-5-28-20

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The marathon page https://sites.google.com/view/ffpmarathon

Get involved https://sites.google.com/view/ffpmarathon/get-involved

Course map https://sites.google.com/view/ffpmarathon/course

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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/
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"

Teachers to Run Marathon for Franklin Food Pantry

First found via Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulODonoghue_/status/1265633349172965382?s=20

Memo to School Committee on FY 21 Budget Development

To: Franklin School Committee
From: Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 
Re: FY 21 Budget Development
Date: May 22, 2020

As you know, the Franklin School Committee adopted a budget of $68,767,873 on April 28, 2020, which represents a 6.03% increase over FY 20. The Town Administrator’s memo from May 1 indicates that revenue predicted in the Governor’s Budget from January would not support this budget and it would be anticipated that the School Committee would need to reduce it. According to this memo, the school department could expect an increased allocation from the Town amounting to $775,000 (although $275,000 would need to be earmarked towards substance abuse prevention efforts). An increase of $500,000 would leave a shortfall of $3.4 million.

Uncertainty remains about the FY 21 budget as economists are revising state-level revenue estimates, which are analyzed to be negatively impacted in light of the economic downturn experienced due to COVID-19 closures across the state. Towns and school districts across Massachusetts are preparing for reductions in state aid. The Town Administrator’s memo from May 21, 2020 outlines the potential impact of between 5-25% reductions to the Town of Franklin. It is not likely that we will know the state budget until summer.

Reductions to state aid would add to the shortfall already previewed at the last School Committee meeting. I estimate that this could amount to be between an additional $1-5 million in addition to the $3.4 million under the previous assumptions. A likely scenario would involve a 10% reduction to state aid bringing the shortfall to $ 5.4 million.

At the last School Committee meeting, I began to lay out a few areas to reduce the gap as well as their impact. We identified the following:

• Updated budget figures including anticipated Federal Funding through the CARES Act, prepaying special education tuition, applying additional revolving funds, and a decrease in costs based on revised budget projections in transportation, Human Resources, and Instructional Technology. Many of these items are short-term solutions. CARES Act funding is a one-time allocation, prepaying special education tuition creates a structural budget deficit for FY 22, and additional revolving funding is not always available each year.
• Reductions from the Critical Needs additions including the proposed REACH coordinator position and the proposed stipend for a Transition Specialist, resulting in less support towards these specialized services.
• Initial reductions to services including reducing the Teaching and Learning Office budget and reducing supplies and materials by 5% across all schools, meaning less professional development, curriculum development, and classroom supplies/materials.

I also previewed the likelihood of reducing positions across the district.

It is difficult to predict state aid numbers at this time but it is imperative that we plan now. In advance of the School Committee’s budget discussion on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, I wish to outline how we are preparing for two possible scenarios of budget reductions.

• Scenario 1: Reduced Budget based on Governor’s Budget from January
• Scenario 2: Reduced Budget based on a 10% reduction to state aid

two possible scenarios of budget reductions

At this time, the administrative team is working to develop a series of recommendations to make to the School Committee in order to reduce the gap presented within these scenarios. Gaps of this magnitude are significant and every sector of the school department will be affected. As with building the budget, we frame our approach around our District Improvement Plan and vision. Additionally, these priorities guide our process:

• Consider enrollment at this moment, while also taking into consideration enrollment history of summer move-ins and our enrollment forecast
• Consider the impact of COVID-19 on FY 21 budgetary needs, as best we can predict at this time
• Reduce where students will be impacted the least in the core academic experience
• Scale back instead of broad programmatic cuts, where possible
• Apply a lens of equity across the district
• Not shift the burden further to PCC and Booster groups; our PCC and Booster groups raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support students in our schools and in our athletic and arts programs. These dedicated volunteers are stretched very thin trying to support our students in areas cut years ago from previous school department budgets.

This is an extremely difficult and complicated task. First, the school department reduced the FY 20 budget in the following categories:

• $69,100 in reduced services including professional development, memberships, and material licenses.
• Reduction of 14.9 positions totaling $746,080
• Increase in the transportation fee, activity fee, and athletic fees to raise an estimated $174,030

Having reduced services and positions last year, and raising fees last year leaves fewer opportunities for FY21. Second, reductions of this magnitude are difficult given the direct relationship of the school department’s budget to a student’s classroom experience; the impact of these cuts will be felt. Lastly, while we are considering a number of contingencies, no one knows exactly what the fall of 2020 will look like for schools in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and extended closure.

We will continue to examine reduced services and we will work creatively to consider ways in which we can reduce the budget without impacting jobs. Nonetheless, with personnel being the largest expense across the school district encompassing 85% of the budget with benefits, reductions of positions is anticipated. Under scenario 1, we could forecast a loss of as many as 25 positions (based on an average salary of $75,000). Under scenario 2, we could forecast as many as 50 positions (based on an average salary of $75,000).

While the Town Administrator is planning the town budget based on the Governor’s Budget and is awaiting further state-level information, he forecasts further reductions to the town budget in the fall and winter. That being said, the school department budget cycle necessitates our planning now. It is extraordinarily difficult to nearly impossible to make this level of reduction once the school year starts. Rather, we need to plan for the likely scenario now, with the hopes of a better forecast so that we may add back to our budget in the future, although that seems unlikely.

In the coming weeks, we will present options to the School Committee and the School Committee will have an opportunity to discuss and provide input on these items throughout development through on-going budget subcommittee and regular School Committee meetings. The School Committee’s budget will be discussed at the Finance Committee on May 28, 2020 and at the Town Council’s Town Budget Hearing, scheduled for June 17 and June 18, 2020.

Further Reductions to State Aid
The likely scenario for which we are currently preparing involves a reduction of 10%, which is a figure many districts are using to plan for FY 21. However, Chapter 70 aid was reduced by 20% in the 2009 economic downturn; this estimate is being used by some for local budget planning. Should Chapter 70 aid be reduced further to 15% or 20%, this would approximate an additional $1-2 million in reductions, equating to an additional 13-27 positions.

In 2009, the Federal government supported state and local revenue reductions with ARRA funds, mitigating the impact. At this time, there is no certainty of additional Federal funding to mitigate the impact of reduced state revenue, although some are hopeful.

Looking Ahead to FY 22
Last year, during the FY 20 budget development process, I wrote, “I wish to express my grave concern about the ongoing fiscal forecast for FY 21 and the possibility of further and more extensive reductions to the school department.”

The COVID-19 closure and economic downturn magnify an already existing structural budget deficit for Franklin Public Schools. A level service budget for FY 21 would have been
$68,231,057, or a 5.2% increase of $3,372,557 at a time when local revenue projections for the entire town were $3,500,000.

Franklin is in less of a position to rely on state aid than it has been in the past. Over the years, the expectation for minimum local contribution has increased due to the increase in local property values and median income within the town. State aid has contributed 54% of the school budget in FY2011 going down to 43.8% in FY 20, while local contribution has risen from 46% to 56.2% based on the state’s expectation of local contribution. A trend we expect to see in the long term is that maintaining even level service budgets in the future will be difficult under the current revenue formulas as well as long term economic forecasts.

The community is rightfully proud of the Franklin Public Schools. Unfortunately, we have a turbulent time ahead but our collective goal remains of supporting the growth and development of each Franklin student so that they have the social, emotional, academic and career skills to be productive citizens in an ever-changing world.


Download your copy of this important memo
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/budget-memo-0

screen grab of virtual School Committee meeting 5/26/20

Remington Middle School: Fun, wacky art slideshow

"Check out this link for a slide show of FUN and wacky famous Art reproductions created by staff and students at Remington MS! ENJOY!"

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oymdFhxWcH5acQRdjdj5oQNteaRHGQhcvDa-N9dwUeE/edit?usp=sharing

famous Art reproductions created by staff and students at Remington MS

Shared via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinPSart/status/1261641304401993730?s=09

Jefferson Labradors #TBT slide show

It's Throwback Thursday! Check out the TBT Jefferson Staff slideshow! https://t.co/jJlNSpQwsJ
Can you identify your favorite teachers as little kids??

YouTube Link = https://youtu.be/2rtw7G_aYO0




Shared via Twitter
(https://twitter.com/JeffersonLabs/status/1255920456957337601?s=03)

FPS: Family letter Keeping the Learning Alive - Mar 17, 2020

March 17, 2020

 
Dear Families,

We hope that you are doing well as we all navigate this unprecedented time in education and society. We hope that the information below provides some guidance in “Keeping the Learning Alive” at home. This information was also shared with teachers today and our purpose in sharing it with you is to ensure that students and families are on the same page with regard to expectations. 

There is no one right answer as to how to do this but we share a common goal: we all wish the very best for our students while they are not in school. Flexibility is key as things continue to change and shift. We will continue to communicate directly with you and encourage you to reach out via email to your child’s teacher(s) or principal if you have questions or comments. Together, we will get through this!

This letter will be translated into multiple languages and posted to our webpage on March 18, 2020.

Counseling Support
INTERFACE Referral Service
This is a stressful time and support is available to you and your family. If someone in your Franklin family, including your child is in crisis, where they are a threat to themselves or others, you should call 911. As always, if you feel that someone in your Franklin family, including your child would benefit from outpatient mental health services we encourage you to utilize the INTERFACE Referral Service (https://interface.williamjames.edu/community/franklin), which is free to all Franklin residents.

Teaching and Learning
Logistical Items:
1. Report Cards (Pre-K and Elementary)

• a. Report cards will be generated and sent home upon return to school.
• b. Progress reports will also be sent home upon return from school.

2. Grading

• a. Grading is suspended until we return from school. Teachers may provide feedback on anything students choose to share electronically while out of school.
• b. Teachers have been asked to complete any grading for assignments that were turned in on or by Thursday, March 12. If appropriate, feedback will be sent to students and families electronically.
• c. Report card dates, etc. will be reviewed and revised as needed upon return to school

Expectations of Teachers for Keeping the Learning Alive  
Communication:

1. Teachers and principals will be checking their email daily. Responses should come to you in a reasonable period of time, but please understand that they too are dealing with the impacts of the Coronavirus in their own homes.

2. Teachers will be reaching out to students and families to reconnect. We have asked that they establish a predictable, routine check-in process. We believe that it is critical that students and teachers maintain the connections that have been formed. Relationships are the most important aspect of the home/school partnership, especially during times of stress, such as this unusual extended closure of school.

3. You may also hear from school adjustment counselors, special education teachers, specialists, Unified Arts teachers, etc. Again, the goal is to maintain connections with our students. Your help in facilitating this is greatly appreciated.

4. If you have a specific need that we can help with, please email or reach out to your child’s teacher(s) or principal. We are here to help and support both students and families. We care deeply about and miss our students.

Instruction:
1. The goal of “Keeping Learning Alive” is to provide enrichment opportunities and resources to students and families. There is to be no NEW or forward instruction during the time that we are out of school. While we are working to allow for Chromebook borrowing and connecting families to low cost Internet access, not all students have the learning support they need to complete/learn new work. Therefore, the emphasis is on enrichment, practice, and depth.

2. You will shortly begin to see teachers sharing resources with you to “Keep Learning Alive”. These resources may come from the new FPS Learning page (https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/fpscommunitylearningresource/home), DESE curated resources (coming soon), or from the teacher/team/grade.

• a. This is not online coursework; it is enrichment and alternative learning opportunities.

3. We are not transferring responsibility for learning or homeschooling to families.

4. These activities are optional for families and student participation is not required. We do encourage it, to the extent possible for your family.

5. We do encourage you to set a regular routine with your children and hope that you will choose to participate in some of the activity suggestions coming your way. A sample schedule for younger children is shared on the family resources section of the FPS Learning page.

6. The materials you receive will not replicate a regular school day.

7. Please connect with your child’s principal if you need Internet access. There are some low-cost options available to you.

Our faculty is eager to connect with students and is/has been actively planning from home to make resources available to children. For us, it was so heartwarming and uplifting to connect with hundreds of our educators across the district during two live virtual calls earlier today. We are all invested in supporting students during this difficult time.

For questions about the FPS Learning Plan, please contact your child’s teacher, principal, or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Joyce Edwards (edwardsj@franklinps.net).

Student Services
New Referrals/Initial Eligibility:

We, along with other schools in the Commonwealth, will freeze evaluation, referral, and individual education plan distribution timelines for all students in a referral cycle during school closure. This means that as soon as schools open again, the timelines will commence as is required by state and federal regulations.

Annual Reviews/Evaluations in Process:
We, along with other schools in the Commonwealth, will freeze evaluation, annual review, and individual education plan distribution timelines for all students on IEPs and 504s during school closure. This means that as soon as schools open again, the timelines will commence as is required by state and federal regulations. Team Chairs will be working with families to understand the impact of the closure on students and to reschedule meetings.

Home ABA Services:
Home ABA services funded by Franklin Public Schools will be suspended until further notice.

Home/Hospital Tutoring:
Home and Hospital Tutoring occurs outside of the school buildings, and as such, families can decide whether or not they will allow tutoring staff into their homes. As a practice, Franklin Public Schools does not provide tutoring when school is not in session. For students currently receiving home or hospital tutoring, please understand that our ability to send contracted service providers into homes is contingent upon student’s and staff’s perceived health and wellness in accordance with state and CDC guidelines.

OOD/Residential Placements:
For students in Out-of-District day or residential placements, Franklin Public Schools will follow the attendance recommendations of the individual school or facility. If the Out-of-District day school is in session, we will continue to transport your child.

365 Day Residential Placements:
For students in 365-day residential placements, Franklin Public Schools will follow the attendance recommendations of the individual school or facility.

For Questions about Student Services, please contact your child’s special education liaison, service provider, principal, or the Director of Student Services, Ms. Paula Marano (maranop@franklinps.net).

English Language Development
Teachers from the English as a Second Language Department will be reaching out to families with information and supportive materials later this week.

Once again, we cannot stress enough that our goal for this time out of school is to maintain the positive relationships we have with students. We are here to help and welcome your comments and suggestions. This situation is new for all of us and your collaboration is encouraged and welcomed. Please take care of yourself and your family.

Respectfully,

Franklin Public Schools


Download a copy of this letter here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1xpSYgda_MR1RT0TQ6t7fMq33LBbD2a/view?usp=sharing

As noted above, this letter will be translated into multiple languages and posted to the Town of Franklin page on March 18, 2020
 

FPS: Family letter Keeping the Learning Alive - Mar 17, 2020

"Teachers eventually get to a living wage, but it takes 20 years to get there"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Paul O’Donoghue, 24, was sporting sunglasses and a Franklin Recreation Camp T-shirt on a humid July afternoon at King Street Memorial Park.

“I can’t complain – I get to play dodgeball and kickball with little kids,” he said.

O’Donoghue has been a camp director for the last four years, earning about $17 an hour. But during the school year, he goes by “Mr. O’Donoghue,” a math teacher at Franklin High School, earning about twice as much.

“I’m in the career that I think I’m meant for,” said O’Donoghue, a second-year teacher and Worcester resident who started at Franklin Recreation as a camper, then as a counselor in 2011. Teachers had a “really big impact” on his life, and he wanted to do the same for his students, he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190803/area-teachers-supplement-modest-salaries-with-second-jobs

Details on the Pew Research Center can be found
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/01/about-one-in-six-u-s-teachers-work-second-jobs-and-not-just-in-the-summer/

During the school year, roughly a quarter (26%) of male teachers had a second job, compared with 15% of female teachers.

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - now hiring

BFCCPS is growing and over the last few months we have completed phone screens, first round interviews, second round interviews and model lessons in the classroom. We are so thankful for the support of teachers, faculty and students for participating in this process.

We have met a number of incredibly talented and passionate educators that we are thrilled to add to the team for the 2019-2020 school year. 

At this time, hiring for the following position and job postings are available on our website, learn more and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/y5p8ckxj

• Inclusion Assistants
• Inclusion Teachers
• Grade 5 Teacher (2 openings)
• Grades 7/8 Science Teacher
• Library/Technology Teacher
• Grade 1 Classroom Assistant
• Grade 2 Classroom Assistant
• Grade 4 Classroom Assistant
• New Teacher Coach
• Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
• EL Teacher
• French Teacher (grades 3-5)
• Technology Specialist
• Lunch Coordinator
• Lunch Server
• Maintenance Staff

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - now hiring

This was shared from the BFCCPS Facebook post

https://www.facebook.com/BFCCPS/photos/a.1778965215669977/2474232769476548/?type=3&theater

"Classroom Giving is best described as a gift registry for educators"

From the NY Times, an article with a good story about a web page to help teachers get supplies for their classrooms.

"After an elementary schoolteacher in Phoenix posted her salary on Facebook in March last year amid a statewide protest for more education funding, she got a lot of calls from the news media, and a lot of hate mail, too. 

But a few months later, the teacher, Elisabeth Milich, said she received what seemed to be an unbelievable offer from a stranger in New York City: He would pay for the snacks and supplies she and her husband had been buying for her students with their own money. 

“I thought it was a one-time thing,” Ms. Milich said on Thursday. 

Instead, the man, Ben Adam, has since supplied her classroom at Whispering Wind Academy with colored pencils, paper clips, books, crackers and big bags of Hershey’s Kisses for two semesters. He has also bought a butterfly farm for another teacher in Phoenix, and supplies for four other classrooms in the Phoenix area. 

He started a website last month called Classroom Giving, which allows other people the chance to give necessities to teachers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/education/arizona-teacher-salary-facebook-post.html?

Go directly to the web page  https://sites.google.com/site/classroomgiving/home

"Classroom Giving is best described as a gift registry for educators"

FEA has bus going to "Fund our Future Rally" May 16

Massachusetts Teachers Association is holding a rally to FUND our FUTURE. This is to highlight the need to properly fund our schools. It is for anyone who supports our students and our schools.

The Franklin Education Association will have 2 buses leaving Franklin High School on May 16 at 4 PM for the Rally. All are welcome. 

Please email me directly if you are interested in going and planning on going. I need a head count and commitment count for bus purposes. Thanks for considering! email Donna Grady at gradyd@franklinps.net

FEA has bus going to "Fund our Future Rally" May 16

School Start Times Advisory Committee: Summary Paper

Dear Franklin Public Schools Community,

On Tuesday, March 26, 2019 the School Start Times Advisory Committee (SSTAC) presented to the School Committee making a recommendation that school start times be adjusted to be consistent with research on children and sleep. 

The School Committee is now in a position to vote on the matter, currently planned for the April 23, 2019 meeting.

The SSTAC has completed the development of its summary paper, which is shown below.

Additional information is available on the SSTAC website: https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-start-times-advisory-committee

A FAQ document will has been posted to the website shortly.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10XbvWjFn5bRgmnxTP2hRUa5apdfIQsnQVi4VKowzL-Q/edit?usp=sharing


Summary Paper
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hyy10-Lk5QVVg430KVbJUzV-NXJk15dp/view?usp=sharing

School Start Times Advisory Committee

The audio recording of the School Start Times report to the School Committee is available
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/fm-161-school-start-times-report-32619.html

FM #161 - School Start Times Report - 3/26/19 (audio)

FM #161

This internet radio show or podcast is number 161 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the School Start Times Advisory Committee report to the Franklin, MA School Committee on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in the Council Chambers.

School Superintendent Sara Ahern leads with the intro and overview before handing off to Kit Brady and FHS Deputy Principal William Klements who cover most of the presentation before Sara comes back to close it out.

My notes from the session can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-school-start-times.html

Recall that the applications for the Start Times Advisory Committee were accepted early in 2018
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/friendly-reminder-school-start-times_15.html

The Committee was appointed at the Feb 27, 2018 meeting and began work shortly after that
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html

The Start Times presentation is displayed here

School Start Time Recommendation from Franklin Matters

Or downloaded from here
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/school-start-time-recommendation

If the School Committee decides to make the start time change, it would be effective no earlier than the 2020-2021 school year. As the meeting closed Tuesday, there was no indication of when the Committee would take this up for a formal vote.

If you have questions, the School Committee has been making themselves available. The coffee hour schedule is posted. Their contact information is available. Each School Committee meeting has a portion for audience input for items not on the agenda. During the meeting, there are spots for input for those items on the agenda. Take advantage of these opportunities and raise your questions.

School Committee page https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee

The total meeting recording runs just about 1 and 45 minutes. Yes, this is a long one. Settle in comfortably, have my Franklin Matters live reported notes handy, and have the Start Times presentation at hand.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording.





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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

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

For additional information, please visit 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!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

Watch "RMS Pi Day 2019" on YouTube

Remington Middle School prepared to celebrate PI Day in a grand way.

Enjoy!






2019 PI Day video  https://youtu.be/C5wAko9q9tE

2018 PI Day video   https://youtu.be/lo6WV5e09hk

Live reporting: New Hires and Introduction of New Administrators

2. Guests / Presentations 
a. New Hires and Introduction of New Administrators – Dr. Ahern

New hire listing
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/new_hire_list_8-28-18.pdf

new administrators, principals and assistant principals

new administrators; principals and assistant principals introduced by Dr Ahern

Last week of summer for students and teachers

The first day of School for the 2018-19 school year is scheduled as follows

• Teachers: August 27, 2018
• Students (Gr. 1-12): August 28, 2018
• Kindergarten Students: August 29, 2018

Last week of summer for students and teachers

If there are any updates, they should be found on the School Department page

http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index

School Committee - Recap - May 22, 2018

The School Committee meeting featured recognition of some of the teachers retiring this year, the superintendent's evaluation, and a presentation on yet another unfunded mandate from the State.

Teacher retirements

Five teachers were present to be recognized for their years of service for the school district. The total number retiring from the district was not revealed. The listing of teachers that had been provided in prior years was not available before the meeting nor post meeting (as least as of Sunday, May 27).

FHS guidance Ms Dolan flanked by School Committee Chair Ann Bergen
and Superintendent Sara Ahern

Oak St kindergarten teacher Dolores Sherlock flanked by School Committee Chair Ann Bergen
and Superintendent Sara Ahern

HMMS Math teachers Bob O'Brian flanked by School Committee Chair Ann Bergen
and Superintendent Sara Ahern

Parmenter math specialist Mrs Dauley flanked by School Committee Chair Ann Bergen
and Superintendent Sara Ahern

FHS Terese Danizio-To flanked by School Committee Chair Ann Bergen 

and Superintendent Sara Ahern 

group photo

Superintendent Evaluation

Superintendent Ahern evaluation was reported out an voted on with one dissenting vote. Dr Monica Linden's statement outlining her rational was posted after the meeting here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/05/statement-by-dr-monica-linden-franklin.html

The evaluation document itself has not yet been posted to the School Committee meeting document page.
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Packets/m5-22-18%20SC%20Packet/

Unfunded Mandate

Yet another unfunded mandate required for implementation by the State of MA was outlined by Asst Superintendent Peter Light. The presentation document is usually released after the meeting but as of Sunday had not been available on the school webpage. I did capture photos of each page to share
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/05/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html


Note: Dolores Sherlock is my better half

My notes reported live during the meeting;

• Live Reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing
• Live Reporting: Discussion - Action Items
• Live Reporting: Screening Brief Intervention Refer...
• Live Reporting: School Committee - May 22, 2018

US Census Bureau: Where Are Our Teachers Going?

Teachers are leaving their jobs for other careers at a rate that has grown steadily every year in the past three years.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Where Are Our Teachers Going? Teachers are leaving their jobs for other careers at a rate that has grown steadily every year in the past three years. The latest information from the Census Bureau's Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics database shows that the departure rate is increasing steadily and shows no signs of slowing down. Read More Several research groups, such as the Learning Policy Institute, have shown a similar trend.  The America Counts Team Related: America Counts - Education Stories If you like our stories, use the hashtag #AmericaCounts to share them on social media.  About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.  Share this message or view it as a web page.

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