Selectmen voted unanimously last night to give businesses a slight break on property taxes.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
The board raised the tax burden on homeowners from 89 percent to 90 percent as it tries to find a balance between the homeowners and businesses.
With the shift, taxes for homeowners will be set at $11.92 per $1,000 assessed value, up from last year's $10.44. For the "average" Bellingham homeowner, with a home valued at $275,984, this will yield a $105 yearly tax increase, selectmen said.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
In the News - Bellingham split tax
Note that the split tax rate in Bellingham was changed to increase the residential rate and help businesses. Franklin doesn't need to do this, everyone already pays the same tax rate.
In the News - update on social media suspensions
In the post over the weekend, when I advocated for establishing a social media awareness, I referenced an article from Mendon where students were being investigated for creating a Facebook page. The Facebook page sought violence against one of their middle school assistant principals.
The developing story line is update in the Milford Daily News today:
The developing story line is update in the Milford Daily News today:
Five Mendon students suspended due to threatening Facebook page
Monday, December 7, 2009
School Committee Meeting - 12/08/09 - Agenda
1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the Open and Executive Sessions of the November 17, 2009 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual
2. NEASC Letters to and from FHS
2. Guests/Presentations
a. Fine Arts Academy – Mike Caple
b. Metrowest Health Update – Michele Kingsland-Smith
3. Discussion Only Items
a. 2010-2011 School Calendar Options - Maureen Sabolinski
b. H1N1 – Sally Winslow
c. Healthy Futures Summit – Maureen Sabolinski, Roberta Trahan
4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Option One of the 2010-2011 School Calendar.
b. I recommend approval of Remington Middle School’s request to declare the listed books as surplus.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks ($25.00 & $53.30) totaling $78.30 from Adirondack Vending for the RMS for supplies.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from Fidelity for the Annie Sullivan Middle School for in-house enrichment, supplies and supplemental curriculum materials.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1050.00 from ASMS PCC for buses for field trips.
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. NEASC
b. Grant Update
c. FHS Facilities
d. Enrollment Comparison
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations
8. Adjourn
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the Open and Executive Sessions of the November 17, 2009 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual
2. NEASC Letters to and from FHS
2. Guests/Presentations
a. Fine Arts Academy – Mike Caple
b. Metrowest Health Update – Michele Kingsland-Smith
3. Discussion Only Items
a. 2010-2011 School Calendar Options - Maureen Sabolinski
b. H1N1 – Sally Winslow
c. Healthy Futures Summit – Maureen Sabolinski, Roberta Trahan
4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Option One of the 2010-2011 School Calendar.
b. I recommend approval of Remington Middle School’s request to declare the listed books as surplus.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks ($25.00 & $53.30) totaling $78.30 from Adirondack Vending for the RMS for supplies.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from Fidelity for the Annie Sullivan Middle School for in-house enrichment, supplies and supplemental curriculum materials.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1050.00 from ASMS PCC for buses for field trips.
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. NEASC
b. Grant Update
c. FHS Facilities
d. Enrollment Comparison
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations
8. Adjourn
message from the Franklin Citizens Rail Committee
Three important things to do on Tuesday December 8, 2009:
2. Log on to the Franklin Rail Trail web site www.franklinrailtrail.org and sign up for membership to support our organization.
3. Attend the next meeting of the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee. It will be held Tuesday evening, December 8th at 7:30 PM, in the Odd Fellows Lodge on W. Central Street in Franklin. Agenda attached.
In the Globe - gift policy
School superintendents across the region are penning letters this holiday season to parents, cautioning them against going overboard with gift-giving to teachers, principals, and other staff members.Read the full article in the Boston Globe here
That means no pricey gift certificates to spas or fancy restaurants, no hard-to-get tickets to the theater or sporting events, no fine wine, or anything else valued at more than $50.
While acknowledging that parents’ gift-giving gestures may be well-intentioned, the superintendents say that the state’s new ethics law forbids public servants, including teachers on public payrolls, from receiving gifts with value in excess of $50. Violations are subject to civil penalties, the superintendents warn.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Invitation to Candlelight Vigil for Climate Action - Boston Dec 11th 6:00 PM
From the Franklin Area Climate Action Team comes this info:
Friends, we are running out of time. The United Nations climate change conference in December will be the turning point in the fight for a safe climate. But even before the conference, President Barack Obama and the leaders of some other large nations have announced that they aren't going to reach any kind of legally binding climate agreement in Copenhagen--declaring that they need more time, despite the five years of preparation they've already had.
That's sad and it's dangerous--the planet is running out of 'next years'. But it does give all of us more time to organize a movement to make them respect the science. The planet doesn’t negotiate. We must convince the governments of the world to change our uses of nature to meet earth’s requirements for the planet to keep on hosting us like it has been doing.
So it's time for the next big steps. The world needs your help. You will need this to succeed.
There's a global mobilization coming together for the weekend in the middle of the Copenhagen conference--Dec. 11-13. Our collective message: "The World Wants a Real Deal" -- people all over the planet are demanding a binding global climate agreement guided by the latest science and built upon principles of justice and equity.
The global coordinator is www.350.org. The Massachusetts Council of Churches, Massachusetts Climate Action Network and several other organizations are sponsoring the Boston vigil on December 11 as part of this global mobilization.
Here in Boston, we will assemble for a candlelight vigil in Cardinal Cushing Park, next to Senator John Kerry's office. Sen. Kerry is leading the US delegation to the climate convention in Copenhagen. We’ve assured him, we support him – to do the right, and difficult, and necessary things.
Our goal is to focus Sen. Kerry’s attention on the urgent need for a science-based international climate treaty and on climate legislation in the U.S. that gets us back below an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 350ppm, the upper limit a stable earth environment can tolerate.
We will stand in solemn solidarity with the citizens of those nations who already die at an increased rate of 300,000 a year in (primarily) African countries and island nations because of climate change, and with citizens of big parts of America’s southeast who already face severe new hazards because of climate change.
What: Candlelight Vigil -- The World Wants a Real Deal
When: December 11th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cardinal Cushing Park, at Cambridge and New Chardon Streets.
How: Closest T stop is Blue Line Bowdoin Station coming in (closes at 6:30 PM). Government Center Station is 2/10 mile away. If you can, please bring your own candle and an empty 2-liter soft drink bottle “candle holder”.
Friends, we are running out of time. The United Nations climate change conference in December will be the turning point in the fight for a safe climate. But even before the conference, President Barack Obama and the leaders of some other large nations have announced that they aren't going to reach any kind of legally binding climate agreement in Copenhagen--declaring that they need more time, despite the five years of preparation they've already had.
That's sad and it's dangerous--the planet is running out of 'next years'. But it does give all of us more time to organize a movement to make them respect the science. The planet doesn’t negotiate. We must convince the governments of the world to change our uses of nature to meet earth’s requirements for the planet to keep on hosting us like it has been doing.
So it's time for the next big steps. The world needs your help. You will need this to succeed.
There's a global mobilization coming together for the weekend in the middle of the Copenhagen conference--Dec. 11-13. Our collective message: "The World Wants a Real Deal" -- people all over the planet are demanding a binding global climate agreement guided by the latest science and built upon principles of justice and equity.
The global coordinator is www.350.org. The Massachusetts Council of Churches, Massachusetts Climate Action Network and several other organizations are sponsoring the Boston vigil on December 11 as part of this global mobilization.
Here in Boston, we will assemble for a candlelight vigil in Cardinal Cushing Park, next to Senator John Kerry's office. Sen. Kerry is leading the US delegation to the climate convention in Copenhagen. We’ve assured him, we support him – to do the right, and difficult, and necessary things.
Our goal is to focus Sen. Kerry’s attention on the urgent need for a science-based international climate treaty and on climate legislation in the U.S. that gets us back below an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 350ppm, the upper limit a stable earth environment can tolerate.
We will stand in solemn solidarity with the citizens of those nations who already die at an increased rate of 300,000 a year in (primarily) African countries and island nations because of climate change, and with citizens of big parts of America’s southeast who already face severe new hazards because of climate change.
What: Candlelight Vigil -- The World Wants a Real Deal
When: December 11th, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cardinal Cushing Park, at Cambridge and New Chardon Streets.
How: Closest T stop is Blue Line Bowdoin Station coming in (closes at 6:30 PM). Government Center Station is 2/10 mile away. If you can, please bring your own candle and an empty 2-liter soft drink bottle “candle holder”.
For additional information on the Franklin Area Climate Action Team, please visit their website here
----
For an alternative to the Boston event if you are looking for something a little closer to home, there is also a candlelight vigil planned in Attleboro on Friday Dec 11, 4:30-5:30 at the corner of County and S. Main Streets.
Join Clever Commute
If you use the Franklin Line - Commuter Rail you know that service sometimes can be less than optimal.
You can help alert your fellow commuters to what you know about the service, when you know it and generally that will be in advance of the MBTA getting around to posting one of their own alerts.
Conductor Josh, the guy behind Clever Commute says:
Visit their web site here and sign up to register your email address.
For more information on the service, visit the Clever Commute blog here
You can help alert your fellow commuters to what you know about the service, when you know it and generally that will be in advance of the MBTA getting around to posting one of their own alerts.
Conductor Josh, the guy behind Clever Commute says:
(1) If you want to send a real-time commuter "alert" to your fellow passengers, then send a subject-only message to MBTA-Franklin@clevercommute.How do you join Clever Commute?com
(ALL of the info comes from YOU...the commuters)
(2) Did you know?
We have over 100 recent instances where YOU have provided information better and faster than any other source!
See http://clevercommute.com/blog/?cat=2
Visit their web site here and sign up to register your email address.
For more information on the service, visit the Clever Commute blog here
Senate Primary Tues Dec 8th
The primary election for US Senate to choose the replacement for the late Edward M Kennedy will be held Dec 8th. Polls will be open at the Franklin High School field house from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
For information on the Democratic candidates:
For information on the Democratic candidates:
What's the difference between the four Democrats?
Brown says anti-incumbent sentiment a boost for him
Jack E. Robinson touts his moderate approach
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Davis Thayer Reading Challenge
Saw this sign out walking this morning:
Yea for reading!
Go Davis Thayer readers!
Yea for reading!
Go Davis Thayer readers!
You need Social Media awareness
You need to be social media aware. With a little time to enable, it is free and easy to monitor.
Why?
Wouldn't you like to know what is being said or written about you? You can be a company, an organization, or an individual. It doesn't really matter. The need is there, the risk of non-awareness or non-response depends upon the nature of what is being said and what you do.
What do you mean?
According to a recent news article, some student let school officials know about a Facebook group that threatened a middle school assistant principal. The article goes on to say that some students maybe suspended for their actions creating the group.
How can I be aware?
The simple way to start is to set up a Google Alert. The alert can be set up for a specific term or combination of words. It will send an email to you each day with a summary of what it found the prior day.
Here is a screen shot of the alerts I use:
If you would like to know some additional ways to listen, let me know.
Resources:
The Milford Daily News article can be found here
Dr Scott McLeod has the Eight Stages of Listening here
Chris Brogan has Five Tools I use for listening
Beth Kanter has listening tools on her social media wiki here
Why?
Wouldn't you like to know what is being said or written about you? You can be a company, an organization, or an individual. It doesn't really matter. The need is there, the risk of non-awareness or non-response depends upon the nature of what is being said and what you do.
What do you mean?
According to a recent news article, some student let school officials know about a Facebook group that threatened a middle school assistant principal. The article goes on to say that some students maybe suspended for their actions creating the group.
How can I be aware?
The simple way to start is to set up a Google Alert. The alert can be set up for a specific term or combination of words. It will send an email to you each day with a summary of what it found the prior day.
Here is a screen shot of the alerts I use:
If you would like to know some additional ways to listen, let me know.
Resources:
The Milford Daily News article can be found here
Dr Scott McLeod has the Eight Stages of Listening here
Chris Brogan has Five Tools I use for listening
Beth Kanter has listening tools on her social media wiki here
Recycle update
Attached is a complete list of the types of large rigid plastic that is accepted at the Beaver St. Recycling Center. This is a great program to take a lot of plastic out of the trash and recycle it. Please help us keep the container clean - NO TRASH, VINYL, BAGS, SIDING, PVC PIPE or anything not listed on the attached sheet.
Think - Rigid - Plastic!
Chris White
Solid Waste Coordinator
Franklin DPW
The attached sheet is here:
If you are not already subscribed to receive the recycling updates directly to your email, please consider doing so. You can subscribe on the Franklin website here
Note: For Franklin Matters email subscribers, you'll need to click through to the blog page to view the document attached.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Watch Know
The Internet is full of useful information, but it's disorganized and often unreliable. Despite its problems, the potential of the Internet for education is especially huge. Imagine tapping into that potential.Click through to view the WatchKnow site here
Imagine collecting all the best free educational videos made for children, and making them findable and watchable on one website. Then imagine creating many, many more such videos.
Just think: millions of great short videos, and other watchable media, explaining every topic taught in schools, in every major language on Earth.
Finally, imagine them all deeply and usefully categorized according to subject, education level, and placed in the order in which topics are typically taught.
WatchKnow—as in, "You watch, you know"—has started building this resource.
A sample video on photosynthesis from Bill Nye - The Science Guy:
The one key advantage is that all the videos are categorized according to topic and age appropriate for viewing.
Enjoy!
Pay for performance
Pay for performance sounds so good, it conveys images of comfort like motherhood and apple pie. The devil is in the details.
How do you measure the performance?
Whose performance is measured?
When you try to apply these to the educational environment, this becomes troublesome. There can be a rational approach to this problem and should be a consideration as the School Committee, School Administration, and the teachers sit down to begin to renegotiate their contract terms.
How do you measure the performance?
Whose performance is measured?
When you try to apply these to the educational environment, this becomes troublesome. There can be a rational approach to this problem and should be a consideration as the School Committee, School Administration, and the teachers sit down to begin to renegotiate their contract terms.
A much broader assessment of teacher performance was needed to capture the breadth of the teacher's role (Gratz, 2005). After four years and substantial effort, teachers and administrators collaborated to produce a new plan that the board, teachers, and voters ultimately approved. In the process, Denver expanded its definition of performance.
Denver's groundbreaking professional compensation plan replaces the traditional "steps and lanes" approach to compensation, in which teachers receive annual "step" increases as well as "lane" increases if they earn additional degrees. Only one of the new plan's four components directly addresses academic achievement goals—and that one is based significantly on teacher-set objectives, not just standardized test scores. In addition to student academic growth, the plan addresses teacher skill and knowledge, professional evaluation, and market incentives—compensating teachers who work in hard-to-serve schools or in hard-to-staff positions.
Note of caution: Since it took Denver four years to get to an agreement, I certainly would not expect any immediate agreement here. It would be nice to start the discussion and eventually get to something better than what exists.
In the News - Angel tree moved, Holiday Stroll
The Post Office finally realized they were breaking policy and the tree needed to be moved.
------
Friends of Franklin move angel tree to Shaw's
from The Milford Daily News News RSS------
Organized by the Downtown Partnership, more than 100 people gathered in front of Dean Hall for a tree lighting ceremony before taking off to explore offerings at over 35 participating businesses.
"This is better than we ever expected," said Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana. "I'm sure the weather has something to do with it."
Franklin Holiday Stroll a success
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)