School Committee - say it isn't so!

The School Committee reviewed the District Improvement Plan at their last meeting on August 10. As one of the contributors to the Steering Committee that developed the Strategic Plan, it was good to see the mission, vision, and values fleshed out with detailed action steps and follow up status points.

There is one significant omission. It was also noticed by one of the eagle eye readers here as well so I wasn't the only one to catch it.

The District Improvement Plan: The last goal statement was built on the core value that the community provides resources for learning. Resources in this case is not just funding and the Strategic Value was worded carefully:

We partner with all members of the community to exchange ideas, solve problems and build a comprehensive educational experience.

From this value, the goal statement is worded as:

GOAL STATEMENT: The community will collaborate to provide the financial resources to support the educational program.

This gets to the heart of the matter. For whatever reason (economic times, lack of trust, or just 'no more', etc.) the Franklin voters have spoken to deny the schools the funding the School Committee/Administration claims is required for the education of our children. One would expect that this issue, how to better engage the community, would receive a high priority and fortunately it does with the Value and Goal Statement as shown.

For this goal statement, the plan lists two learning objectives:

• Administrators will collaborate with School Committee to develop and implement a budget
• The FPS Administration will collaborate with town and community to address FHS facility needs

What is the omission?
Where are the parents? Where is the Parent Communication Council (PCC)?

Don't you think that the parents should be involved in the process? Shouldn't the parents (especially in their role as voters) be involved in the planning and communications around the educational priorities?

Shouldn't there be an objective to reach out to the parents (and other groups in the community) to improve the information and awareness of the school budget and priorities?

Is it just me or is the School Committee/Administration missing the boat?

Why is this an issue?
The School Committee agenda for Tuesday, August 24 has an action item:

• I recommend acceptance of the District Improvement Plan as presented at the last meeting.

The operative wording is "as presented" and not "as modified based upon feedback from the presentation and discussion". And if the action item was just written incorrectly but the document had actually changed, that could be considered a typo or oversight. But the document as distributed with the School Committee packet did not change.

Say it isn't so!


The action item and District Improvement Plan can be found here:

SchCom_20010824_ActionB

The 'final' Strategic Plan
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/08/live-reporting-strategic-plan.html

Strategic Plan Steering Committee
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/01/live-reporting-steering-committee-for.html

Strategic Plan presentation to Town Council
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/04/slidecast-strategic-plan-overview-audio.html


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Planning Board - 08/23/10 - Agenda

The current agenda for the Planning Board meeting scheduled for Aug 23, 2010.

Franklin, MA: Planning Board Agenda 08-23-10



Franklin, MA

Woodrow L. Abbott Field House

Let's reach out and draw from your memory banks on this one:


Apparently, the high school field house was once named the "Woodrow L. Abbott Field House" and then about 10 years ago (or so) the sign was removed and hence referred to as the Franklin High School Field House.


Who was Woodrow L Abbott?


Why was the change made?


You can send me an email or respond in the comments.


Thanks!



Franklin, MA

Catch basin does its thing

Coming down Upper Union St to the newly redesigned corner at King St, the catch basin (or rain garden?) is doing its thing along the side of the road.

MassHighway, now a Division of MA DOT is responsible for this construction which won't be completed until Summer of 2010. You can find out project status on the MA DOT website here


Franklin, MA

Conservation Commission - reporting - Aug 12

The Conservation Commission meeting of 8/12/10 is recorded and available for review on demand on the Franklin website
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634180921746168826&indexSessionSKU=FfA8vbJzDUVgSnMLeNnOFg%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D


Conservation Agent report: Nick Alferi
Of interest and an item that slipped in with the Governor's approval of the Tax Free days for Aug 14/15, all permits if they were issued between 8/15/08 and 8/15/10 are automatically extended two years. The process of tolling is adding two years to the clock usually when an item goes to court. As the new law doesn't explicitly include extensions (amongst the long list of items included), research by Mark Cerel is underway to find out.

Discussion on a public hearing to review the process on a minor buffer zone and functional characteristics. Likely to hold a public hearing first. Need a clean copy of the Commission rules and regulations allow with a a marked up copy to help the discussion.

video segment can be viewed here:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=F4pi8e4ST9CRUFAWP7iUBw%3d%3d


Summer St - new water main
From Crocker Ave to Squibnocket Rd
replacement of the existing water line, abiding with all regulations for conservation commission etc.
Final paving of this section will be done next year after the trench has settled.
Standard special conditions would apply.

View the video segment here:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=n%2fykJ3qSTo8UmPrQMnpn6g%3d%3d


486 E Central St - Price Chopper
Plans about 90% done, still making adjustments to incorporate the feedback from various agencies (including Charles River Watershed). Should have paperwork complete with some understanding that there will be iterations as the details are worked out.

Discussion on intermittent stream seems to be coming from runoff of impervious surfaces off the property. According to the wetlands act, the mitigations would be required if it was jurisdictional (i.e. had vegetation at the source of the water). Since there is no vegetation at the source of the water, it is their opinion to not be jurisdictional and the plans will reflect that.

Still working with Planning Board, on their agenda for their second meeting in Sep. Would likely be ready for the second meeting here in Sep as well (Sep 23).

Public hearing continued to Sep 23rd.

View the view segment here:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=rQs7OCdTRdu%2fPwIQA9IpQw%3d%3d




Franklin, MA

Native Plants of Franklin

Were you able to identify last week's mystery plant? Here it is, providing food to a hummingbird:




This is Oenothera biennis, otherwise known as common evening primrose. You've likely seen it in fields and weedy places, but you may never have noticed its amazing scent. Evening primrose blooms at night to attract moths. The flowers wilt under the hot sun, so the best time to see and smell this plant is early in the morning. Early in the morning is also when you are most likely to see hummingbirds feeding from its flowers.




Like many native flowers of North America, evening primrose is a biannual, meaning it goes through its entire lifecycle in two years. The plant grows as a small rosette of foliage the first year, and shoots upward with a flower stalk on the second. Under the right conditions, such as in a sunny location against a wall, it can grow eight feet tall and can produce hundreds of yellow flowers.



Seeds of evening primrose are easy to collect: simply break off seed-pods from a spent plant, and break them open. Seeds can then be scattered where you would like the plant to grow.

If you grow this plant in your garden, consider leaving the dead flower stalks standing through the winter to provide food for goldfinches.

And here is our next native plant:




Feel free to post your guesses here in the comments section!

If you would like to see more photos of hummingbirds here in Franklin, you can visit my blog at http://thecluelessgardeners.blogspot.com/ .


Franklin, MA

In the Globe - library thrives in hard times

Library thrives in tough times

from Boston Globe -- Globe West by Leah Burrows, Globe Correspondent

Lessons that we may be able to borrow and use here in Franklin?


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 8/24/10

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open and Executive Session minutes from the August 10, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Middle School’s School Improvement Plans

3. Discussion Only Items

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of the Franklin High School’s Handbook as presented at the last meeting.
b. I recommend acceptance of the District Improvement Plan as presented at the last meeting.
c. I recommend acceptance of the Horace Mann, Remington and Annie Sullivan Middle School’s School Improvement Plans as presented.
d. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed.
e. I recommend acceptance of the Middle Schools Handbooks as presented at the last meeting.
f. I recommend acceptance of the Elementary Schools Handbooks as presented at the last meeting.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
a. Parmenter – Wachusett Street Construction

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

In the News: Charles River

Charles River sewage plant gets stimulus funds

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Julie Balise


Franklin, MA

Statewide Trend: Tax Bills

The property tax is by far the largest and most reliable component of revenue for cities and towns. Data collected by DLS makes it clear that whether property values are moving up or down, property taxes will increase, except in rare instances, given the need to provide ever more costly services. This is particularly true during times when there is less state aid, stagnant local receipts, and little new growth. Over each of the past ten years, the statewide average single-family tax bill has increased in both actual and constant dollars. The weighted average tax bill increased in 2010 by $140, or 3.3 percent, to $4,390, the smallest percentage increase of any year in the past decade. The percentage increase during this time ranged from the current low to a high of 6.7 percent in 2002. The cumulative percentage increase over this period is 55.3 percent, an average of 5.5 percent each year. Generally speaking, the average bill has recently increased at a slower pace suggesting a few factors are at play, such as leaner budgets, reduced excess levy capacity and Proposition 2 ½ override fatigue.

bold added for my own emphasis

Read the full article here:

Updated 8/22/10 - The Boston Globe headlines for the Sunday paper referenced this same report.

Franklin, MA

DEA: prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative

The Drug Enforcement Administration and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide o n Saturday, September 25 th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

For locations near you, check on the DEA website here. You can search by zip code and within a radius of that zip code. Currently there are not locations close to Franklin. However, the website claims additional locations will be added and to check back often.

The top page on the DEA website is here: http://www.justice.gov/dea/index.shtml


Franklin, MA

Downtown Improvement Project - collection

The collection of information on the Franklin, MA Downtown Improvement Project can be found here. Note the project has also been called or referred to as 'street-scape' or 'revitalization'.

The collection will be added to as the project and discussions continue.

Franklin, MA website links   ---------------------

The Franklin Planing and Community Development project page
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/dtimprovement

July 2010 Drawings
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/downtowndocs/july2010drawings.pdf

June 2010 Design update
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/downtowndocs/designupdatejune.pdf

Proposed Pedestrian Improvements May 2010
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/downtowndocs/pedestrianimprovements.pdf

Proposed Intersection Improvements May 2010
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/downtowndocs/intersectionimprovements.pdf


Franklin Matters website links ----------------------------

The May 12 presentation document
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/downtown-improvement-project.html

The May 12 meeting video recording
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/downtown-improvement-project-live.html

Underground Utility - survey
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/franklin-ma-underground-utilities.html

Survey results
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/underground-utilities-survey-results.html

Underground Utility - clarifications
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/franklin-ma-utility-wires-to-go.html

Underground Utility - 'the rest of the story'
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/underground-utilities-rest-of-story.html

Improvement Project Presentation to Town Council and Downtown Partnership from Jan 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/downtown-improvement-project.html

Road construction to cause detours this fall

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Road construction to cause detours this fall

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff on 8/19/10

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting last night asked drivers to be aware of potential detours this fall due to reconstruction of Wachusett Street.

He said the road work could affect school traffic by Parmenter Elementary.

"School will be in session, and we're working with the school department to let citizens know there's a potential for detours," Nutting told the Town Council.

He said the project, which includes drainage and sidewalk improvements, will not be finished until next year.

"There will be a lot of shuffling around," he said.

Nutting said detour routes will likely be announced in the next few weeks.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
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Constitution Day Lessons from Sunnylands Classroom

Recalling the recent handbook discussion at the School Committee meeting on 8/11/10, this article caught my eye.


http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freetech4teachers/cGEY/~3/MCnM0jf26Fw/constitution-day-lessons-from.html

YPO COOKOFF POSTPONED

The United Regional Chamber’s Young Professional Organization (YPO) has postponed its Chowder & Chili Cookoff scheduled for Sept.1 at the Boston Sports Club in Franklin. The rescheduled date will be announced later.



Franklin, MA