The Planning Board is accepting applications through January 9, 2008 with appointments to be made at a joint meeting of the Town Council and Planning Board on Jan 23, 2008.
Time: 22 seconds
MP3 File
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Franklin's MCAS Results (Audio)
The presentation and discussion during the School Committee meeting of 12/11/07 on the most recent MCAS results for Franklin.
Time: 56 minutes, 44 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 56 minutes, 44 seconds
MP3 File
Franklin Schools - MCAS Report for 2007
Michelle Kingston Smith, Director, Instructional Services, presented the following report to the School Committee during the December 11, 2007 meeting.
The report can be found on the district web site so you can follow along with the recording.
The audio for this presentation can be found here.
(Note: There is a delay during the beginning of the presentation as the presentation laptop is rebooted. Superintendent Ogden fills in the time with an update on a special education teacher that will need to be hired to meet the requirements of two 3-year olds registering in the district during February. They are hearing impaired.)
------------------------
My notes taken during the presentation
EQA audit
4 -Commendations for district
Higher MCAS scores
Strong curriculum alignment with state frameworks
Professional development
Mentoring program
“High performing” district
Aggregate outperformed the state
105 students awarded the J&A Adams scholarship based upon Grade 10 performance
Grade 8 was 2 full performance ratings above the state
9th grade Biology out performed the state by two ratings
Low income and special education subgroups are underperforming according to plan (although they are higher than the state)
Subgroups dropping in science where state subgroups are improving, overall i.e. aggregate numbers are rating “High”
K different world for writing, important to be developmentally appropriate and feed to upper grades
K-12 literacy plan
District wide, draft philosophy
Identify core instructional expectations, assessment practices
Action plan for identifying and implementing
“Middle school culture is redhot with factors that affect student performance”
Media, choices kids have, forced choices with family environment, so many variables
Audit shows the curriculum is aligned
Quality assessment, engagement and motivation, how do you measure that?
Current 10th graders will need to pass science and technology test to graduate
The report can be found on the district web site so you can follow along with the recording.
The audio for this presentation can be found here.
(Note: There is a delay during the beginning of the presentation as the presentation laptop is rebooted. Superintendent Ogden fills in the time with an update on a special education teacher that will need to be hired to meet the requirements of two 3-year olds registering in the district during February. They are hearing impaired.)
------------------------
My notes taken during the presentation
EQA audit
4 -Commendations for district
Higher MCAS scores
Strong curriculum alignment with state frameworks
Professional development
Mentoring program
“High performing” district
Aggregate outperformed the state
105 students awarded the J&A Adams scholarship based upon Grade 10 performance
Grade 8 was 2 full performance ratings above the state
9th grade Biology out performed the state by two ratings
Low income and special education subgroups are underperforming according to plan (although they are higher than the state)
Subgroups dropping in science where state subgroups are improving, overall i.e. aggregate numbers are rating “High”
K different world for writing, important to be developmentally appropriate and feed to upper grades
K-12 literacy plan
District wide, draft philosophy
Identify core instructional expectations, assessment practices
Action plan for identifying and implementing
“Middle school culture is redhot with factors that affect student performance”
Media, choices kids have, forced choices with family environment, so many variables
Audit shows the curriculum is aligned
Quality assessment, engagement and motivation, how do you measure that?
Current 10th graders will need to pass science and technology test to graduate
EdTech Networks Presentation (Audio)
EdTech Networks presented to the Franklin School Committee on 12/11/07. This captures their presentation and resulting discussion with the Committee.
Time: 1 hour, 8 minutes, 19 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 1 hour, 8 minutes, 19 seconds
MP3 File
EdTech Networks Presentation
EdTech Networks presented to the School Committee during the meeting on 12/11/07. The audio of their presentation can be found here.
-----------------------------
My notes taken during their presentation and discussion with the School Committee:
EdTech Networks presentation
Based in Wakefield, MA
Builds website platforms for school systems
No out of pocket costs
Unique fundraising platform (new money for schools)
Advanced web technology
Good examples of the proposal in action:
Medford - http://www.medford.k12.ma.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Smithfield, RI - http://www.smithfield-ps.org/home.aspx?categoryID=3
E Greenwich, RI - http://egsd.net/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Georgetown - http://ps.gt.ma.ednets.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Other school districts mentioned:
Hudson (not an EdNet site)
Marlboro (not an EdNet site)
North Reading (web site not responding)
Large pipeline in progress 30-50, about 2/month coming on line
Participating merchants, recruit local businesses
Rebate recovery
Member marketing
Franklin brings – members YOU!
Key piece of the partnership is working with Franklin, parents, PTO school boosters, etc.
Marlboro school students developed a marketing plan
Two ways to generate rebates
1 – Online mall, school website (no need to register)
2 – Shop in store at local participating merchants (register your credit, debit, loyalty cards)
National, regional, online and local
Online mall has 500 national merchants
Expedia trip at $5000 would generate 2% back to the schools
Collect only card and date for tracking purposes, does not collect any other data, can not initiate a transaction
PCI compliant, high security standards
Encrypted data, data segregation
No plan text files of any files kept, all encrypted
No information is provided to any party, period
Content management system
Control users via permission
Easy to use, no HTML coding needed
Portal, single database, cut/paste from any MS program
Instantaneous updates
Publish to multiple pages simultaneously
Archival system
Navigation design
24/7 hosted, technical support provided
Training, by group
Faster communication, lower cost
Not limited to Franklin residents, can designate a beneficiary school district
Municipal requirements
1 – Separate account
2 – Education foundation
Combo websites and email
Targeted registration campaigns, some dollar reward for each registration via incentives
Can track district, schools, via promotion codes
Shrink wrap a school bus, with logo, and participating merchants
“Better schools through smarter shopping”
Split rebates, 2/3… up to website subscription fee, after that, 100%...
Advertising split 50/50
Could do picture profile online, do PTO profile online
Capacity for electronic payments for school fees, lunches, etc.
Demo of Marlboro, East Greenwich sites
Headshot for teachers capable, CV capable
.net platform, more current
After the sale what’s the spam effect? Self directed by customer, check off, to opt out
Use of captcha to access directory online
Three components of revenue
1 – rebate 80/20 merchant split
2 – split revenue from promotions 50/50
3 - website subscription fee paid from subscribers as noted in split above
Future items:
Electronic yearbooks
Social networking amongst teachers that could be monetized
100 million Americans in K-12 world, no one marketing to this group today
Don’t have a gas vendor today
Grocery highest priority
Then casual dining, faster growing segment of personal expenditures
Then Office/school supplies
Then Apparel
Co-branded debit and co-branded credit being explored
My questions (to be asked)
What percent of Franklin population has and uses a system?
What are traffic counts for existing school pages?
-----------------------------
My notes taken during their presentation and discussion with the School Committee:
EdTech Networks presentation
Based in Wakefield, MA
Builds website platforms for school systems
No out of pocket costs
Unique fundraising platform (new money for schools)
Advanced web technology
Good examples of the proposal in action:
Medford - http://www.medford.k12.ma.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Smithfield, RI - http://www.smithfield-ps.org/home.aspx?categoryID=3
E Greenwich, RI - http://egsd.net/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Georgetown - http://ps.gt.ma.ednets.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Other school districts mentioned:
Hudson (not an EdNet site)
Marlboro (not an EdNet site)
North Reading (web site not responding)
Large pipeline in progress 30-50, about 2/month coming on line
Participating merchants, recruit local businesses
Rebate recovery
Member marketing
Franklin brings – members YOU!
Key piece of the partnership is working with Franklin, parents, PTO school boosters, etc.
Marlboro school students developed a marketing plan
Two ways to generate rebates
1 – Online mall, school website (no need to register)
2 – Shop in store at local participating merchants (register your credit, debit, loyalty cards)
National, regional, online and local
Online mall has 500 national merchants
Expedia trip at $5000 would generate 2% back to the schools
Collect only card and date for tracking purposes, does not collect any other data, can not initiate a transaction
PCI compliant, high security standards
Encrypted data, data segregation
No plan text files of any files kept, all encrypted
No information is provided to any party, period
Content management system
Control users via permission
Easy to use, no HTML coding needed
Portal, single database, cut/paste from any MS program
Instantaneous updates
Publish to multiple pages simultaneously
Archival system
Navigation design
24/7 hosted, technical support provided
Training, by group
Faster communication, lower cost
Not limited to Franklin residents, can designate a beneficiary school district
Municipal requirements
1 – Separate account
2 – Education foundation
Combo websites and email
Targeted registration campaigns, some dollar reward for each registration via incentives
Can track district, schools, via promotion codes
Shrink wrap a school bus, with logo, and participating merchants
“Better schools through smarter shopping”
Split rebates, 2/3… up to website subscription fee, after that, 100%...
Advertising split 50/50
Could do picture profile online, do PTO profile online
Capacity for electronic payments for school fees, lunches, etc.
Demo of Marlboro, East Greenwich sites
Headshot for teachers capable, CV capable
.net platform, more current
After the sale what’s the spam effect? Self directed by customer, check off, to opt out
Use of captcha to access directory online
Three components of revenue
1 – rebate 80/20 merchant split
2 – split revenue from promotions 50/50
3 - website subscription fee paid from subscribers as noted in split above
Future items:
Electronic yearbooks
Social networking amongst teachers that could be monetized
100 million Americans in K-12 world, no one marketing to this group today
Don’t have a gas vendor today
Grocery highest priority
Then casual dining, faster growing segment of personal expenditures
Then Office/school supplies
Then Apparel
Co-branded debit and co-branded credit being explored
My questions (to be asked)
What percent of Franklin population has and uses a system?
What are traffic counts for existing school pages?
Franklin in the News
Two hurt in crash
| FRANKLIN - A rescue helicopter rushed a man to a Worcester hospital yesterday after a head-on collision at the intersection of Rte. 140 and Grove Street, police said. |
----------------------------
Store clerk stops robbery
| FRANKLIN - Spotting a familiar customer opening the till at the Lincoln Street Market on Monday afternoon, clerk Ryan Lomberto ran in from pumping gas and grabbed the man before he could run off with any cash. |
Franklin (continues) to wait
Franklin to wait for answer to $590,000 question
| FRANKLIN - A law firm investigating how an undisclosed $590,000 school budget gap ended up on the wrong set of books needs more time, Superintendent Wayne Ogden said, with a report now expected in January instead of this month. |
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
New Game at Milford Daily News (Video)
There is a new game at the Milford Daily News online.
Note this was also posted on Steve's 2 Cents
If you know where Julia Spitz shot this video, e-mail jspitz@cnc.com or call her at 508-626-3968. The first three people with the correct answer will have their names listed here and in the newspaper. All those who submit correct answers before 4 p.m. Thursday will be eligible for a monthly prize drawing.Have fun playing "Where'd She Go?
Note this was also posted on Steve's 2 Cents
School Committee: Health Survey - part 2 (audio)
Michelle Kingston Smith, Director, Instructional Services and Martha
Donovan, K-12 Director Health/Physical Education answer questions from the School Committee after their presentation on 11/27/07.
Time: 28 minutes, 56 seconds
MP3 File
Donovan, K-12 Director Health/Physical Education answer questions from the School Committee after their presentation on 11/27/07.
Time: 28 minutes, 56 seconds
MP3 File
Franklin School Committee: Health Survey Presentation (audio)
Michelle Kingston Smith, Director, Instructional Services and Martha Donovan, K-12 Director Health/Physical Education make their presentation to the School Committee on 11/27/07.
Time: 40 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
My notes to accompany this audio file can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Time: 40 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
My notes to accompany this audio file can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Metro West/EDC Adolescent Health Survey - Part 1
At the School Committee meeting on November 27, 2007, Michelle Kingston Smith, Director, Instructional Services and Martha Donovan, K-12 Director Health/Physical Education presented the results for the Metro West/EDC Adolescent Health Survey.
The survey results are important to understand. This is where a good deal of focus on the education of our children should be. The issues raised by this survey can put an appropriate context around budget discussions.
The presentation was rather lengthy so I have split it up into three posts.
The link to the presentation itself can be found here.
----------------------------
My notes taken during the presentation on 11/27/07
Lifetime – tried it at least once in their lifetime
Trend in survey showing decline in reported usage of alcohol amongst middle school students
Alcohol most prevalent amongst high school, no difference between male/female,
10% admitted it interfered with their school work
48% high school admitted drinking within the last 30 days
This trend line was actually increasing over the study periods
Tobacco use, males more than females – middle school
Significant reduction in those admitting trying smoking (both MS and HS)
High school – 10% identified as daily smokers
Marijuana is a concern, there shows a reduction in MS
Steroids have dropped
HS – marijuana nearly as prevalent as tobacco for students as trying it
Students using marijuana using within 30 days, exceeds the smoker numbers
Biggest issue at HS bullying and fighting
Decrease from MS to HS, although increases from 2004, 2006 at HS
Electronic bullying increasing
Stress levels double from 9th to 12th grade, (i.e. college process)
Community involvement recommended to address these issues
15 components to be convened in the community involvement effort
Must celebrate trends going in the right direction
But we’re still taking about 10-20% of the population participating in risky behavior
Comparative analysis since 1999
How to provide the info to the parents, summary, call to action in some attractive but none-turning away manner
Introduction of Open Circle at kindergarten level helps
Middle school intervention programs
9th grade collaborative at the HS
Peer mentoring, peer leaders going through training now
Discussion on 1999, data, first year results seem not to be real
Chief Williams coming back to put this in perspective within the Town context
Avoid one shot assembly approach, programs work well when connected to curriculum
Have not looked at correlation with economy
The survey results are important to understand. This is where a good deal of focus on the education of our children should be. The issues raised by this survey can put an appropriate context around budget discussions.
The presentation was rather lengthy so I have split it up into three posts.
- The first (this one) has the intro and my own notes taken during the presentation.
- The second will have the audio file for the presentation itself.
- The third will have the audio file for the question and answer discussion following the presentation.
The link to the presentation itself can be found here.
----------------------------
My notes taken during the presentation on 11/27/07
Lifetime – tried it at least once in their lifetime
Trend in survey showing decline in reported usage of alcohol amongst middle school students
Alcohol most prevalent amongst high school, no difference between male/female,
10% admitted it interfered with their school work
48% high school admitted drinking within the last 30 days
This trend line was actually increasing over the study periods
Tobacco use, males more than females – middle school
Significant reduction in those admitting trying smoking (both MS and HS)
High school – 10% identified as daily smokers
Marijuana is a concern, there shows a reduction in MS
Steroids have dropped
HS – marijuana nearly as prevalent as tobacco for students as trying it
Students using marijuana using within 30 days, exceeds the smoker numbers
Biggest issue at HS bullying and fighting
Decrease from MS to HS, although increases from 2004, 2006 at HS
Electronic bullying increasing
Stress levels double from 9th to 12th grade, (i.e. college process)
Community involvement recommended to address these issues
15 components to be convened in the community involvement effort
Must celebrate trends going in the right direction
But we’re still taking about 10-20% of the population participating in risky behavior
Comparative analysis since 1999
How to provide the info to the parents, summary, call to action in some attractive but none-turning away manner
Introduction of Open Circle at kindergarten level helps
Middle school intervention programs
9th grade collaborative at the HS
Peer mentoring, peer leaders going through training now
Discussion on 1999, data, first year results seem not to be real
Chief Williams coming back to put this in perspective within the Town context
Avoid one shot assembly approach, programs work well when connected to curriculum
Have not looked at correlation with economy
Monday, December 17, 2007
Town Council Agenda 12/19/07 available
The agenda for the Town Council meeting scheduled for 12/19/07 is available on the Town website or directly here (PDF).
Blogs in plain English (video)
as part of a series on Web 2.0 technologies, here is an explanation of blogs by the folks at Common Craft:
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Where in Franklin? Answer #23
Ken identified:
"This property has been before the planning board and town council several times for public hearings. I believe the property was sold at a foreclosure auction last week. If so what will the new owner do with it?"
Time will tell.
Oh, and if you had not recognized where this open pit is located, you can find it along RT 140 at the entrance to Chestnut Ridge.
Thanks, Ken! Stay tuned for the next picture.
Town trying to project its building plans
By Rachel Lebeaux , Globe Correspondent / December 16, 2007
Read the full article here.
Now that Franklin has approved spending $300,000 for library and museum upgrades, some councilors want to get a better view of the big picture when it comes to future projects, and compile a new survey of the town's building woes
Read the full article here.
Brick Costs $37,600 Annually
Cost of Red Brick School: $37,600 annually
| FRANKLIN - After debating the contents of their financial report, task force members studying the viability of the Red Brick School agreed yesterday that the historic building costs $37,600 to run annually, with $600 currently borne by town taxpayers. |
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Where are the drains?
Union Street was newly rebuilt this year. Nice sidewalks. Curbed road. New storm drains.
Oh, where are they?
Yes, they are there. Covered under the snow. The plows just did not get that last foot or so on each side of the road to reveal the drains.
In the entire rebuilt section from the Common to Cottage, I found only one visible drain cover. (Yes, the rebuilt section extends up passed Cottage to Washington Street, but we didn't walk that way this morning.)
Library Hangover
Pretty? maybe.
Pretty harmful to the insides? quite possibly, based upon what we have heard about the leaks.
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