This is #33 in the series of podcasts for Franklin Matters. The panel discussion was recorded at Franklin High School on Monday Mar 9, 2009 and split into three parts for ease of listening. This is part one of three.
Time: 24 minutes, 12 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes: FM #33
Music intro
My intro
This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 33 in the series.
This session is a special one. On Monday morning, March 9, 2009, there was a panel discussion on the government and its role in the economy. The panel included Congressman James McGovern, State Senator Scott Brown, State Senator Karen Spilka, Majority Leader of the House, our own Representative Jim Vallee, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and Town Council Chairperson Chris Feeley. The panel was held at Franklin High School and put together by Michael Walsh. The moderator was FHS Senior April Crehan. The session was well attended by students but only a handful of citizens took part.
Now you can share in that opportunity. What follows is the audio recording of the panel discussion split into three parts.
The first part covers the introduction of the panel/moderator and the first question which all had a chance to talk to.
The second part covers three questions. The third part also covers three questions and the closing is cut off by the bell for the students to change class periods.
Thanks to all the panelists for sharing their thoughts in this forum. Thanks also to Mike Walsh for the opportunity to provide this recording for those who missed to take part.
--------------
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Free US History Course from Stanford via iTunes
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Free Technology for Teachers by rbyrnetech@hotmail.com (Mr. Byrne) on 3/11/09
Once again through the great Open Culture blog, I learned about a free Stanford University course being published on iTunes U. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Rakove is teaching a course about Colonial and Revolutionary America. The course will cover all of the topics typical of early American history survey courses. You can find the course here or look in the Stanford section of iTunes U. When the course is complete there will be 30 lectures available, currently there are seven lecutures posted.Applications for Education
This course will cover topics that students have heard about from elementary school history teachers through high school history teachers. iTunes U provides high school students with an opportunity to learn in more depth about topics with which they are already familiar.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Franklin high school capital projects
I am trying a new service to share files in their original format and enable a conversation around their contents. Follow the link below to view the original PDF file format of Mike D'Angelo's memo to Wayne Ogden summarizing each of the capital projects where the projects were greater than $10,000. The sum total of all the projects was $6.5 million.
http://drop.io/FranklinMatters/asset/franklinhighschoolcapitalprojects-20090310-pdf
As you click through to view the file, you will also be able to comment on the document there (drop.io) or feel free to return to comment here.
sent via drop.io
NEED - National Energy Education Development
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Free Technology for Teachers by rbyrnetech@hotmail.com (Mr. Byrne) on 3/11/09
The NEED Project is an educational program designed to teach students about energy consumption, energy sources, and the energy industry in general. NEED provides curriculum and lesson plans for teachers in all grades form elementary school through high school. The educators section of NEED makes all of their lessons with require materials available as PDF files.The student section of NEED offers students science fair project ideas, games, and puzzles.
Applications for Education
NEED provides a wide range of activities for students in all grades to learn about the science of energy consumption and energy sources.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
"going to whichever one was open"
Milford Daily News
MEDWAY —
Selectmen said last night that Medway is in talks with Franklin about regionalizing library services.
During a discussion about the municipal budget, selectmen Chairman Glenn Trindade mentioned that the board wants to add $42,000 to the town budget to pay for expenses related to a merger.
"This is only a recommendation," said Selectman Dennis Crowley. "The library trustees have to vote to approve this amount."
Trindade said that in the tentative plan, the libraries would alternate their operating days so that they would each be open three days a week, but residents of both towns would have access to a library six hours a day, six days a week by going to whichever one was open.
Read the full article on this next step in merging services between the two communities, Franklin and Medway, in the Milford Daily News here
"It's a significant sacrifice they're making"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
In a move that has thrilled town officials, members of the Franklin Police Association have unanimously voted to freeze their salaries until July 2010. Union President John Maloney called the decision "a no-brainer."
The 41-member union also voted Tuesday to change its health care coverage and take higher co-payments to save the town money, said Officer David Gove.
"That is excellent, that's outstanding," said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
"That's going to save police jobs (up to three). As far as I'm concerned, there will be no need to reduce the police force in 2010 because of the money they're going to save," which exceeds $100,000, Nutting said.
The union, which was due to receive a 3 percent raise in October, voted to forgo that increase until July, mainly to avoid layoffs, Maloney said.
"If you can defer a raise for eight or nine months to save at least one officer's job, it's a no-brainer," he said.
Read the full article about the Police Union actions in the Milford Daily News here
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
School Committee Mtg 03/10/09
The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on March 10th can be found here
"Franklin High School will still be a great place to get an education"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Superintendent Wayne Ogden said he anticipates local schools will receive about $1.3 million in federal stimulus money.
That funding, along with $125,000 in increased circuit breaker aid and the money saved by 51 staff members forgoing raises, will help close a projected $3.3 million gap in next year's budget, Ogden said.
The School Department should get the stimulus money over the next 24-48 months, Ogden said, but it is not yet clear how it can be spent.
Ogden said he hopes to use it to save teaching jobs.
Though many financial variables are still up in the air, Ogden and School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy promise to keep parents and school staff up to speed on the numbers.
"It's a very dynamic budget, we're still waiting for the federal stimulus money," Ogden said.
Read the full article from the School Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here.
"You just gotta believe it's going to happen"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Despite some rocky relations in the past, the general sentiment among downtown businesses and town officials is one of sympathy for developer John Marini, whose plans were halted by the recession.
On Monday night, Marini told the Planning Board he has not been able to sell any of his 27 upscale condos in the 2 1/2 months they've been on the market, and cannot secure financing to demolish and rebuild 12-28 East Central St., as originally planned.
Instead, he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the property and lease the first floor spaces for a three-year period.
"I promise to make it look presentable," he told the board.
This article follows up on the presentation to the Planning Board Monday night revealing a revised schedule for completion of the Center Commons project. Marini will be back to the Planning Board in April to file the formal paperwork. You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Live reporting - Superintendent update
5. Information Matters
• Superintendent’s Report
a year ago we were below in 10 of the 11, and forecasted that we would be below in all 11
If we continue this trend, we will be below the state minimum level and the town will be forced to cut from the town side to fund the schools at the minimum level
actually one of the 11, we do want to be below the state average. In that one category, special ed students sent out of district, we are below the state average and should be, that is a good number to be
While we are still meeting scholastic performance and are performing above average, I don't know who long that will last. 2 of our middle schools are one year into a performance plan for not meeting the annual performance requirements
• Superintendent’s Report
- Enrollment Comparison
- FY08 Per Pupil Expenditure Comparison to State Average
a year ago we were below in 10 of the 11, and forecasted that we would be below in all 11
If we continue this trend, we will be below the state minimum level and the town will be forced to cut from the town side to fund the schools at the minimum level
actually one of the 11, we do want to be below the state average. In that one category, special ed students sent out of district, we are below the state average and should be, that is a good number to be
While we are still meeting scholastic performance and are performing above average, I don't know who long that will last. 2 of our middle schools are one year into a performance plan for not meeting the annual performance requirements
- FHS Building Projects
live reporting - action items
4. Action Items
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,000.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips for the Jefferson 1st grade to Southwick and the 5th grade to Freedom Trail. approved 6-0
- I recommend approval of the FHS Art Department’s request for a field trip to NY Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 16, 2009 as detailed. approved 6-0
- I recommend appointment of Sally Winslow to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Student Services effective July 1, 2009. approved 6-0
- I recommend approval of the FHS’s request for a recurring field trip for 20 students to the University of New Hampshire on March 14, 2009 for their annual Jazz Festival on March 14, 2009 as detailed. approved 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $501.02 from the FHS Class of 1942 for a scholarship for the FHS Class of 2009. approved 6-0
- I recommend approval of the FHS recurring field trip to Providence Place Mall for Remington Middle School students as detailed. tabled to be brought back next meeting with clarifications
Live reporting - Discussion only items
3. Discussion Only Items
$200,000 increased circuit breaker
$125,000 central office, administration wage freeze
We are still waiting to receive Federal Stimulus money, possible to get just over a $1 M
Not sure how we can use it yet, the Federal level has not determined the usage yet
Meal tax, etc still being worked in Boston, those could add $1 M to the overall Franklin budget of which some of that would come to the Schools
Budget hearing schedule tentative dependent upon when the final numbers are ready from the State and Federal sources
in essence, there is documentation for approx. $4 million of improvements and repairs to the high school over the past 10 years
There is an additional $2.5 million associated with the new field and the repairs of the other fields
EPA grant to clean out chemical storage, etc. Because it is a grant, that is not on this listing
This listing is those items of $10,000 or more.
Replacement of eye wash stations would not meet that criteria so there are additional expenses not reflected here
- FY 2010 Budget Matters
$200,000 increased circuit breaker
$125,000 central office, administration wage freeze
We are still waiting to receive Federal Stimulus money, possible to get just over a $1 M
Not sure how we can use it yet, the Federal level has not determined the usage yet
Meal tax, etc still being worked in Boston, those could add $1 M to the overall Franklin budget of which some of that would come to the Schools
Budget hearing schedule tentative dependent upon when the final numbers are ready from the State and Federal sources
- Ten-Year Summary of Capitol Projects at FHS
in essence, there is documentation for approx. $4 million of improvements and repairs to the high school over the past 10 years
There is an additional $2.5 million associated with the new field and the repairs of the other fields
EPA grant to clean out chemical storage, etc. Because it is a grant, that is not on this listing
This listing is those items of $10,000 or more.
Replacement of eye wash stations would not meet that criteria so there are additional expenses not reflected here
Live reporting - Horace Mann Enrichment Model
c. Horace Mann Middle School Enrichment Model Presentation
Wrote a grant to obtain funds to support the program
Gave up some of their Saturday's to take course on gifted and talented curriculum
Expose the kids to exciting things so they will want to read
Mr Garr - enrichment clusters
connecting kids to their passions, get them involved with experiential learning
Jacqui Berger
Mr Vacca
NCTA - traveled with 19 other educators to Southeast Asia
made connections with those teachers and continue to share/learn
Professor and 4-5 graduate students scheduled to visit Horace Mann in May
will cost only the gas expense for the graduate students
Mr Brady
Direction of this is to break out of the classroom to make the learning very real
International robotics competition, has two teams at Horace Mann
Find out Sep 5th, the research project behind the project is a great deal of work not seen by others as the focus in on the robots and the competition
Introduce student on personal finance, entrepreneurship
Investing, focus on the assumptions behind how and why you do so, we don't think strategically anymore, 18 months is not strategic
More students in the 18-26 age group actually declare bankruptcy than graduate
Student lead yard sale - May 9th
Any items for sale, please contact the school office
Armenio - I find this fascinating, anything that can make the education ore real is good
Anything you can do to get the community into the classroom is great
- Anne Bergen
- Rob Vacca
- Jacqui Berger
- Trich Metrick
- Bert Garr
- Mark Brady
- Dr Bergen
Wrote a grant to obtain funds to support the program
Gave up some of their Saturday's to take course on gifted and talented curriculum
Expose the kids to exciting things so they will want to read
Mr Garr - enrichment clusters
connecting kids to their passions, get them involved with experiential learning
- One cluster on architectural design, formed a relationship with Harvard on design/CAD
- One on WWI and the Holocaust
- A parent came forward with interest on the JFK Assassination
- Most kids don't mind writing, they just need an opportunity to write about things they like
- A group worked on an on-line music review blog
Jacqui Berger
- Visited Raythenon, NitroPlastics
- New England Laborers Training Academy (for building and construction)
- With Northeastern and other local universities
- Visited the MIT Museum, spoke with MIT students
- BU Medical, City Lab, 8th graders working on experiments in a real lab environment
Mr Vacca
NCTA - traveled with 19 other educators to Southeast Asia
made connections with those teachers and continue to share/learn
Professor and 4-5 graduate students scheduled to visit Horace Mann in May
will cost only the gas expense for the graduate students
Mr Brady
Direction of this is to break out of the classroom to make the learning very real
International robotics competition, has two teams at Horace Mann
Find out Sep 5th, the research project behind the project is a great deal of work not seen by others as the focus in on the robots and the competition
Introduce student on personal finance, entrepreneurship
Investing, focus on the assumptions behind how and why you do so, we don't think strategically anymore, 18 months is not strategic
More students in the 18-26 age group actually declare bankruptcy than graduate
Student lead yard sale - May 9th
Any items for sale, please contact the school office
Armenio - I find this fascinating, anything that can make the education ore real is good
Anything you can do to get the community into the classroom is great
Live reporting - Presentations
Rachel Porter – 100 points Girls Ice Hockey
HMMS – Math Counts Competition – Most Improved Team Certificates (Teacher/Coach: Andi Ridley)
HMMS – Math Counts Competition – Most Improved Team Certificates (Teacher/Coach: Andi Ridley)
- Askshat Agrawal
- Azmina Aysha
- Rachel Balon
- Sanjay Batchu
- Abhilahsa Boruah
- Ben Burke
- Rachita Chaudhury
- Brendan Lewis
- Ajey Pandey
- Nithya Sridhar
Live reporting - School Committee 3/10/09
Attending: Armenio, Kelly, Mullen, Roy, Rohrbach, Trahan
Missing: Cafasso
1. Routine Business
Senior Awards night - June 1
The Wrestling team won the State Championship
Raised $5,000 for the Tomorrow Fund
2. Transfers
Missing: Cafasso
1. Routine Business
- Citizen’s Comments - none
- Review of Agenda - none
- Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the February 24, 2009 School Committee Meeting. motion to approve - passed 6-0
- Payment of Bills - Mr. Kelly motion to approve - passed 6-0
- Payroll - Ms. Armenio
- FHS Student Representatives
Senior Awards night - June 1
The Wrestling team won the State Championship
Raised $5,000 for the Tomorrow Fund
- Correspondence:
2. Transfers
"I think it'll help everybody"
The two communities will begin by sharing the first flag football game of the year, in Medway in late April or early May, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
Franklin has recreational staff and extensive programs and activities, and Medway has residents willing to pay the fees to participate, since the town only offers minimal recreational activities.
"It's a win-win for everyone," Nutting said.
"It gives us revenue to keep our fees down" by contributing to overhead costs, he said.
Franklin Recreation Department Director Ryan Jette said about 5,800 kids in Franklin participate and Nutting said the department has revenue of about $400,000 per year.
"We're not going to get rich off this, but if we can make $10,000 for a little bit of work, it's worth a try," Nutting said.
Under the agreement, Medway residents can participate in a Franklin Recreation Department program or activity after Franklin residents have been given a chance to register.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Read all the live reporting from the Town Council meeting March 4th here
"optimistic the economy will rebound in three years"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Developer John Marini will not be completing the final leg of his downtown project for at least three years because banks are refusing to finance the work, he told the Planning Board last night.
Instead of his original plan to demolish, rebuild, and sell 12-28 West Central St. this year, Marini said he will put $100,000 worth of repairs into the building and lease the spaces for a three-year period.
Marini blames his difficulties on the recession.
"I've been in this business 40 years, and I've never had things happen this way. It's impossible to get financing, it's impossible to get tenants, it's impossible to sell. It's just a crazy situation," Marini said.
Read the full article on the trouble delaying the downtown development in the Milford Daily News here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)