Gearing up for the opening of school

The School Committee met on Tuesday, the first of their two meetings this month. Much of the meeting concerned preparations for the opening of schools later this month.

Summary:

• New administrators for high school introduced (B Redding and C Williams present. M Weber and L Markiesian will come to a future meeting)
• New Director of Student Services,  Debbie Dickson
• Handbooks for all schools reviewed and approved, they'll be posted to school website on Friday
• School calendar survey results released and discussed. Overall a 55.6% response rate (81% from parents and 23% from faculty). No significant changes to current process for now.
• Reorganization of Instructional Services position with recognition that the demands of the position have changed so the "Director of Instructional Services” position was eliminated and replaced with an “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning” position. Joyce Edwards held the former and was appointed to the new position.
• Among the action items was the formal acceptance of the "donation of a panther statue from the Graci Family for FHS." 
• Student placement letters (i.e. teacher assignments) are scheduled to go out Aug 21; students are still enrolling and there are teachers still be hired.
• On Friday the bus routes will be posted along with a document on how bus stops are chosen. There is a formal method with detailed criteria that will be posted to the website. 

Franklin High School

The notes from the live reporting done during the School Committee meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting: Information matters through to clo...
• Live reporting: Action Items
• Live reporting: Discussion Only Items
• Franklin Public Schools: Calendar Survey Results
• Live Reporting: School Committee - Aug 11, 2015
• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Aug 11, ...

FSPA Summer Theater presents: Disney’s High School Musical

A record-breaking, chart-topping pop culture phenomenon, High School Musical is family friendly and full of fun! Based on the wildly popular 2006 Disney Channel original movie musical written by Peter Barsocchini, the stage version features the hit songs “We’re All in This Together,” “Bop to the Top,” “Start of Something New,” and “Get’cha Head in the Game.” 

With high energy and winning style, the movie’s memorable characters come to life, as star athlete, Troy, falls for brainy beauty, Gabriella, the new girl at fictional East High. When the two audition for lead roles in their high school musical, they threaten the status quo and divide the school’s social cliques. 

Along the long the way, these jocks, brainiacs, thespians, and skater dudes teach us about first love, peer pressure, and the importance of breaking free of others’ expectations and learning to be true to yourself.

FSPA Summer Theater presents: Disney’s High School Musical

FSPA Summer Theater presents: Disney's High School Musical

Today at 7:30pm

THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038

Tickets are available via THE BLACK BOX online

Franklin Library: Book Sale, Touch a Truck, and Giant Games

So the month of August has rolled around, summer is almost over, and there is another Library Book Sale. This one has a "Touch a Truck" opportunity along with it and on the front lawn of the Library there are Giant Games!

Franklin Library - Book Sale

Franklin Library - Giant Games

These were shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/08/blog-post_13.html

and here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/08/blog-post_25.html

In the News: let's laugh class, modulars removed, handbooks approved

The First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St., will host a laughter yoga class from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28. 

Laughter yoga is a body and mind practice for well-being that involves deep breathing and a few stretches, clapping, deep relaxation and playful laughter exercises that do not include jokes or comedy. 

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate, and the class will take place in the meetinghouse of the church. Attendees are asked to bring a bottle of water and to contribute a $5 donation to the church for the class. There is a $10 maximum per family. 

Led by certified laughter yoga teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. For more information: 508-660-2223, billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com. 

See other opportunities to laugh at letslaughtoday.com.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150813/NEWS/150818191/1994/NEWS

The Milford Daily News

Those passing by the Davis Thayer Elementary School recently might have noticed something different - or something missing. 

The town has recently removed two modular classroom units that had been on the school's front lawn, leaving a newly-seeded field in their place. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said the units had been there for some time - at least a decade. 

"It was a period of increased enrollment - Franklin schools pretty much doubled," she said. "There were modular classrooms at the Kennedy, Parmenter, Oak Street and Davis Thayer schools."

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required) http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150813/NEWS/150817867/1994/NEWS

The Franklin School Committee reviewed and approved school handbooks this week as it prepares for the beginning of the upcoming school year. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said at Tuesday's committee meeting that the district had made it a policy to review the handbooks yearly. 

Assistant Superintendent Sally Winslow said, while the handbooks contain the district's overall policies and procedures, a substantial amount of work had been to ensure the documents reflect each school's culture. 

"We've been doing this for three years," she said. "It's pretty seamless, I'd say." 

One addition, Winslow said, was including information about suicide awareness in the middle school and high school handbooks.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required) http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150813/NEWS/150817863/1994/NEWS

Live reporting: SAFE Community meeting

My live reporting from the FHS auditorium on Wednesday evening was via Twitter which I then captured to include other tweets with the same tag. Thanks to the others using the tag (#opioidFranklin). You'll see the results below.

Summary:

1. Opioid addiction is a complicated issue
2. There are genetic components as well as environmental
3. The body loves to adapt to the world, this adaption creates addiction
4. Undoing the addiction takes time
5. The earlier treatment is applied, and the more support there is for the individual, the more likely they will recover
6. There are two support meetings weekly in Franklin,  we need more
7. There are health insurance issues to be worked, the DA has started that conversation
8. The whole body approach is necessary for success
9. This is a community issue and the community can solve this
10. There is hope, it will take work and time

Click through to Storify to see the full listing or scroll with the inner bar.

Random Smile Project: Wiffleball Tourney - Saturday, Aug 22

Random Smile Project 

Wiffleball Tourney 

Sat Aug 22 

Fletcher Field

Register your team at randomsmile.org

rec division champs

The official rules for the tournament can be found here http://www.randomsmile.org/wiffle/tournament/official-rules

or download a PDF copy here http://www.randomsmile.org/wiffle/images/pdf/wiffleball-rules-2015.pdf

37th Feast of St Rocco opens tonight

37th Feast of St Rocco opens tonight

overall schedule for the Feast of  St Rocco  2015

entertainment schedule for the Feast of St Rocco  2015

food for the Feast of St Rocco  2015

Additional information on the St Rocco Feast can be found on the St Mary's Parish page   http://www.stmarysfranklin.org/93

or on the Facebook page here  https://www.facebook.com/events/1434885293487700/

"it takes, on average, eight years to remission"

For an American society that wants a quick fix, there are multiple problems with the opioid epidemic.

A Harvard professor and Massachusetts General Hospital addiction expert spoke Wednesday night about the mechanisms of, and strategies for, combating and de-stigmatizing substance abuse disorders. 

John Kelly, a professor of psychiatry and the director of the hospital's Addiction Recovery Management Service, spoke to the second meeting of the Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment, or SAFE, at Franklin High School.
Kelly said addiction was caused by several factors, including genetic predisposition and exposure to the drug itself. 

"Some ask why people get addicted - the real question is: why we aren't all addicted," he said. "This relates to the genetic component."

Continue reading the article in the MIlford Daily News here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150812/NEWS/150818375/1994/NEWS

Emma Frances Dalton Memorial Golf Tournament - Oct 9

Good Morning Steve, 

My name is Nicole and in October, My husband Will and I will be hosting the first annual Emma Frances Dalton Memorial Golf Tournament to honor our daughter, Emma.  Emma passed away just a week shy of 7 months from a mitochondrial disease, called Leigh's.  

We live in Franklin, and I am writing to ask if you would consider helping us spread the word of our event.  We have created a website www.emmafdalton.org if you have a minute and are interested in hearing more about our story.  

Anything you could do would be greatly appreciated.   

Thank you!
Nicole and Will Dalton

Juniper Hill Golf Course in Northborough Friday, October 9th @ 9am!

Concerts On the Common: Westwood Swing Band

• Storyteller Elaine Kessler (children’s program 6-6:30 PM) 
• Westwood Swing Band (6:30-8:30 PM)

Westwood Swing Band

From the Westwood Swing Band webpage:

"The Westwood Swing Band exemplifies the hard-driving sounds of big bands of the swing era. Its 16 instrumentalists and female vocalist perform from the repertoires of such noteworthy artists as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller, and Artie Shaw. The band’s members, many of whom are professional or semi-professional musicians, are capable of offering up solo’s and ensemble play that reflect both virtuosity and feeling. 

The roots of the band began in the mid-1980’s, when Mark Rogers assembled a few musicians interested in playing jazz together. Initially this was a seven-piece combo with ever-changing membership. In 1992 the band solidified into an ongoing enterprise under the "Westwood Swing Band" banner, as Mark, its director, had in the meantime moved to the town of Westwood, Mass. Six of today’s band’s members have played with the band for 20 years or more without interuption. The band still rehearses weekly in the town of Westwood."

Franklin Food Pantry needs volunteers to stock their shelves

We need volunteer stockers! Join volunteers Missy and Liz and donate your organizational skills to a good cause. 

Help us replenish the inventory on our Pantry shelves. 

Available shifts are Mondays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 2 p.m. 

A weekly commitment would be ideal. There are some physical requirements such as lifting and stairs. 

Contact Maria Weiss at volunteers@franklinfoodpantry.org if you are interested. 

Franklin Food Pantry Facebook photo

For more about the Franklin Food Pantry, you can visit them on the internet at http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/  or on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry

“Who is this epidemic killing? Kids in their mid-twenties. That would be me in 10 years.”

Why do teenagers get involved to help with the opioid epidemic? One can easily understand how the parents get involved. Concern for their children and the children of close friends are good reasons. But teens? What brings them to the issue?

In the case of Ben Waters, he felt he really needed to help. He is working on his Eagle Scout badge and needed a project. This would fit the requirements. But that is too easy an answer. The more he found out about the epidemic, the more he realized he had to help.

“Who is this epidemic killing? Kids in their mid-twenties. That would be me in 10 years.” Ben and I met recently at Panera Bread to discuss the epidemic and the efforts of the coalition.

Coalition meeting Aug 12, 7:00 PM

Ben had reached out to Jeff Roy offering to help. He went to visit the Norfolk District Attorney’s office and started meeting others involved from the various coalitions that had formed. He heard about a coalition meeting in Needham and went. He was impressed by what he heard from Dr. John F. Kelly, the director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service at Mass General Hospital. Dr Kelly was the speaker that night at the Needham meeting.

He reached out to Dr Kelly to arrange for him to speak in Franklin. This is what is scheduled for Wednesday night in the Franklin High School Auditorium at 7:00 PM.

He has spent time going door to door, handing out flyers to spread the word. Dr Kelly has information that both parents and kids need to hear. When we got together for this talk, his enthusiasm seemed boundless. All that energy and drive is going to do some good, especially for those in and around the opioid epidemic.

"immediate changes are unlikely"

Though the school district is examining the way it builds its calendar, immediate changes are unlikely. 

The School Committee discussed the matter at its Tuesday night meeting after hearing the results of a survey of the district's parents and teachers. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said 81 percent of the district's parents participated in the survey, a rate she attributed to the nightmarish 2014-2015 winter season. 

"I think it really generated discussion - there was a lot of anxiety about the last day of school," she said. "We thought it would be a good idea to send a quick survey out to our families and faculty to see what folks were feeling."

Continue reading the article here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150811/NEWS/150818973/1994/NEWS

The document shared at the School Committee meeting with the survey results can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/franklin-public-schools-calendar-survey.html

StoryCorps launches new project: The Great Thanksgiving Listen

View this email in your browser It may still be August, but it's never too soon to start planning for the holidays! And this Thanksgiving, StoryCorps wants to be a part of your family's traditions. Our Founder and President, Dave Isay, was on Good Morning America yesterday to share some exciting news about The Great Thanksgiving Listen. Click here to see Dave on GMA.   On Thanksgiving weekend 2015, StoryCorps will join forces with ABC, NPR and TED to record interviews between students and their elders across the country. Our educational partners will include Facing History and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). The Great Thanksgiving Listen will use smartphone technology to foster meaningful connections among families, communities and classrooms. Plus, with permission from the participants, each interview will be uploaded to the StoryCorps archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Are you an educator who's Interested in being part of #TheGreatListen? Sign up for a free toolkit here Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Support our work if you believe every story matters. storycorps.org Copyright © 2015 StoryCorps, All rights reserved. We want to share more StoryCorps with you. You are receiving this email because you recorded an interview, made a contribution or signed up for our mailing list. Our mailing address is: StoryCorps 80 Hanson Pl Brooklyn, NY 11217

Live reporting: Information matters through to closing

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
placement letters scheduled to go out Aug 21
students still enrolling, teachers still be hired

high school students will be in Aspen on the 14th
high school experience, over 300 students this week, the first at the new building
about 90% of the incoming freshmen are participating

Dalton award for the Franklin sports for most winning teams
won it last in 2012

community invite for the presentation by Dr Kelly at the FHS Auditorium
the physiology of addiction
7:00 - 9:00 PM at FHS

Friday the bus routes will be posted
document on how bus stops are chosen, there is a method and detailed criteria, not a 'dart board', will be posted to the website (and linked shared when found)

Rohrbach - any work remaining at Davis Thayer

Sabolinski - sidewalk not complete, working on the lawn
there was one glitch with the fiber line got cut so it was a couple of days dealing with alternative method of communication
hope to have an update on the fencing for the next meeting

facade issues to be addressed


School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
none

School Committee Liaison Reports
none

6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Harlem Wizard coming for the FEF fund raiser on Nov 13th

7. Executive Session

Personnel Update
motion to enter into executive session, seconded, passed 5-0 (via roll call)

Live reporting: Action Items

4. Action Items

a. I recommend adoption of the following Policies as discussed:

1. JT – Electronic Device Policy 
2. JKAA – Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Policy

motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

b. I recommend adoption of the ECDC Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

c. I recommend adoption of the Davis Thayer Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

d. I recommend adoption of the Jefferson Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

e. I recommend adoption of the Keller Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

f. I recommend adoption of the Kennedy Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

g. I recommend adoption of the Oak Street Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

h. I recommend adoption of the Parmenter Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

i. I recommend adoption of the Horace Mann Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

j. I recommend adoption of the Remington Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

k. I recommend adoption of the Annie Sullivan Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

l. I recommend adoption of the Franklin High Handbook as presented.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

m. I recommend elimination of the position Director of Instructional Services.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

n. I recommend creation of the position Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

o. I recommend Joyce Edwards be appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

p. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,700.00 from the Oak Street PCC for Field Trips.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

q. I recommend acceptance of a check for $214.29 from the Horace Mann Drama Club to be deposited in the HM student activity account.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

r. I recommend acceptance of a check for $615.84 from Lifetouch for in-house enrichment at ECDC.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

s. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,370.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment at FHS.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

t. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a panther statue from the Graci Family for FHS.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 5-0

Live reporting: Discussion Only Items

3. Discussion Only Items

Policy – Second Reading

• JT – Electronic Device Policy
• JKAA – Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Policy

no questions or discussions on the policy changes


Re-Organization – Instructional Services

• Elimination of “Director of Instructional Services” position
• Creation of “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning” position

Changes to the district and to the demands upon the position

district has doubled in size since position was first created

regulations are more complex

shifted from what we are teaching to how we are teaching

we have no ELL students, now we have 80

this requires a different set of expectations

shifting from a director to an assistant superintendent

Ms Edwards has done a great job and epitomizes the job description of the new role; works collaboratively with the special education department, working with teachers to get the best from all students

peer coaching and mentoring, has been a partner with Sally and I in this effort

I am recommending that we eliminate the Director position and create the Assistant Superintendent and put Joyce in that role

Mullen - I am in favor of this move, we are fortunate to have you

She has been an effective liaison to DESE and has also provided input on PARCC

Franklin Public Schools: Calendar Survey Results

c. Calendar Survey

The results as presented to the School Committee for the meeting on Tuesday, Aug 11, 2015 can be seen in this document.

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski
the winter of 2014-15 raised lots of questions about the 'last day'
vacation planning

survey sent out to parents and faculty in May
survey designed by K12 Insight

answered for the most part by 2385
81% of the parents answered the survey
staff only represented by 23%
*overall a 55.6% response rate for the survey (added post-meeting)

55% want after Labor Day start, 45% want before Labor Day
getting the teacher professional days in before has been worked where possible
the decision is usually where Labor Day falls in the calendar







question on eliminating non-religious
split is 50/50 

52% would do away with the February vacation

Keeping April vacation was overwhelming positive

eliminating both vacations and having a March vacation was an interesting split 55-45; would like to give 2 years notice if this were to be implemented

March is big for college breaks, for spring training, etc.

transportation question to get at the starting time was asked and answered on the last page of the report; no real statistical drive to make the change

if the busing schedule could change, then this might be a better option
would need additional buses and they would cost another $1.1 Million
not a good cost option at this point

Did check with some of her colleagues and they were not able to add buses but did make some changes by switching buses (elementary and high school)

Trahan - i am not surprised at the results, the real world doesn't really allow this to happen though.

Rohrbach - when this was done last time, the split was mostly staff vs. teachers on the start date. were the results available with that split?

Sabolinski - no we did not get the numbers sliced that way, we have been collaborating with the teachers and the real driver for us is when Labor Day falls. Labor Day is so late this year it works out

Rohrbach - if the school year does get extended, what would we do?

Sabolinski - Mrs Winslow took the initiative last year to start the discussion early and we are hoping this year was an anomaly and we won't need to go there. Going to a March vacation would need to be done with more polling especially from our faculty to get their input as they had only participated at 23%.

Douglas - we did have a March vacation 37 years ago and it didn't work. Folks did not like it.

Sabolinski - another unknown piece of data is where is the state assessment going? MCAS was one time, PARC was another. What is the decision and where is the schedule? No word yet.

Sabolinski - we did not get into further detail on slicing the data by school grade or level, we just wanted some quick but valid info