Census Bureau Profile America Facts for Features: Veterans Day PROFILE AMERICA FACTS FOR FEATURES: CB19-FF.10 Veterans Day 2019: Nov. 11                         Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The ceremony honors and thanks all who served in the U.S. armed forces. The following facts are made possible by the invaluable responses to the U.S. Census Bureau's surveys. We appreciate the public's cooperation in helping us measure America's people, places and economy.  Veteran Population Did You Know? 18.0 million The number of military veterans in the United States in 2018. Source: 2018 American Community Survey 1.7 million The number of female veterans in the United States in 2018. Source: 2018 American Community Survey 12.0% The percentage of veterans in 2018 who were black. Additionally, 76.7 percent were non-Hispanic white, 1.7 percent were Asian, 0.8 % were American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2 % were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 1.4 % were some other race. (The numbers for blacks, non-Hispanic whites, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and some other race cover only those reporting a single race.) Source: 2018 American Community Survey 7.2% The percentage of veterans in 2018 who were Hispanic. Source: 2018 American Community Survey 50.1% The percentage of veterans age 65 and older in 2018. At the other end of the age spectrum, 9.1% were younger than age 35. Source: 2018 American Community Survey

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact us (http://www.census.gov/about/contact-us.html).

This newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full contents visit
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2019/veterans-day.html

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

Veterans Day: town offices, Library closed; trash pickup schedule normal

Town Offices will be closed on Monday, November 11 in observance of Veteran's Day. 

The Library is also closed on Monday for the holiday.

Trash and recycling schedule is NOT delayed this week. This week is also the first week for the new clothing recycle option for curb side pickup.

We thank all of our Veterans for their service!

Veterans Day: town offices, Library closed; trash pickup schedule normal

School Committee recap for Oct 29, 2019

Catching up to the 'last' set of school committee meeting notes that I had not yet posted. This set covers the Oct 29, 2019 session.

The Superintendent's report
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/superintendents-report-10-29-19
 
There was recognition of the five committee members who were not running for re-election as this would be their last meeting. The two incumbents running for election were successfully re-elected so their 'recognition' event is postponed to some future date.

Kelty Kelly, Principal of the ECDC, previewed the "developmental summary" for the children at the center. This is an age and developmentally appropriate 'report card' for this age group.  The Developmental Summary
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/_preschool_developmental_summary_final_10-18-19.pdf 

There was a long discussion over the multiple resolutions before the MASC conference where the committee also voted to appoint Chair Anne Bergen as their representative. This listing and details for the text for the resoluteness can be found in the packet   https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-d-resolutions

The October 1 Enrollment Report was made available. This is a key piece of info as the Oct 1 report is the 'control' number for all schools for the year. Clearly, there are some minor move in and adjustments as the school year progresses but this the 'stake in the ground' for reporting purposes.  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/enrollment_statistics_-_10-29-19_sc.pdf

With this meeting, the School Committee has also implemented for the first time, a practice that the Town Council has been using for some time: Actions Taken: https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/news/october-29-2019-school-committee-actions-taken

 
Additional details can be found in my notes reported live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: Discussion Only Items through to Closing.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-discussion-only-items_29.html

• Live Reporting: ECDC Developmental Summary and Discussion.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-ecdc-developmental.html

• Live reporting: School Committee - Oct 29, 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/live-reporting-school-committee-oct-29.html

a photo from walking around the grey day that Oct 29 was in Franklin

Local author's books part of marketing test with Target

Two book titles by Franklin author Alan Earls are being featured in a marketing test Arcadia Publishing is doing with select Target stores this year.

Route 128 and the Birth of the Age of High Tech
https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738510767
 

Route 128 and the Birth of the Age of High Tech

and

U.S. Army Natick Laboratories: The Science behind the Soldier
https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738537290

 

U.S. Army Natick Laboratories: The Science behind the Soldier

will be available at the Target location at 400 Cochituate Rd, in Framingham through the end of 2019. This is an innovative step to support book sales by a major national retailer.

 If you don't make it to Target before the end of the year, you can also find these books (and others by Alan Earls) in your normal online books sellers (amazon, et al).

For other titles by Alan Earls at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAlan++R.++Earls&s=relevancerank&text=Alan++R.++Earls&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Nov 12, 2019

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

Organizational Meeting:
• Election of Chair
• Election of Vice Chair

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public
participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made….

A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment….

The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations - none

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Policy – 2nd Reading
I recommend adoption of the following policies as discussed:
a) KF – Community Use of School Facilities
b) KF – E1 – Rules and Regulations
c) KF – E2 – FHS Building Use
d) KF – E4 – FHS Fee Schedule

IV. Discussion Only Items

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation, Ad Hoc Superintendent Evaluation, Ad Hoc Davis Thayer Facility Analysis)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, SWAC)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the October 29, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B. Athletics Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,734.00 from Five Star Franchises, LLC (Jersey Mike’s) for FHS Athletics Department as detailed.
C. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,051.30 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips as detailed.
D. Keller Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,700.58 from O’Connor Studios for supplemental supplies at Keller Elementary School as detailed.
E. Scholarship
I recommend acceptance of a check for $10,000.00 from the John C & Eunice B Morrison Charitable Foundation for a Scholarship as detailed.

VIII. Payment of Bills

IX. Payroll

X. Adjournment

The agenda and other documents released in advance of the meeting can be found on the School Committee page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/november-12-2019-school-committee-packet

Note - other documents are added after the meeting (usually during the Wednesday business day).

recent Parmenter School sign

FPAC Spring Open Call Auditions for "Tartuffe", "Legally Blonde", and "Into the Woods"

FPAC Spring Open Call: 

Tartuffe, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods

Auditions will be held by appointment the evening of Tuesday, November 19 at THE BLACK BOX starting at 6:45 pm. Performers ages 16+ are welcome.

Submit for an appointment time 
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FranklinPerformingAr/0c3ee3f652/9b055c5183/78f8a89b28

Accepted appointment times will be emailed out.
Audition submissions will be accepted until Monday, November 18 at 5:00 pm.
If you are unable to audition at this date, please contact us at 508-528-3370

FPAC PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS:
Student/Community performers will be required to meet a fundraising support requirement. The information will be available at the audition or here.

CAST POSTINGS:
Dance Call and Callbacks will be posted on the FPAC website. The cast will be posted online. We do not make phone calls or send emails regarding casting. Please check the cast list on the Cast Info page at www.fpaconline.com

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
***Rehearsal times may vary from week to week as the shows progress. Be sure to check the website for the updated schedule! Changes in the schedule will be highlighted in red. Rehearsals are generally held Monday/Wednesday evenings and weekends. 

For additional details on the roles available for each production
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/1156763/0c3ee3f652/547960375/9b055c5183/ 

FPAC Spring Open Call Auditions for "Tartuffe", "Legally Blonde", and "Into the Woods"

 

FHS' Tyler Brogan captures 1st in D1 Cross Country meet

FHS' Tyler Brogan won the boys D1 cross country meet on Saturday. The boys team finished 9th overall. The girls were lead by Sydney Hawkins and the team finished 15th overall.

Event 3  Boys 5k Run CC Division 1
=======================================================================
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1  #505 Brogan, Tyler       12 Franklin              15:54.91    1
  2 #1076 Jackson, Steven     12 Saint John's Prep     15:56.93    2
  3  #260 Liss-Riordan, Myle  11 Brookline             16:02.39    3
  4  #619 Benson, Micah       12 Lexington             16:03.22    4
  5  #506 Calitri, Nicholas   11 Franklin              16:06.67    5
  6  #620 Bernstein, Adam     12 Lexington             16:08.76    6
  7 #1077 Lopez, Nathan        9 Saint John's Prep     16:13.14    7
  8  #200 Young, Joe          12 Boston Latin School   16:13.23    8
  9   #19 Thompson, Winston   12 Acton-Boxborough      16:13.41    9
 10  #872 Dioun, Camron       11 Newton South          16:14.54   10
 

 75  #512 Walmsley, Declan    11 Franklin              17:17.12   75
 83  #508 Harrington, Camden  12 Franklin              17:22.44   82
117  #510 Sieczkiewicz, Grif  10 Franklin              18:00.81  115
132  #504 Anderson, Joshua    11 Franklin              18:14.81  130
153  #511 Towle, Alex         11 Franklin              18:49.88  151

Event 6  Girls 5k Run CC Division 1
=======================================================================
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 #2731 Jenks, Lucy         12 Newton South          18:13.96    1
  2 #2455 Simonds, Finleigh    9 Haverhill             19:13.12    2
  3 #2511 Ofek, Danna         12 Lexington             19:13.28    3
  4 #2213 Nagle, Sonja        11 Brookline             19:15.68    4
  5 #3040 DeVeau, Abigail     10 Framingham            19:22.46    5
  6 #2530 Mirambeaux, Slap    12 Lowell                19:23.48    6
  7 #2233 Price, Sophia       11 Cambridge Ri          19:25.71    7
  8 #2514 Steines, Pauline    12 Lexington             19:36.73    8
  9 #2205 Rateau, Olivia      12 Brockton              19:38.58    9
 10 #2355 O'Connell, Margare   8 Durfee                19:42.27

 51 #2413 Hawkins, Sydney     11 Franklin              20:55.59   50
 64 #2411 Giuliano, Sarah     12 Franklin              21:15.62   62
 71 #2409 Casey, Caitlin      10 Franklin              21:31.36   69
 80 #2415 Mulvey, Ruth Ann     9 Franklin              21:51.43   78
 84 #2418 Perez, Angelina     11 Franklin              21:58.51   82
 97 #2410 Duffy, Liliana      10 Franklin              22:20.54   95
125 #2417 Peng, Charlene      10 Franklin              23:30.02  123




Full team results as well as the link to the MIAA results page in the following document:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Gvdue2gpUQUI5endLN4BtkwOGLoRihSI

FHS' Tyler Brogan captures 1st in D1 Cross Country meet

Legislature Votes to Increase Transparency and Financial Reporting Requirements of Massachusetts Higher Education Institutions

On Wednesday (Nov 6), Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Speaker Robert A. Deleo and Senate President Karen Spilka with their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature voted to pass legislation to enable the state to more closely monitor the financial health of Massachusetts private colleges and universities and provide transparency and security to students and families in the Commonwealth.

Known as an Act to Support Improved Financial Stability in Higher Education, the legislation requires higher education institutions to make public and accessible financial reports and requires any institution facing financial risk of closure to develop contingency plans to ensure a process is in place to assist and inform its students and other stakeholders. The legislation also establishes financial penalties on institutions for non-compliance with reporting and planning. The bill requires ethics and fiduciary training for higher education trustees and board members.

"No student's degree aspirations or financial resources should ever be put in limbo due to the sudden closure of their school," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I want to applaud the work of the Chairs of the Committee on Higher Education in advancing this legislation that brings stability and transparency to our higher education system. I look forward to it being swiftly signed into law."

"This legislation helps to protect students, families, and staff of our higher education institutions by increasing the transparency of the financial health of institutions - requiring increased oversight, reporting and accountability," said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, (D-Winthrop). "Thank you to Chair Jeffrey Roy and Chair Anne Gobi for their diligent work on these issues and for the support of Chair Michlewitz and Representative Kenneth Gordon."

"In the wake of the Mount Ida closure last year, I heard from an extraordinary amount of people who were negatively affected and asked that the legislature take steps to protect students, faculty and staff," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "By including new requirements, such as the development of student-focused contingency plans if a public college or university is expected to close, these measures will bring stability and transparency to our institutions of higher learning."

"I look forward to the Governor signing this important piece of legislation into law, said Senator Anne Gobi, Chair of Higher Education Committee (D-Spencer). "Just this week there is news of another Massachusetts college considering a merger, which punctuates the importance of having the law in place quickly to establish guidelines and give students, faculty, staff and the community a form of protection and security."

"By improving accountability and the financial stability of our colleges and universities, this legislation will ensure both institutes of higher education and our students will be better prepared for the future," said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston).

"It was a great day for students and their families as this legislation will provide transparency and restore confidence in our Higher Education institutions," said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy, Chair of the Higher Education Committee. "The strength of our colleges and universities is paramount to our success as a commonwealth; when students and their families invest in their future, they deserve to know that their institution stands on a solid foundation."

The four major provision of the bill address the following topics listed below.

• Financial reporting: Requires that all public higher education and independent institutions post on their websites a copy of the institution's financial report and a summary written in terms understandable by the general public.
• Financial screening: Enables the Board of Higher Education (BHE) to monitor the financial health of independent institutions of higher education in Massachusetts.

o Requires an independent institution to immediately notify BHE of any known financial liabilities or risks likely that may result in closure.
o Requires BHE to establish a process to annually assess each institution's financial information to identify any institution it deems may be at risk of imminent closure. The BHE will keep confidential those assessments for independent institutions unless it is determined an institution is at risk of closure.
o Financial screenings may be conducted by an accrediting agency authorized by the U.S. Department of Education, or the Department of Higher Education.
o An institution determined to be at risk of imminent closure must prepare a contingency plan for closure, which includes a process to provide notice to a variety of stakeholders including, students, faculty, staff, pending applicants, and host communities. The closure plan must also include:

• arrangements for students to complete their program of study;
• a plan for the maintenance of student records; and,
• a plan to provide funding for refunding any student deposits and for the cost of protecting and maintaining student records.
• Enforcement: Requires penalties for failure to comply with financial screening requirements, which include fines of up to $1,000 per day, suspension of any state funds, or the suspension or revocation of any degree granting authority.

• Board training: Requires comprehensive training programs for members of the boards of trustees of the state's public higher education institutions on the proper governance, financial metrics, open meeting law and their legal and fiduciary responsibilities, at least once every four years.

Having been passed by the House and Senate, the legislation now goes to Governor Baker for his signature.

 

Worcester State students pose with members of the Higher Education committee before touring the WSC campus on Friday, Nov 1

Live & Lively; A first for wfpr●fm

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director, Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm

On Tuesday evening we began a new adventure. wfpr●fm went live for the first time since we began broadcasting on 102.9 almost three years ago. Normally, we run recorded programs and music where other radio stations are live every day with news programs, talk shows and so on. When you are a verrrry tiny community station with no budget and no real staff to speak of, cobbling a group of five technical and on-air folks in common cause to pilot a live event takes a bit of doing – and caring.

Huge thanks to Steve Sherlock and Frank Falvey for interviewing folks at the polls and making it all come together. Thanks to Jim Johnston for his always entertaining commentary, and to Diane Joyce for her added touches of professional polish.

Thanks also to Marc Berman and Keith Palmieri at the technical helm. They made it all work smoothly.

Note that so many folks are smiling. An election is a special gathering. We come together, enjoying each other’s company, if only for a moment, a nod, a wave – but we are together – as a community. Our community.

See you soon – on the radio.

Franklin election day panorama - Nov 5, 2019  (P Fasciano photo)

Find the full program guide for Franklin TV and wfpr.fm for the week of Nov 11, 2019
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1k8dZ5syte9Q3umHtwRWFxp2--Bqc9U1i