Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda for Meeting Dec 12, 2023

Franklin School Committee

December 12, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Call to Order       Mr. Callaghan

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Mr. McNeill

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. FHS Cheerleaders – State Champions!

B. Food Services Highlights

C. Lifelong Learning Presentation

D. Snow Presentation

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. none

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. none

V. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your November 28, 2023 School

Committee meeting as detailed.

B. Oak St. Gift

I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,300.00 from the Oak St. PCC for field

trips as detailed.

C. 40% Club - Student Activity Account

I recommend creating a student Activity Account for the 40% Club at FHS.

D. Recurring Vet’s Auditorium Field Trip - Parmenter/JFK

I recommend approval of the request of Mary MacMurray to take music students

to the Veteran’s Auditorium, Providence, RI, on May 23 (Parmenter) and May 24

(JFK), 2024 to see a concert and perform with the musicians as detailed.

VII. Good of the Order

VIII. Citizen’s Comments

IX. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

X. Adjournment

Agenda doc (also contains remote participation info)

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_12-12-23.pdf

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-12-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda for Meeting Dec 12, 2023

Franklin Public Schools: Community Relations Subcommittee - Dec 11 at 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools - Franklin School Committee

Community Relations Sub Committee

December 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd floor Training Room

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."

● Define Purpose of Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy Subcommittee

● Review Committee Goals & Establish FY24 Goals

● JPGR Overview & Partnership

● Known FY24 Community Events

Remote participation info included in agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/_community_relations_sub_comm_agenda_12_11_23.pdf

Franklin Public Schools: Community Relations Subcommittee - Dec 11 at 6 PM

CommonWealth Beacon: "Yes, building more housing does lower rents, study says"

"IT’S A QUESTION that looms large over the effort to promote more development in housing-starved Massachusetts: Does increasing the supply of housing, even if it’s mainly higher-cost, market-priced units, temper the runup in costs that has so many residents straining to make ends meet? 

The idea follows the basic economic principle of supply and demand – when more of something is made available, its price falls. But there are plenty of “supply skeptics” who aren’t convinced that simply opening the housing production spigot will lower costs, and argue instead that it often just drives up prices by promoting gentrification. 

In a recent report, only 30 to 40 percent of those polled in a national survey of urban and suburban residents believed a 10 percent increase in housing production would result in lower home prices and rents. Against that backdrop, however, a research team at New York University issued a report last month arguing that there is clear evidence that boosting supply is the key to lowering or moderating housing costs. 

“All the evidence shows that it does reduce housing costs,” said Vicki Been, director of the NYU Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. The report by Been and two NYU colleagues attempts to look at all the evidence available from studies of the question. 

“In sum,” they write, “significant new evidence shows that new construction in a variety of settings decreases, or slows increases in, rents, not only for the city as a whole, but generally also for apartments located close to the new construction.”

Continue reading the article at CommonWealth Beacon

https://commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/study-says-boosting-housing-production-tempers-rents/

From the paper referenced in the article the Abstract summarizes:

"Although “supply skeptics” claim that new housing supply does not slow growth in rents, we show that rigorous recent studies demonstrate that: 1) Increases in housing supply slow the growth in rents in the region; 2) In some circumstances, new construction also reduces rents or rent growth in the surrounding area; 3) The chains of moves sparked by new construction free up apartments that are then rented (or retained) by households across the income spectrum; 4) While new supply is associated with gentrification, it has not been shown to cause significant displacement of lower income households; and 5) Easing land use restrictions, at least on a broad scale and in ways that change binding constraints on development, generally leads to more new housing over time, but only a fraction of the new capacity created because many other factors constrain the pace of new development."

Link to research paper paper -> https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4629628

The Taj Estates apartments on East Central street

Franklin Agway: December Sale, Gifts for everyone on your list

Great Gifts on sale Gifts for Everyone on your list! $5 off Birdsnack 20 lb. 10% off All small (5 lbs. or less) birdseed 10% off Indoor growing kits 15% off Squirrel-X bird feeders 15% off All Bee's Wrap 15% off Wheelbarrows and spreaders 20% off All bird, duck and bat houses 20% off Swedish dish cloths 25% off Hummingbird feeders 25% off Flashlights till 12/23 We will be closed 12/24-12/26 and 12/31-1/1/2024 Winter store hours Mondays closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9-5 Thursdays and Fridays 9-6 Saturdays 9-4 Sundays 9-2 Sales are in store only, 12/2-12/31/23 while supplies last See you soon, The Agway Crew PS. Come in and check out our new zero waste items. Together we can make a difference. Copyright © 2023 Franklin Urban Farm Store dba Franklin Agway, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Franklin Urban Farm Store dba Franklin Agway 157 Cottage St Franklin, MA 02038-2403

The Guardian view on Cop28: a phase-out of fossil fuels is the only decision that makes sense | Editorial | The Guardian

"It was never really in doubt. But the first week of Cop28, which ended with a rest day on Thursday, made one crucial fact impossible to ignore: the fossil fuel industry is not planning to go quietly. Far more of its lobbyists are in the UAE than have attended UN climate talks before. One analysis counted 2,456 of them – nearly four times the number registered last year in Egypt.

The battle is hotting up over what next week’s report on progress towards the Paris goals, known as the global stocktake, will say. Fossil fuel interests – both corporate and national – are pushing hard to avoid references to the phase-out that would signal the end of their business model and vast profits. They don’t want an energy transition that leads to their demise.

Last week, the Guardian revealed that Sultan Al Jaber, who holds the Cop presidency and leads the UAE’s state oil company, recently asserted that “no science” indicates that “a phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C”. Forced on to the defensive, he later said that “the phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable”. But it is the nations at Cop28 that will decide, and there is no guarantee that any such pledge will appear in the final text.

One of the key battlegrounds at Cop28 is that of language: whether fossil fuels will be phased “down” or “out”. The choice is either reducing carbon energy sources or getting rid of them entirely. The latter would be preferable, but there are many other battles to be won. There will be haggling over whether a transition to a cleaner future should see fossil fuels “unabated”, with greenhouse gas emissions released directly into the atmosphere, or “abated”, where carbon capture technology and carbon offsets reduce the harm caused. The latter have so far failed to deliver promised benefits, appearing more of a risk than a solution, in enabling the necessity of replacing fossil fuels to be ducked."

Continue reading The Guardian article online -> (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/08/the-guardian-view-on-cop28-a-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels-is-the-only-decision-that-makes-sense

Credit: Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam By Andrew Rayo Planning to travel this holiday season? No matter where you're going (over the river and through the woods), how you're getting there (planes, trains, and automobiles), or where you're staying (home for the holidays), here are the scams to avoid along the way. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/11/stay-scam-free-no-matter-how-far-away-you-roam

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 8, 2023 to December 13, 2023

There will be opportunities to volunteer for the #LoveFranklin Humanitarian Aid for the Emergency Shelter on Monday through Friday. The donations need to be moved to another location inside the Franklin United Methodist Church (82 W. Central Street, Franklin)--from the basement to the balcony. This new location is slightly larger and will be much more convenient, especially as work begins on the church's sanctuary ceiling. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/.

Friday, December 8

1:00pm Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm Jack Frost Jubilee (SAFE Coalition fund raiser) (Proctor Mansion)

6:00pm Matt Zajac (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:00pm Faculty Dance Works (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Saturday, December 9

9:00am Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am FUSF Holiday Cookie Walk (262 Chestnut St)

10:00am Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am RISE Up - social gathering (Franklin TV Studio)

1:00pm Library "Books by the Bag Sale" (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Yatra Band (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:00pm SMILE FRANKLIN, MA - A Stand-Up Comedy Residency (Box Seats)

8:00pm The Rescignos: Franklincense (THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, December 10

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:00pm Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker (Franklin Historical Museum)

Monday, December 11

7:00pm All that Glitters is Gold: Gustav Klimt (hybrid event) (Franklin Public Library)

Tuesday, December 12

7:00pm FBRTC Meeting (67 Degrees Brewery)

Wednesday, December 13

1:00pm Senior Scribblers (writing group) - (no meeting this week)

7:00pm Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club (Yankee Swap) (Escape Into Fiction)

7:00pm St Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group (St Mary's)

Thursday, December 14

6:00pm Annie Sullivan Middle Sch Concert (Horace Mann Middle School)

-----------------

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 8, 2023 to December 13, 2023

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 7, 2023

Everything is settling into a routine at the Emergency Shelter in Franklin. Many of the residents at the Emergency Shelter are beginning to receive state services that were, initially, slow to start. This means that our efforts will slowly begin to move from emergency meeting of needs and service gap-filling to long-term support that will ultimately help families transition out of the shelter (which is still going to be a long, slow process).

The After-School Program is now a regular part of community life and providing a helpful outlet for support and play for children in elementary, junior high, and high school. It is offered Wednesday afternoons (when there's not a half-day or holiday). If you'd like to learn more or potentially help out, contact Rev. Kathy McAdams at rector@stjohnsfranklinma.org.

The initial push for donation sorting and packing is over. Just about everyone has received warm clothes and at least one coat. That being said, there are still needs to be met and plenty of opportunities to help. 

Next week, there will be opportunities to volunteer Monday through Friday. We need to move all the donations to a new location inside the Franklin United Methodist Church (82 W. Central Street, Franklin)--from the basement to the balcony. This new location is slightly larger and will be much more convenient, especially as works begins on the church's sanctuary ceiling. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/. 

If you have any questions about the donation sorting/packing/moving or would like to sign up a group at a special time, feel free to reach out directly to me at jacob@franklinumc.org.

The Franklin Interfaith Council voted today to bulk order new socks and underwear. Once received we will pack socks and underwear to go out to everyone at the shelter. Over the next several weeks, we will be doing our best to fulfill needs that were partially fulfilled (or not at all) in the first round of donation distribution. As such, we're asking for a new list of donations. See the attached flyer (.pdf and .jpeg)

Please note: we are not taking furniture donations nor are we taking toy donations at this time. Christmas gifts for emergency shelter residents have already been taken care of separately from this effort.

Thank you for your on-going support! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Peace.

Jacob

PS ~To stay up to date on all that is going on with the Franklin Interfaith Council, subscribe to our website by going to franklininterfaith.org and submitting your email address at the bottom of the page.

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

Download the flyer to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cD8x5M58kzwqqSR1cpQK9wguV1SYrBSG/view?usp=drive_link

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 7, 2023

We’ve been approved as a 501(c)(3)! Support us to help the Children’s Museum of Franklin grow!

We're now an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  It's Official! We're now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We could not be more excited to announce this milestone for Children's Museum of Franklin. Children's Museum of Franklin strives to inspire the next generation and to build a community of intentional connection through play and exploration. You can now be a part of this mission. Your support for the Children's Museum of Franklin has the power to impact youth in our region for years to come. On behalf of Erin & Meg – co-founders, moms, and active community members – thank you for following this journey and for your support as we bring this dream to life for our families and for yours.  Learn more & support us  Children's Museum of Franklin, Cohasset Way, Franklin, MA, 02038, USA Powered by Squarespace