Thursday, January 11, 2024

School Committee takes MASC workshop on Superintendent Evaluation (audio)

FM #1133 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1133 in the series. 


This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee MASC Workshop held on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. 


Chair Dave Callaghan opened the meeting. All of the School Committee members were present along with Superintendent Lucas Giguere. Chair Callaghan introduces Tracy Novick, the MASC Field Director responsible for Franklin.  


Quick recap:

  • Discussion on the evidence required to make the assessment is critical, this is not a one and done thing. The goals and accomplishments are intertwined with everything happening during the year

  • How are the standards rated, all equal, or should one be ranked higher than the others? Not normal but possible. Goals within 3 areas, professional practice, district improvement, student Learning

  • Evaluation can be complex as superintendent is evaluated as the lead of the district and yet many others are the ones working and providing the outcomes for which Superintendent Giguere is reviewed

  • Supt Giguere steps in to share his goals already approved for which he'll be evaluated on, the format and outcomes help make sense of the work Ms Novick was outlining

  • Subcmte members for the evaluation of Supt are McNeill, Sompally and Griffith. Web site needs to be updated


The recording runs about 48 minutes, so let’s listen to the School Committee MASC Workshop of Jan 9, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1133-school-committee-masc-workshop-01-09-24



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Photo album of slides captured -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/MzjHT5drBb5FThBF7 


My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HFeFypEC87nSdVamYazqgVa53APZ0J_f/view?usp=drive_link


School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

or www.franklin.news


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

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


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


School Committee takes MASC workshop on Superintendent Evaluation (audio)
School Committee takes MASC workshop on Superintendent Evaluation (audio)


School Committee Budget Subcommittee previews capital budget requests and approves (audio)

FM #1132 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1132 in the series. 


This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. Remote participation was enabled for this session that no one took advantage of. 


Chair Dave McNeill opened the meeting. School Committee members Dr Paul Griffith and KP Sompally participated. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Business Manager Dr Bob Dutch also participated.


Quick recap

  • Ready to live report on the FPS budget subcmte mtg about to begin, a short one before a workshop and then the full regular School committee meeting, so a busy night. Follow along with the agenda doc https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/1-9-24_agenda-budgetsubcom.pdf  

  • Supt Giguere provides an overview of the capital budget process for this new group, Dr Dutch to walk through the details of the requests. This is preliminary to the FinCom meeting Weds night, and then to Town Council capital budget subcmte before final Town Council approval

  • Special ed van, middle school math curriculum,and then technology (Chromebooks, laptops, etc) among the items on this request in priority order

  • Have an existing 4 year plan for capital requests, looking to add the 5th year to make it formal at 5 and roll forward from that

  • Discussion on options, lease vs buy, choice of extended warranty vs. purchase, at some point these will come due, period

  • Motion to approve capital request as discussed, second, passes, 3-0 Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0


The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.


The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to the Budget Subcommittee meeting of Jan 9, 2024. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1132-school-cmte-budget-subcmte-mtg-01-09-24



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Budget Subcommittee agenda

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


FY 2024 Budget information -> https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 


Capital budget doc for Finance Committee 01/10/24

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/_2024-01-05_memo_fy24_capital_program_fin_comm.pdf 


My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tMUBEmIEbKBdO93pMSBl5OgVHJWW0HT/view?usp=drive_link 



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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/   or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

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


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


School Committee Budget Subcommittee previews capital budget requests and approves (audio)
School Committee Budget Subcommittee previews capital budget requests and approves (audio)

NOAA Climate.gov: "Climate change rule of thumb: cold "things" warming faster than warm things"

NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) posted  Wed, Jan 10, 2024:
Climate change rule of thumb: cold "things" warming faster than warm things.
- Colder places are warming faster than warmer places.
- Colder seasons are warming faster than warmer seasons.
- Colder times of day are warming more than warmer times of day.
https://t.co/S28VYdqpLY 

Climate change rule of thumb: cold "things" warming faster than warm things
Climate change rule of thumb: cold "things" warming faster than warm things

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Jan 11, 2023

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p   A Priest, A Minister, and a Rabbi

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p   Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey and Jim Derick

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm   Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

8:00 am Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke
9:00 am Celebrate with Pride: Second Son
10:30 am Pickleball Tournament: Pickleball Tournament
11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8
3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: James McLaughlin
4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes October November
4:30 pm Veterans' Oral History Project: Dave Cargill
6:30 pm Winter Wonderland: Elvis Presley
8:00 pm Frank Presents: Jay Elias Pt 2
9:00 pm Frank's Musings: Israel
9:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Legally Blonde

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = Thursday

7:00 am Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 1 12-11-18
8:30 am Public School Event: FHS Chorus & Orchestra 2023
10:00 am FHS Varsity Swimming v North Attleboro 01-05-24
1:00 pm Public School Concert: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2023
2:30 pm Arts Advocacy: How-Tos
3:30 pm Critical Conversations: Student Wellbeing
8:00 pm Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2023
9:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Basketball v Taunton 01-05-24

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = Thursday

8:00 am Conservation Commission: 12-14-23
2:00 pm Conservation Commission: 12-14-23
7:00 pm Conservation Commission: LIVE, Chambers  889 2796 6925 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Franklin Cultural District: Tricky Trivia, Electric Youth, Best Buddies, 2nd Sunday Speaker & more as #artshappenhere


Wednesday, January 10

1:00pm Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)


Thursday, January 11

6:30pm Tricky Trivia (Franklin Public Library)


Friday, January 12

7:30pm Electric Youth Debut Concert (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

Electric Youth
Electric Youth


Saturday, January 13

9:00am KoC Free Throw Tournament  (Hockomock YMCA)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

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

2:30pm FHS Best Buddies fund raiser basketball game (Franklin High School)

8:00pm Joe Jencks (live music) (ticketed event) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)


Sunday, January 14

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

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

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


Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Tuesday, January 16

7:30pm - Voice of Franklin, part of Toastmasters International (Franklin TV Studio)


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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

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

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 Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

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 Cultural District: Arts are happening here!
Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

Finance Committee gets first look at Capital Budget requests for FY 2024

The Town Administrator memo to the Finance Committee outlining the proposed first pass of the Capital Budget summarizes:

Please find the attached Capital Plan Round 1 for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), as well as the five-year capital plan from each department as required by the Town Charter. Included in this memo is a chart with the 20-year free cash history. The average free cash balance is $3.52 million over the past ten years and $2.89 million over the past 20 years.

From the certified total, there are several policy commitments that eat into the total right off the bat, most notably contributions to stabilization accounts (per town policy). Please note that snow and ice removal is now fully funded in the operating budget and there is no reason to “hold” any free cash for snow and ice removal. See narrative below for more specifics.

These recommendations are the FY24 Capital program Round 1. A second round will be later this Spring.

The following is an overview of certified free cash status for FY24:
Find the full memo in the agenda doc (also contains remote participation info) ->

Finance Committee gets first look at Capital Budget requests for FY 2024
Finance Committee gets first look at Capital Budget requests for FY 2024


An Evening with Spirit with Psychic Medium Cathy Ripley Greene - Jan 26

What: An Evening with Spirit with Psychic Medium Cathy Ripley Greene 

Where: SAFE Coalition - 31 Hayward St Suite 2C Franklin
When: Friday, January 26, 2024 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Join us for an evening connecting with loved ones from the other side. As a Medium, Cathy connects and communicates with those loved ones who have passed to spirit. It is Cathy's belief that we never die, we just change. 

Cathy says, " I have come to know, that we are spiritual beings here having a human experience and that when we are finished, no matter how long or short that experience might be, we return to that which we came from – pure positive energy, also referred to as Spirit".  
 
A $65 tax deductible donation will reserve your seat. Click here to donate https://www.safecoalitionma.org/donate

An Evening with Spirit with Psychic Medium Cathy Ripley Greene - Jan 26
An Evening with Spirit with Psychic Medium Cathy Ripley Greene - Jan 26

4H Alarm Robotics does more than keep education alive at the Brick School (audio)

FM #1131 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1131x in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with FIRST Alarm Robotics held in the Franklin TV & radio studio Jan 4, 2024. Steve Dunbar, Business Manager and Pallavi Naravane, one of the group’s mentors.


Our conversation touched on the following:

  • So what is 4H Alarm Robotics 2079 all about?

  • How did you get involved and what is your current role?

  • How many members do you have and where are they from?

  • What the team has done over the past year.

  • What else can you tell us that could get folks to check out 4H Alarm Robotics?

  • Where can they get more information?


The conversation runs about 30 minutes so let’s listen and find out about Alarm Robotics. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1131-4h-alarm-robotics-2079-01-04-24



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4H Alarm Robotics 2079 on the internet->


Team page at FIRST Robotics -> https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/team/2079


FIRST Robotics Competitions -> https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc 


Town Council meeting in 2019 when the lease was signed

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/town-council-recap-ag-commission-fire.html


Additional photos from the 2019 Council meeting -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/EW1Uwevtc73Xx7BP6


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


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

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


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


4H Alarm Robotics does more than keep education alive at the Brick School (audio)
4H Alarm Robotics does more than keep education alive at the Brick School (audio)