School Committee votes to approve $81M budget, now has to work to get it funded all or in part, and deal with the results (video)

The Franklin Public School Committee conducted its scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The Franklin TV broadcast of the session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KxgjR7dhk

Agenda doc  ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-9-24.pdf

Meeting packet folder (contains other doc for this meeting, some posted after the meeting) -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-9-2024-school-committee-meeting-packet

Photos of the presentation doc shared ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/PxKxwydbV64HKmFx9

Quick recap:

• Horace Mann Middle School provided an update on their school year , goals and objectives
• School Committee voted for their budget totaling $81,319,261.00. Now they need to work with the Town Council to fund it all or in part and deal with the results
• Joint meeting April 24 at FHS Auditorium with Town Council and School Committee
• School Committee voted unanimously not accept new School Choice students for the 2024-2025 School year. Not a change, likely to be possible in future depending upon school district long term planning results available later this year (i.e. redistricting)
• Voted unanimously to adopt policy JFABB – Admittance of Foreign Exchange Students

My notes captured via Twitter are available in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nL3N1QI_hV-xrY0VllU2iZyJw4HOREcK/view?usp=drive_link

one slide from the HMMS presentation on curriculum flow & delivery

Callaghan & McNeill joint statement made during Citizen Comment at the Town Council Mtg - Apr 10, 2024

Text of the Citizen Comment statement jointly made by Dave Callaghan, School Committee Chair, and Dave McNeill, School Committee Vice-chair at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday April 10, 2024.

Dear Chair Mercer, Vice Chair Dellorco and Members of the Franklin Town Council,

Thank you for your time and dedication to our wonderful community. As we collectively face the financial challenges ahead, it's imperative to recognize the stark reality: The Town of Franklin is grappling with a $10.1 million shortfall, and the School Department will need a $9.3 million increase in Fiscal Year 2025 - $7.3 million just to maintain current service levels and an additional $2.1 million to stabilize and partially restore from cuts that were made last year. 

In an effort to fund the school budget, there's been a reliance on temporary measures such as one-time investments, deferred projects, and depletion of reserve accounts. However, these strategies obscure the reality: the annual cost of educating students has risen far beyond what a 2.5% increase can accommodate.

On April 9th, 2024, the School Committee voted to approve the FY25 School Budget in the amount of $81,319,261. We are asking for the Town Council’s support to fully fund this budget that addresses the $9.3 million increase, up to and including initiating an operational override for the community to vote upon as a ballot question in time to fund the FY25 budget. 

We recognize the economic impact of this request for our community, and it is not a decision taken lightly; however, there are also consequences of inaction. Without intervention, we can anticipate a future of continued layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, rising user fees, a "pay-to-play" system for athletics, and a general decline in services across the board.

Fully funding the School Committee’s approved FY25 School Budget will stabilize our budget moving forward, allowing the school district to maintain appropriate class sizes, provide much-needed mental health support, keep up with rising cost drivers and obligations, and continue to provide the host of educational services this community has come to expect. Moreover, the School Department can transition from a reactive budgeting approach to one that enables them to proactively implement meaningful changes which would result in a sustainable budget, fostering agility and efficiency in delivering education for years to come.

Thank you once again for your dedicated service to the residents of Franklin and the betterment of our community. We look forward to our open dialogue and collaboration with you toward our common goal of making Franklin the most vibrant community it can be.

Sincerely,

Dave Callaghan                  Dave McNeill

 

School Committee joint statement made during Citizen Comment at the Town Council Mtg - Apr 10, 2024

State Rep Jeff Roy: What's happening in the district - April 2024

View this email in your browser What's happening in the district? It's busy season on Beacon Hill as committees continue to report out bills and the Legislature takes action on them. Last week, the House advanced a bill that includes $200 million for the state's Chapter 90 program, providing municipalities with a funding source for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. Under the bill, Franklin will receive $939,828 and Medway will get $395,457. Having passed the House of Representatives 155-0, the bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration. We also passed two bills that update the Massachusetts General Laws by removing out-of-date and offensive terms related to persons with disabilities, and by renaming the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) as MassAbility. The language in the first bill removes all variations of outdated terms such as "handicapped," "disabled," and "retarded" and replaces them with current terminology such as "person with a disability" and "person with an intellectual disability." As lawmakers, we know that words matter and this legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, or words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices. Removing archaic language in legislation plays an important role in reducing social stigma and ensuring that state agencies and courts view people with disabilities as entitled to full, equal, and integrated lives in the community. A few weeks ago, the House and Senate also passed legislation that I filed to help prevent abuse and exploitation, while also enhancing protections for survivors. The legislation addresses teen sexting and image-based sexual assault, commonly referred to as "revenge porn." It represents a coordinated effort and a holistic approach to address an increasingly prevalent behavior and provides mechanisms to protect individuals victimized by those who threaten, intimidate, and harass the subjects of these images. It will help those who have become entangled in the web and transmittal of images that can cause traumatic and lifetime harm. The Committee I chair (Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy) released a number of bills addressing clean energy generation, to promote transportation electrification infrastructure, supporting load aggregation programs in the Commonwealth, modernizing competitive energy supply, and to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects. The bills have moved on to the Committee on Ways & Means and we look forward to taking further action on the bills as the session progresses. I will keep you updated on these and other actions in future issues of the newsletter. Jeff Copyright (C) 2024 State Rep Jeff Roy. All rights reserved. State Rep Jeff Roy, State House Room 43, Boston, MA 02133 This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please check this link -> https://mailchi.mp/081f80577706/march-2021-newsletter-9105218

Economic Development moves proposal to reduce parking minimums to Town Council (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met as scheduled on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in the Council Chambers. Three members were in the chamber, one remote. 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztRXEC8UgQw

The meeting agenda and supporting documents for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_edc_meeting_agenda_final_fixed.pdf

Quick recap:

• Bryan Taberner provided an update on moving to compliance with the MBTA requirements and per the update from MAPC, changing the commercial mixed use parking requirements would provide sufficient units to become compliant
• The initial proposal would be to remove commercial parking minimums for mixed use, keeping residential parking minimums. This would not change the other single use commercial requirement for parking minimums. The calculation would produce enough units to be compliant with MBTA community requirements. It would also require a definition of "mixed used", something already recommended from the Franklin For All project
• The ensuing discussion revolved around removing parking minimums (period). arguments put forward on both sides, ultimately agreeing to move the proposal as amended to remove all parking minimums for discussion at the Town Council and if consensus to further the process by referring to the Planning Board, etc.

My notes captured via Twitter are in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZBuN7285kwDl9mt_RnGF3PfkCk36saMm/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Apr 11, 2024

• 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

7:00 am Franklin Fallen Heroes Pt 2

8:00 am Veterans' Call: Robert Pierson

9:00 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Joe Landry & Scott Mason

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Marry Me Chicken

1:00 pm Master Plan Committee Open House

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 6

3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: Jacob Juncker

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

5:00 pm Veterans' Oral History Project: Dave Cargill

6:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 11 - Kemp Harris

8:00 pm Frank Presents: Corey Shea

9:00 pm Endless Konnections: Introduction

9:04 pm Endless Konnections: Natasha Ward Pt 1

10:00 pm Franklin Art Association: Vincent Crotty

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

8:30 am Jazz Cafe 2019

10:00 am FHS Varsity Baseball v Oliver Ames 04-01-24

2:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

3:30 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

4:30 pm Public School Concert: FHS Chamber Music

6:00 pm Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-13-19

7:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse v Stoughton 04-04-24

9:30 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 04-04-24

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 04-04-24

7:30 pm Zoning Board of Appeals  LIVE-Remote  996 2896 0342

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin Cultural District: Museum Gala, blues concert, silent movie, vacation week events & more as #artshappenhere

Wednesday, April 10

1:00pm Senior Scribblers

Thursday, April 11

7:00pm Night at the Museum Gala

Friday, April 12

10:00am Knitting Group

1:00pm Animals in the Spring

7:30pm James Montgomery Band with the Daybreakers

Saturday, April 13

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:30am Animal Affair

2:00pm Holi Celebration

3:00pm April Fool’s Concert

6:00pm Silent Saturdays: "Metropolis"

Sunday, April 14

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker

2:00pm Eid Celebration

Monday, April 15 - Tax Day/Marathon Monday/Patriots Day

Tuesday, April 16

10:30am Toe Jam Puppet Band!

6:00pm Table Top

7:00pm Trivia Night

7:30pm Voice of Franklin, part of Toastmasters International

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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)

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

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!

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

In 1974, a contingent of Franklin elementary school students, led by beloved teacher Parma Johnson, convinced the Massachusetts legislature to name the useful and attractive ladybug, as the state insect. 

Fifty years later, in coordination with the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Ladybug Trail walk, the Franklin Historical Museum will be open for extended Saturday hours, from 9-3 and will feature:

• Convenient access to restrooms and trail maps for trail walkers

• Sale of special hand-crafted ladybug items (key chains and book marks) created by local crafter, Rhondy Rosita, with all sales benefiting the museum. 

• At 11 AM, State Representative Jeff Roy will speak about the Ladybug kids and about the legislative process then and now – an informative topic for kids and adults!

• The Museum will also be showing throughout the day, a short Chronicle segment about the Ladybug Trail and a presentation about the 1974 ladybug kids and the 1984 Kennedy School kids that went to the statehouse in 1984, for the 10th anniversary.

• Vintage newspaper clips and ladybug outfits used by Franklin children in their 1974 ‘lobbying’ effort.

• And, late in the afternoon, we plan to release live native ladybugs at the nearby Methodist Church garden as a finale for the celebration.

• All Saturday events are rain or shine (the Downtown Partnership’s Trail Walk, however, has a rain date of Sunday, April 21). The museum will only be open for regular hours, 1-4 pm, on that day.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Ladybug” - April 20

Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, in downtown Franklin, near the fire station. You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at

http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/  

In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk, until we lighten up with the Top 20 songs about schools (audio)

FM #1168 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1168 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, and Asst Superintendent Dr Tina Rogers on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.    

We get a brief recap of current events and the dive into the major discussion of the budget and the timeline around its final development. Information on the key questions that remain to be answered are discussed. 

Budget timeline:

• April 9 - School Committee votes on school’s budget

• April 12 - Town FY 2025 budget released

• April 17 - Finance Committee meeting

• April 24 - Joint meeting of School Committee & Town Council at FHS Auditorium

• May 6, 8, and 15 - Finance Committee budget hearings

• May 22, 23  - Town Council budget hearings

We close on a lighter note with discussion and laughter around the Top 20 songs about schools .https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEq1QElhBShhGAMjH-S_uEceAfNPftlC/view?usp=drive_link 

Our conversation runs about 55 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---April-3--2024-e2i7jh3/a-ab5fial

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Contact info: for Jamie & Amy -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator 

Contact info for Lucas ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent 

and Tina ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/office-teaching-and-learning 

Town Budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials 

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

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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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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!

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

In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk

FHS girls tennis tops Foxboro to improve to 3-0 for season; girls Outdoor track tops Taunton on Tuesday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Tuesday, Apr 9, 2024.

Boys Tennis = Foxboro, 3 @ Franklin, 2 – Final 

– Foxboro’s Ryan Fossella emerged from a three-set battle at third singles to help secure a key win on the road at Franklin. Fossella won the first set 7-5 before dropping the second 4-6, forcing the deciding third. In the third, Fossella took a 6-2 decision to complete the win for the Warriors. Luca Meyer added a 6-4, 6-4 win at second singles and the team of Niki Illia and Evan Paluzzi secured a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles. Franklin’s Jay Gorgas prevailed 6-3, 7-5 in a battle at first singles while Dan Reis and Gabe Terry took a three-set thriller 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.

Girls Tennis = Franklin, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final

Panthers with a good win over a tough Foxboro team 3-2!

Brooke Taylor improved to 3-0 with the lone win in singles.

Brooke Daniels & Sydney Tolonen, along with Ava Davies & Avalon Thomes, both won their doubles matches.

Franklin is now 3-0 and travels to Taunton on Wednesday.   https://twitter.com/fhs_gvtennis/status/1777837151159255054

Boys Outdoor Track = Franklin @ Taunton, 3:45

Girls Outdoor Track = Franklin, 112 @ Taunton, 24 - Final

– Franklin took the top two spots in seven of 11 events plus first in both relays to earn a big win on the road over Taunton. The Panthers went 1-2 in the 100M (Ella Chandaria, Olivia Costa), the 400M (Madison Bruno, Carli Walbert), the 1 Mile (Meghan Griffith, Emma Pruitt), the 2 Mile (Victoria Courtwright-Lim, Alex Batla), the 100M hurdles (Sarah Dumas, Cailyn Bruno), the 400M hurdles (Dumas, Anna Cliff), and the shot put (Lily DeForge, Darby Nicholson) to secure key points. Chandaria also won the 200M (26.9), DeForge was first in the discus with a PR toss of 119’6′, and Liz Hopkins won the javelin at 132’9″. Taunton’s Emersyn DePonte took a win in the 800M at 2:28.8 while sophomore Renee Leao was third in the 100M hurdles (17.6) and second in the javelin (88’0″). Franklin’s 4×100 (Costa, Clare Loukota, C. Bruno, Cliff) won in 51.5 while the 4×400 (Sophia Cuneo, M. Bruno, Savannah Copeland, Kyra McSweeney) crossed first in 4:27.5.

Photo gallery of the FHS vs Taunton outdoor track meet (subscription required) ->    https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2023-2024/Spring-2024/Taunton-Franklin-Outdoor-Track-04-09-24

For other results around the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-09-24/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Fire dept, Facilities, Finance, & DPW

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email. 

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department 

Summer Custodians - Facilities Department

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works

Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department

Chief Financial Officer - Finance Department

Budget and Fiscal Analyst - Finance Department

Mechanic/Motor Equipment Repair Person - Department of Public Works

Summer Employment - Department of Public Works

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department 

Updated 04/09/2024

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Fire dept, Facilities, Finance, & DPW

Talkin' TC Episode 5: Mental Health Awareness (video)

"On this episode, we shine the spotlight on the many support services offered here on campus. 

Our guest is Mrs. Freya Messias, L.R.C., M.A., one of three school adjustment counselors on staff. She discusses a multitude of topics as well as discussing her background and offering sound advice."

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQRl2Hq4rC0

"Lean In Girls" starts April 22 - Learn more and register today!

"Here at Children's Museum of Franklin, we're passionate about the importance of empowering girls.  

The Lean In Girls curriculum, a subset of Sheryl Sandberg's original Lean In program, was established in 2023 as a “leadership program that helps girls see themselves as leaders in a world that often tells them they’re not.”

Over the course of the program, through strength-building activities and discussion, participants will learn resilience, confidence, and inclusivity.

This is a free program!"

Learn more & register -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/lean-in-girls

"Lean In Girls" starts April 22 - Learn more and register today!