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Friday, January 31, 2020
MassBudget: Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity
"accidentally reports every student absent"
"The parents and guardians of students attending John F. Kennedy Memorial School received quite the surprise on Thursday morning - a message reporting their child as being absent.
Just after 10 a.m., an error caused by the district’s automated absentee notification system notified each family affiliated with the Pond Street elementary school that their child was not present, according to Superintendent of Schools Sara Ahern.
“We use an automated system to send out messages to parents/guardians when we are not contacted by them to notify us when a student will be absent for the day,” said Ahern. “A mistake was made and the message was sent to all Kennedy Elementary School families at approximately 10:09 a.m.”
She said the error was “caught right away and a clarifying message was sent promptly at approximately 10:14 a.m.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200130/franklin-elementary-school-accidentally-reports-every-student-absent
A message went out to the Kennedy Elementary community regarding student absences. It was sent in error and has caused some alarm in the community. We are working to correct it.— Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) January 30, 2020
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| https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews |
"Oh, there’s actually something real happening here"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200130/road-salt-blamed-for-new-england-wells-contamination
As Franklin gets all its water from ground aquifers, we need to be careful with our water quality. One of our 2020 "Watch List" items covers water quality
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list-new.html
"Road salt normally helps keep the public safe. But in this small hamlet near the Canadian border, residents say it’s contaminating their wells and eating their appliances from the inside out. Worse, they believe the state misled them about the cause to avoid culpability.
Researchers from Virginia Tech, who helped uncover drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan, think Fishers Landing’s problems were caused by runoff from a nearby salt storage shed run by the New York State Department of Transportation.
They also say the problem could be far more widespread than a single shed in a single town, with their analysis showing nearly half a million people across the state could face similar risks.
And while New York uses more road salt than any other state, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont use similar amounts of salt per mile of roadway, meaning residents there could be at risk, too."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200130/road-salt-blamed-for-new-england-wells-contamination
As Franklin gets all its water from ground aquifers, we need to be careful with our water quality. One of our 2020 "Watch List" items covers water quality
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list-new.html
Massachusetts Senate Approves Next Generation Climate Policy
The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday advanced three bills that boldly tackle the contributing factors of climate change, chart one of the most aggressive courses of action against global warming in the country, and pave the way for a clean energy future for all of its residents.
An Act Setting Next Generation Climate Policy and two companion bills — one dealing with electrifying fleets and another updating energy efficiency standards for appliances — passed overwhelmingly and with bi-partisan support.
"I am proud of the Senate for acting quickly on this legislation which takes a historic step in our fight to reduce harmful emissions that hurt our planet and our residents," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I commend Senator Barrett for his diligence in crafting a thorough legislative package that takes concrete steps to combat climate change by providing a plan to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable future. I would like to thank Senator Barrett and Senator Michael Rodrigues for their contributions to this next generation climate leadership."
"The Next Generation Climate package that the Senate passed today will allow the Commonwealth to reduce our carbon footprint and boldly confront the impacts of climate change," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (D-Westport). "These bills will help us achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and transform our energy delivery system to benefit our climate and future generations. I applaud Senate President Spilka and Senator Barrett for their leadership on this issue, and I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their collaboration in confronting perhaps the most important issue of our time."
"We've written the strongest climate statute in the nation," said Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee and the bill's chief author. "The bills started out strong. Then they got better as debate went on. More protection for low and moderate income families. Special sensitivity to the climate challenges facing small towns and rural areas. Retraining for people who may need to change jobs as we green the economy. In the fight against climate change, this lifts Massachusetts to the next level. My thanks to President Spilka and Chairman Rodrigues for conducting a model of the lawmaking process."
Key provisions of the climate policy package include:
Setting a statewide greenhouse gas limit for the year 2050 of "net zero" emissions. To achieve this, An Act Setting Next-Generation Climate Policy requires the state to hit near-term limits in 2025, 2030, and every five years thereafter; set sub-limits for transportation, buildings, solid waste, natural gas distribution, and other major sectors; and make implementation plans that are "clear, comprehensive, and specific."
Establishing the Massachusetts Climate Policy Commission. The commission would be a new, independent public watchdog to oversee government's handling of the unfolding crisis of climate change. Commissioners will be charged with offering a nonpartisan, science-based view of the problem as it plays out in Massachusetts with its attendant natural, economic, and demographic impacts and risks.
"We want this commission to be an independent guardian of the future, notably the future of younger generations, insulated from political pressure and consisting of the most authoritative and credible Massachusetts voices we can find," stated Senator Barrett. "Job one for the Commission is to tell us if we're on track in bringing down emissions. Job two is to advise us on what to do next. The commission will give us objective information about the performance of both government and the private sector and will pay special attention to the impact on low-income and other disadvantaged communities. If the commission works as intended, it will be a new voice, standing apart from politics as usual and committed to shedding light on a very hard problem."
"When it comes to bringing down emissions, buildings are the toughest nut to crack," Barrett says. "We need to move on multiple fronts."
Other provisions include:
During debate on the Senate floor, the bill was strengthened through amendments that, among others, requires regional equity in carbon pricing and ensures equity is a component of The Department of Public Utilities mission statement.
The bills now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Links to the specific legislation referenced
An Act Setting Next Generation Climate Policy and two companion bills — one dealing with electrifying fleets and another updating energy efficiency standards for appliances — passed overwhelmingly and with bi-partisan support.
"I am proud of the Senate for acting quickly on this legislation which takes a historic step in our fight to reduce harmful emissions that hurt our planet and our residents," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I commend Senator Barrett for his diligence in crafting a thorough legislative package that takes concrete steps to combat climate change by providing a plan to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable future. I would like to thank Senator Barrett and Senator Michael Rodrigues for their contributions to this next generation climate leadership."
"The Next Generation Climate package that the Senate passed today will allow the Commonwealth to reduce our carbon footprint and boldly confront the impacts of climate change," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (D-Westport). "These bills will help us achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and transform our energy delivery system to benefit our climate and future generations. I applaud Senate President Spilka and Senator Barrett for their leadership on this issue, and I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their collaboration in confronting perhaps the most important issue of our time."
"We've written the strongest climate statute in the nation," said Senator Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee and the bill's chief author. "The bills started out strong. Then they got better as debate went on. More protection for low and moderate income families. Special sensitivity to the climate challenges facing small towns and rural areas. Retraining for people who may need to change jobs as we green the economy. In the fight against climate change, this lifts Massachusetts to the next level. My thanks to President Spilka and Chairman Rodrigues for conducting a model of the lawmaking process."
Key provisions of the climate policy package include:
Setting a statewide greenhouse gas limit for the year 2050 of "net zero" emissions. To achieve this, An Act Setting Next-Generation Climate Policy requires the state to hit near-term limits in 2025, 2030, and every five years thereafter; set sub-limits for transportation, buildings, solid waste, natural gas distribution, and other major sectors; and make implementation plans that are "clear, comprehensive, and specific."
Establishing the Massachusetts Climate Policy Commission. The commission would be a new, independent public watchdog to oversee government's handling of the unfolding crisis of climate change. Commissioners will be charged with offering a nonpartisan, science-based view of the problem as it plays out in Massachusetts with its attendant natural, economic, and demographic impacts and risks.
"We want this commission to be an independent guardian of the future, notably the future of younger generations, insulated from political pressure and consisting of the most authoritative and credible Massachusetts voices we can find," stated Senator Barrett. "Job one for the Commission is to tell us if we're on track in bringing down emissions. Job two is to advise us on what to do next. The commission will give us objective information about the performance of both government and the private sector and will pay special attention to the impact on low-income and other disadvantaged communities. If the commission works as intended, it will be a new voice, standing apart from politics as usual and committed to shedding light on a very hard problem."
- Reflecting the price of carbon. Under the bill, the Administration would be free to choose among various market based forms of pricing carbon—including a revenue-neutral fee or a regional "cap and trade" system similar to the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI)—but he or she would have to do so by Jan. 1, 2022, for transportation; Jan. 1, 2025, for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings; and Jan. 1, 2030, for residential buildings. Any mechanism would be implemented so as to minimize the impact on low-income households, disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable manufacturing sectors.
- Providing legislative direction to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the state's primary energy oversight agency, for the first time. Compensating for a decades-long omission, the bill assigns the DPU a mission statement. It requires the agency to balance six priorities: reliability of supply, affordability, public safety, physical and cyber security, equity, and, significantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Jumpstarting efforts to supply low-cost solar electricity to low-income communities. To reverse the failure of state programs to incentivize solar energy projects in low-income neighborhoods, as well as spur job creation, the bill requires the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to set aside future solar allocations for such neighborhoods.
- Letting cities and towns adopt a "net zero" stretch energy code. The bill allows the state to support communities that choose on their own to move away from fossil fuels as the source of heating for new buildings. The state's contribution is to promulgate a "net zero" energy code, so that localities have the option available if they want to use it. The bill shifts responsibility for the code's development from the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to the DOER.
"When it comes to bringing down emissions, buildings are the toughest nut to crack," Barrett says. "We need to move on multiple fronts."
- Nudging natural gas utilities to adapt. The bill authorizes utilities to test technology and pipelines that generate and transport "renewable thermal energy," an emissions-free way to heat buildings that draws on the relative warmth of temperatures below ground.
- Strengthening executive branch oversight of MassSave. The bill directs the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to set emissions reduction goals, in advance, for each three-year plan the utilities formulate for MassSave. It requires the DPU, at the conclusion of each three-year plan, to certify how much the plan actually contributed to meeting the Commonwealth's greenhouse gas emission limits.
- Tightening the alignment between MassSave and emissions limits. The bill requires electric utilities to include an explicit value for emissions reductions whenever they calculate the cost-effectiveness of a MassSave offering.
- Setting a deadline for converting MTBA buses to all-electric power. An Act to Accelerate the Transition of Cars, Trucks, and Buses to Carbon Free Power directs the MBTA to limit bus purchases and leases to zero-emissions vehicles beginning in 2030, and to aim for an all-zero-emissions fleet by 2040, to reduce transportation-related emissions in city neighborhoods.
- Offsetting the Trump Administration's efforts to slow progress on efficient appliances. An Act Relative to Energy Savings Efficiency updates Massachusetts appliance standards to improve energy and water efficiency standards for common household and commercial appliances, helping to conserve energy and save consumers and businesses money.
Other provisions include:
- Assembling the state's first-ever database of energy use in large buildings.
- Adding two building efficiency experts and an expert in advanced building technology to the membership of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, which will retain responsibility for the base energy building code.
- Authorizing the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to fund energy innovation pilots, and to take actions addressing health effects associated with the distribution and consumption of fossil fuels such as natural gas.
- Directing the DPU to consider the impact on emissions when it reviews electric and natural gas rates, prices, charges, and contracts.
- Directing state government to limit purchases and leases of vehicles to zero emissions vehicles only, beginning in 2024, if affordable replacements are available.
- Conducting a study of the opportunities to electrify vehicles owned or leased by municipalities, regional school districts, and regional transit authorities, taking into account costs and possible sources of financial help from state and federal government.
- Providing permanent statutory authorization for the "MOR-EV" program, the Commonwealth's system of financial incentives for purchasers of zero emission vehicles.
During debate on the Senate floor, the bill was strengthened through amendments that, among others, requires regional equity in carbon pricing and ensures equity is a component of The Department of Public Utilities mission statement.
The bills now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Links to the specific legislation referenced
- An Act setting next-generation climate policy https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2477
- An Act to Accelerate the Transition of Cars, Trucks and Buses to Carbon-Free Power https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2476
- An Act Relative to Energy Savings Efficiency https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2478
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| Massachusetts Senate Approves Next Generation Climate Policy |
Franklin Food Pantry: Connections through the Year
"Happy New Year! For me, January is a time of both reflection and planning. A chance to look back at the year past, and a chance to look forward to the year that lies ahead. This January also marks my six month anniversary at the Pantry. So it's a good opportunity to think about my first few months and goals for the year.
I have been so fortunate to meet so many wonderful people in the Franklin Community: our volunteers, who are so dedicated to help and serve, our donors, who give selflessly to help reduce food insecurities, our neighbors, who share their stories and their hearts with us, the businesses in the community that partner with us and help with our mission, and my fellow staff members who make such a wonderful team to ensure the Pantry runs smoothly.
This year, I look forward to growing those relationships and working with everyone to continue to help our Franklin neighbors receive healthy food. We have several events coming up early this year that I am very excited about. Both the Party for the Pantry and Empty Bowls events are celebrating their five year anniversary of raising funds for us. Party for the Pantry is April 4 and Empty Bowls is May 7. I hope to see you at one or both of the events. If we haven't met yet, please come and introduce yourself!
I look forward to a wonderful year of partnerships, connections and service. Thank you for all that you do for our community. "
Lynn Calling
Executive Director
The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full contents follow this link:
Visit the food pantry online to donate or volunteer https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/
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| Franklin Food Pantry: Connections through the Year |
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Deadline approaching! Apply now for ArtWeek grants!
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Diana Reinhardt Annis scheduled to talk about the history of Redwork quilts - Feb 11
Yankee Quilters, Inc. is pleased to announce that Diana Reinhardt Annis will present a program on the history of Redwork quilts, on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Franklin. Redwork quilts feature hand embroidered stitching on white background in designs that range from intricate florals to charming motifs of family life in 20th century America.
Annis will tell the history of this craft from the Renaissance to the present day, with beautiful examples of Redwork, and show the ebb and flow of the history of this contagious art form. She will show antique, vintage and contemporary Redwork quilts.
Annis, who lives in Norton, is the owner of In Stitches. She started quilting in 1979, using cardboard templates, sewing one block at a time, the common quilt construction method before machine piecing and quilting became the norm.
Annis started longarm quilting in the summer of 2002, guiding her large machine by hand. She teaches longarm quilting techniques to longarm quilters and piecing classes at local quilt shops. She also presents lectures and workshops at quilt guilds and works at MQX, one of the largest longarm quilt shows in the Northeast.
This program is supported in part a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. If you are a quilter or just enjoy learning about the history of quilts, please join us, on February 11th, at 7:00 PM, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant St., Franklin, MA 02038. Admission is free for members or $5.00 for visitors.
Follow the event on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/history-of-redwork-quilts-pres/639943306759969/
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| Redwork quilts - photo by Diana Reinhardt Annis |
Annis, who lives in Norton, is the owner of In Stitches. She started quilting in 1979, using cardboard templates, sewing one block at a time, the common quilt construction method before machine piecing and quilting became the norm.
Annis started longarm quilting in the summer of 2002, guiding her large machine by hand. She teaches longarm quilting techniques to longarm quilters and piecing classes at local quilt shops. She also presents lectures and workshops at quilt guilds and works at MQX, one of the largest longarm quilt shows in the Northeast.
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| Redwork quilts 2 - photo by Diana Reinhardt Annis |
This program is supported in part a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. If you are a quilter or just enjoy learning about the history of quilts, please join us, on February 11th, at 7:00 PM, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant St., Franklin, MA 02038. Admission is free for members or $5.00 for visitors.
Yankee Quilters, Inc. is a nonprofit organization for those interested in the art of quilting. The Guild is organized for charitable and educational purposes and includes members from throughout the MetroWest area and Central Massachusetts. Our purpose is two-fold: to promote education in and appreciation for all aspects of quilt making and to use our talents to produce quilts for individuals in times of need, as distributed through designated charitable organizations.
Follow the event on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/history-of-redwork-quilts-pres/639943306759969/
FHS girls and boys hockey teams posts wins
Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Wednesday
Girls Hockey = Franklin, 6 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Boys Hockey = King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 4 – Final
Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
For a photo gallery of this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-King-Philip-Boys-Hockey-01-29-20/
For other results around the Hockomock League:
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-29-20/
Girls Hockey = Franklin, 6 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Boys Hockey = King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 4 – Final
Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
"Coming off a tie to Mansfield and a loss to Canton, and now trailing by a goal to King Philip with just a period left, the Franklin boys hockey was on the verge of letting its grasp of the Kelley-Rex division slip away.
But first-year Panther coach Anthony Sarno challenged his squad to rise to the occasion over the final 15 minutes, and the team delivered.
Franklin scored three goals in the third period, erasing a one-goal deficit and landing a 4-2 win over King Philip. With the win, the Panthers move into sole possession of first place in the division with 10 points with one game to go. The win also secures a playoff spot because Franklin can’t finish worse than second place in the Kelley-Rex.
“‘How bad do you want it?’” Sarno asked his players between the second and third periods. “It’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s the will to win, how bad do you want to push back? We’re tired of being slapped in mouth late in the games with all these ties. And against Canton last game, they the best team in the league no doubt, but we didn’t really challenge them the way we should have or could have."
For a photo gallery of this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-King-Philip-Boys-Hockey-01-29-20/
For other results around the Hockomock League:
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-29-20/
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| Franklin senior Kevin O’Rielly fires a shot against King Philip in the second period on Wednesday night. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) |
Missed getting the Christmas tree picked up? Take it to Beaver St
I was walking on Wednesday and saw another Christmas tree on Pleasant St. I slowed to type an email to the DPW email address:
I got a quick reply from DPW Director Robert "Brutus Cantoreggi:
Per the DPW page https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste
"As I walk around I do see some trees still in front of houses. Whether they came out late or missed getting picked up, is unknown. is there anything that can be done with the trees now? Will recycling center take them? Or??"
I got a quick reply from DPW Director Robert "Brutus Cantoreggi:
"I have instructed to folks at the recycling center to allow people to drop xmas tress off even if they do not have a sticker.
Thanks for your support.
Brutus"So if your tree is still around, you can take it to the Recycle Center on Beaver St. It is open Friday/Saturday and Sunday and they will take your tree if you have a sticker or not. They'll tell which place in the Center to put the tree.
Per the DPW page https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste
Recycling Center Hours of Operation (445 Beaver St.)
Fri/Sat: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Sun: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
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| Missed getting your Christmas tree picked up? Take it to Beaver St |
Fiscal 2020 Real Estate & Personal Property Tax Bills Have Been Mailed, Due 2-3-2020
Fiscal 2020 Real Estate & Personal Property Tax Bills Have Been Mailed, Due 2-3-2020
Treasurer Collector Kerri A. Bertone has mailed the Fiscal 2020 Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills.
Payment is due February 3, 2020. Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/treasurer-collector/news/fiscal-2020-real-estate-personal-property-tax-bills-have-been-mailed-due-2
Treasurer Collector Kerri A. Bertone has mailed the Fiscal 2020 Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills.
Payment is due February 3, 2020. Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/treasurer-collector/news/fiscal-2020-real-estate-personal-property-tax-bills-have-been-mailed-due-2
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| Did you know there are six ways to pay bills? Drive through window, Drop Box, Online, By Mail, In-person at the Municipal Building with our friendly staff or there's always Pony Express! |
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
THE BLACK BOX Classical Series Continues on Feb 9
Irina Fainkichen and pianist Irina Kotlyar return to THE BLACK BOX on February 9th at 4:00 p.m. as part of the THE BLACK BOX Classical Series. The concert program features music by titan composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Igor Stravinsky, and Maurice Ravel. Audiences will experience music through beautiful dances and emotions.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Irina Fainkichen is member of Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra and has performed with New Hampshire Symphony, Lexington Symphony, Pro-Arte Chamber Orchestra, and recently with Broadway on Tour’s Phantom of the Opera at Boston Opera House.
Born in Ukraine, Irina Kotlyar received degrees from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel. With Gregory Shifrin, the Kotlyar-Shifrin Piano Duo has won several international prizes and awards and has performed throughout Israel, Europe, and America.
Tea service by Intermission Cafe will be available in the lobby. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in downtown Franklin.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Irina Fainkichen is member of Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra and has performed with New Hampshire Symphony, Lexington Symphony, Pro-Arte Chamber Orchestra, and recently with Broadway on Tour’s Phantom of the Opera at Boston Opera House.
Born in Ukraine, Irina Kotlyar received degrees from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel. With Gregory Shifrin, the Kotlyar-Shifrin Piano Duo has won several international prizes and awards and has performed throughout Israel, Europe, and America.
Tea service by Intermission Cafe will be available in the lobby. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in downtown Franklin.
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| THE BLACK BOX Classical Series Continues on Feb 9 |
Superintendent’s Report to School Committee - Jan 28, 2020
Professional Development Day Recap
In the afternoon of Friday, January 17, FPS hosted professional development for faculty across the district. This day was building-directed professional learning, under the direction of building principals. The following are some highlights:
● ECDC -- ECDC teaching teams analyzed the first round of the new “Developmental Summary” (report card/progress report), considering what worked well, what was challenging, and feedback from families.
● FHS -- Franklin High School staff continued to engage in our ongoing work with SEL and Teaching and Learning. They also included Cultural Proficiency as part of this work.
● Remington -- Remington staff reviewed the draft skills of the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) and provided feedback. Then educators collaborated on inclusive practices related to inclusion of students with special needs.
● Annie Sullivan -- Annie Sullivan staff explored the current discipline practices in place, reviewed data to analyze trends, and identified ways to support student needs in the classroom. Teachers met as teams/grade levels to apply their learning in discussions about specific students and share strategies, review/update behavior plans, etc.
● Horace Mann -- HMMS staff focused on developing Keys to Literacy Comprehension, Vocabulary and Writing strategies across content areas. Sessions were facilitated by coaches and administration, based on feedback from staff provided in a recent survey.
● Davis Thayer -- Davis Thayer Staff engaged in a recommitment to Core Values, redefining how those Core Values look and feel across settings, and examined the interrelation between our Core Values and the five core competencies for SEL.
● Parmenter -- Parmenter staff engaged in PD focused on mathematics and planning using the Understanding by Design framework.
● Kennedy -- Kennedy teachers participated in the following workshops: Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices, Analyzing Literacy Assessments, and Developing Math Fluency Instructional Materials.
● Keller -- Keller School staff engaged to learn more about the Understanding by Design framework for curriculum development.
● Jefferson -- The Jefferson staff continued their learning about cultural proficiency; they reviewed books and other curriculum materials for bias within the content.
● Oak Street -- Oak School staff continued to engaged to learn more about the Understanding by Design framework for curriculum development.
● District Nursing Staff -- The district’s nurses worked together to share (compare & contrast) current office practices and assess specific school needs in order to provide better consistency for nurses covering the health offices.
Franklin Educators Provide PD Regionally
We are very excited to share that several FPS educators are presenting at this year’s Local Staff Development Opportunities workshop/dinner Series, running regionally January through March. We are fortunate to have such talented educators within our system, as evidenced by regional interest in them sharing through professional learning.
● Kate Merten and Anne Williams 4th grade teachers at Kennedy Elementary School) will lead a workshop on “I Do Readers’ Workshop -- Now What?”. Participants will take a deeper dive into the aspects of the Readers’ Workshop instructional strategy, which is a means of differentiating to meet individual student’s needs and provide a more personalized learning approach in the elementary classroom.
● Jaime Hulbig, Jennifer Violet, and Jennifer Young (Math Specialists at Jefferson, Davis Thayer, and Keller elementary schools) will lead a workshop titled “Beyond Pizza and Pies: Teaching Fractions and Decimals for True Understanding” -- This two-part session will help educators build conceptual understanding, number sense,problem solving and procedural fluency with fractions, a foundation for future math learning.
Report from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ (MASS) Mid-Winter Meeting
MASS holds two meetings during the school year to provide professional development to its members. The mid-winter meeting was held last week on January 23, 2020 and Mr. Giguere, Assistant Superintendent, and I attended.
We started the morning with a breakfast discussion as part of our partnership with MAPLE, the Massachusetts Personalized Learning Edtech consortium. We learned about various districts personalized learning initiatives and joined a conversation about personalizing professional development. Philosophically, we seek to progress towards more personalization in our professional development program, in order to model for staff the types of personalized experiences we wish to see within classrooms. Central to this idea is the notion of choice and voice in the process as well as matching learning to skill development. We shared our initial strategies in personalizing professional development for staff through Edcamp-style PD, which is occurring in many of our buildings. We also learned from two districts about their progressive approaches. We look forward to applying our new learning in FPS.
The formal MASS program then began and we heard from Jeff Lawrence, Managing Director of Organizational Agility Advisors. He presented a keynote speech on “Thinking Systemically -- Acting Relationally”. The focus of this session was on the complexity of leadership in education today. He urged Superintendents to engage in self-care strategies and thinking, engaging, and acting differently in order to develop more leadership agility. Mr. Giguere and I are looking forward to bringing these concepts to the leadership team, likely during our summer retreat.
Jeff Riley, Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, then shared the developing details of the DESE required implementation plans that are part of the Student Opportunities Act. These plans are designed to hold districts accountable to using additional funding provided by SOA for their intended results: closing achievement gaps among student groups, including English learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Details are still emerging. The School Committee can expect that the FPS plan will be shared at a meeting in March, where a vote to approve will be requested.
Dr. Edwards and I will attend the spring meeting of MASS in May.
A Word about Grant Funding
I am aware that some conversation has been percolating in the community about grant opportunities. I wish to convey that the district pursues grant funding that seems reasonable and appropriate when they arise. Some of our grant funding comes in the form of government entitlement grants, but we do also pursue competitive grants. Due to our student population and demographics, these opportunities are not as widespread as they may be for other communities. However, when appropriate we seek additional resources. For example, we secured a state-offered competitive school safety grant last year to support school safety upgrades. Our ECDC secured a local grant from Big Y to develop a “Chill Zone” to assist students with the SEL skill of self-management.
Many grants come with expectations and additional management that may be inconsistent with our improvement plan, potentially siphoning resources away from our current priorities. Therefore, we critically evaluate the benefit of the grant application/award.
We appreciate the public’s interest in this area. Also, we always welcome outreach and ideas from the community, even if we can not support each one.
FHS Chorus Highlight with Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Choral Director
I had the pleasure to attend a special Chorus workshop today, at the invitation of Director Olivia Goliger. She hosted Mr. James Burton, the Choral Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Mr. Burton spent the hours of 10:30-3:30 PM today at FHS workshopping pieces for festival and recording, including his own large work, The Lost Words. He worked with students on musicianship and musicality, vocal, and choral technique with the singers, while simultaneously working with Ms. Goliger on conducting and rehearsal technique. The instruction was inspiring and motivating. The students were phenomenal but one could also hear how his coaching techniques developed their sound.
Additionally, I was so moved with the connection to social-emotional learning as he drew out their emotions through voice. It was a very powerful and unique experience and a real highlight for our students.
Download a copy of the Report (PDF file)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xtGiLiBEnWKbrGVZTe2M0ls0j_gNL7DO/view?usp=sharing
For more about Superintendent Sara E Ahern, visit the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent
In the afternoon of Friday, January 17, FPS hosted professional development for faculty across the district. This day was building-directed professional learning, under the direction of building principals. The following are some highlights:
● ECDC -- ECDC teaching teams analyzed the first round of the new “Developmental Summary” (report card/progress report), considering what worked well, what was challenging, and feedback from families.
● FHS -- Franklin High School staff continued to engage in our ongoing work with SEL and Teaching and Learning. They also included Cultural Proficiency as part of this work.
● Remington -- Remington staff reviewed the draft skills of the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) and provided feedback. Then educators collaborated on inclusive practices related to inclusion of students with special needs.
● Annie Sullivan -- Annie Sullivan staff explored the current discipline practices in place, reviewed data to analyze trends, and identified ways to support student needs in the classroom. Teachers met as teams/grade levels to apply their learning in discussions about specific students and share strategies, review/update behavior plans, etc.
● Horace Mann -- HMMS staff focused on developing Keys to Literacy Comprehension, Vocabulary and Writing strategies across content areas. Sessions were facilitated by coaches and administration, based on feedback from staff provided in a recent survey.
● Davis Thayer -- Davis Thayer Staff engaged in a recommitment to Core Values, redefining how those Core Values look and feel across settings, and examined the interrelation between our Core Values and the five core competencies for SEL.
● Parmenter -- Parmenter staff engaged in PD focused on mathematics and planning using the Understanding by Design framework.
● Kennedy -- Kennedy teachers participated in the following workshops: Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices, Analyzing Literacy Assessments, and Developing Math Fluency Instructional Materials.
● Keller -- Keller School staff engaged to learn more about the Understanding by Design framework for curriculum development.
● Jefferson -- The Jefferson staff continued their learning about cultural proficiency; they reviewed books and other curriculum materials for bias within the content.
● Oak Street -- Oak School staff continued to engaged to learn more about the Understanding by Design framework for curriculum development.
● District Nursing Staff -- The district’s nurses worked together to share (compare & contrast) current office practices and assess specific school needs in order to provide better consistency for nurses covering the health offices.
Franklin Educators Provide PD Regionally
We are very excited to share that several FPS educators are presenting at this year’s Local Staff Development Opportunities workshop/dinner Series, running regionally January through March. We are fortunate to have such talented educators within our system, as evidenced by regional interest in them sharing through professional learning.
● Kate Merten and Anne Williams 4th grade teachers at Kennedy Elementary School) will lead a workshop on “I Do Readers’ Workshop -- Now What?”. Participants will take a deeper dive into the aspects of the Readers’ Workshop instructional strategy, which is a means of differentiating to meet individual student’s needs and provide a more personalized learning approach in the elementary classroom.
● Jaime Hulbig, Jennifer Violet, and Jennifer Young (Math Specialists at Jefferson, Davis Thayer, and Keller elementary schools) will lead a workshop titled “Beyond Pizza and Pies: Teaching Fractions and Decimals for True Understanding” -- This two-part session will help educators build conceptual understanding, number sense,problem solving and procedural fluency with fractions, a foundation for future math learning.
Report from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents’ (MASS) Mid-Winter Meeting
MASS holds two meetings during the school year to provide professional development to its members. The mid-winter meeting was held last week on January 23, 2020 and Mr. Giguere, Assistant Superintendent, and I attended.
We started the morning with a breakfast discussion as part of our partnership with MAPLE, the Massachusetts Personalized Learning Edtech consortium. We learned about various districts personalized learning initiatives and joined a conversation about personalizing professional development. Philosophically, we seek to progress towards more personalization in our professional development program, in order to model for staff the types of personalized experiences we wish to see within classrooms. Central to this idea is the notion of choice and voice in the process as well as matching learning to skill development. We shared our initial strategies in personalizing professional development for staff through Edcamp-style PD, which is occurring in many of our buildings. We also learned from two districts about their progressive approaches. We look forward to applying our new learning in FPS.
The formal MASS program then began and we heard from Jeff Lawrence, Managing Director of Organizational Agility Advisors. He presented a keynote speech on “Thinking Systemically -- Acting Relationally”. The focus of this session was on the complexity of leadership in education today. He urged Superintendents to engage in self-care strategies and thinking, engaging, and acting differently in order to develop more leadership agility. Mr. Giguere and I are looking forward to bringing these concepts to the leadership team, likely during our summer retreat.
Jeff Riley, Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, then shared the developing details of the DESE required implementation plans that are part of the Student Opportunities Act. These plans are designed to hold districts accountable to using additional funding provided by SOA for their intended results: closing achievement gaps among student groups, including English learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Details are still emerging. The School Committee can expect that the FPS plan will be shared at a meeting in March, where a vote to approve will be requested.
Dr. Edwards and I will attend the spring meeting of MASS in May.
A Word about Grant Funding
I am aware that some conversation has been percolating in the community about grant opportunities. I wish to convey that the district pursues grant funding that seems reasonable and appropriate when they arise. Some of our grant funding comes in the form of government entitlement grants, but we do also pursue competitive grants. Due to our student population and demographics, these opportunities are not as widespread as they may be for other communities. However, when appropriate we seek additional resources. For example, we secured a state-offered competitive school safety grant last year to support school safety upgrades. Our ECDC secured a local grant from Big Y to develop a “Chill Zone” to assist students with the SEL skill of self-management.
Many grants come with expectations and additional management that may be inconsistent with our improvement plan, potentially siphoning resources away from our current priorities. Therefore, we critically evaluate the benefit of the grant application/award.
We appreciate the public’s interest in this area. Also, we always welcome outreach and ideas from the community, even if we can not support each one.
FHS Chorus Highlight with Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Choral Director
I had the pleasure to attend a special Chorus workshop today, at the invitation of Director Olivia Goliger. She hosted Mr. James Burton, the Choral Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Mr. Burton spent the hours of 10:30-3:30 PM today at FHS workshopping pieces for festival and recording, including his own large work, The Lost Words. He worked with students on musicianship and musicality, vocal, and choral technique with the singers, while simultaneously working with Ms. Goliger on conducting and rehearsal technique. The instruction was inspiring and motivating. The students were phenomenal but one could also hear how his coaching techniques developed their sound.
Additionally, I was so moved with the connection to social-emotional learning as he drew out their emotions through voice. It was a very powerful and unique experience and a real highlight for our students.
Download a copy of the Report (PDF file)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xtGiLiBEnWKbrGVZTe2M0ls0j_gNL7DO/view?usp=sharing
For more about Superintendent Sara E Ahern, visit the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent
 |
“Taming Technology for Community Members” - March 18
Presenter: Kevin Martin of “Nerds to Go” of Franklin
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2020. 6:30 pm
Location: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St., Franklin, MA
Talk Content:
At a time when our community might reap the benefits of the Internet and technology to keep in touch with grandchildren, classmates and long-time friends, they are often leery of the new electronic landscape. From computers to smart phones to smart speakers - people can get overwhelmed!
The Franklin Odd Fellows are hosting an informal presentation on “Taming Technology for Community Members”. Kevin Martin will explore how to stay safe on the Internet and enjoy some of the key components and resources.
Martin has more than two decades of experience working in technology – from advanced electronics in submarines in the U.S. Navy to IT executive positions in the private sector.
The Internet offers a boundless amount of useful and interesting information and access to the world. Unfortunately, technology is also a daunting new landscape to many people. This presentation is intended to outline both the security and scope of technology.
For more about Nerds to Go - www.nerdstogo.com
For more about the OddFellows - www.franklinmassoddfellows.org
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 18, 2020. 6:30 pm
Location: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St., Franklin, MA
Talk Content:
At a time when our community might reap the benefits of the Internet and technology to keep in touch with grandchildren, classmates and long-time friends, they are often leery of the new electronic landscape. From computers to smart phones to smart speakers - people can get overwhelmed!
The Franklin Odd Fellows are hosting an informal presentation on “Taming Technology for Community Members”. Kevin Martin will explore how to stay safe on the Internet and enjoy some of the key components and resources.
Martin has more than two decades of experience working in technology – from advanced electronics in submarines in the U.S. Navy to IT executive positions in the private sector.
The Internet offers a boundless amount of useful and interesting information and access to the world. Unfortunately, technology is also a daunting new landscape to many people. This presentation is intended to outline both the security and scope of technology.
For more about Nerds to Go - www.nerdstogo.com
For more about the OddFellows - www.franklinmassoddfellows.org
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| “Taming Technology for Community Members” - March 18 |
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