Franklin School Budget Reductions (updated)

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In the News - override, library, budget

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 10, 2008 @ 01:08 AM

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FRANKLIN —

The idea of a tax override to prevent massive school layoffs has drawn mixed reaction so far.

The School Committee plans to talk with the Town Council and Finance Committee about giving townspeople an alternative to the cuts that will be required under the budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

While Nutting's budget gives $800,000 more for schools than last year's budget of $54.6 million (a 1.5 percent increase, totaling $55.4 million), the district needs $58.6 million - a 7.4 percent increase - just to maintain the same level of services and keep teachers and staff, said School Superintendent Wayne Ogden.

Ogden has outlined some of the major impacts of accepting Nutting's proposed budget of $55.4 million: 45 layoffs (mostly teachers), elimination of the late bus, a pay-to-ride fee hike, and increased class sizes.

Town Councilor Stephen Whalen said he "fully supports" putting a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question before voters.

"It would be extremely difficult to get it passed, but in my opinion, its passage would be in the best interests of the town," Whalen said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

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By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Apr 10, 2008 @ 01:02 AM

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FRANKLIN —

In continued budget hearings last night, the Finance Committee approved several departmental budgets including a reduction in the library budget that the library director adamantly opposed.

Franklin Public Library Director Felicia Oti requested a $976,985 budget, a figure that would allow her to fund replacing two full-time-equivalent positions in the children's department, but the committee instead approved about $800,000 as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

The library's budget last year was $925,196, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.

Prior to the vote, Oti argued that the library is understaffed and that morale is at "an all-time low."

"It's the lowest it's been in the 10 years I've been at the library," Oti said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

FINCOM - Facilities

Mike D'Angelo explaining the building usage, added the new DPW building, the new Senior Center, adding the new Fire Station.

Explaining the internal phone system, a private network using lease lines for all internal departmental calls. Cheaper than the phone company.

Custodial staff are part time, adding two to cover the additional buildings.

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Library only building not using compact florescent lighting (CFL).

Bids out gas and electric as commodity. Buy without huge risk, gets pretty good pricing. Saved millions of dollars over the ten years he did this with the schools and then the town buildings.

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FINCOM - Town budge review

The Town Budget is available on the Town web site (PDF)

FINCOM - Library

Morale amongst library staff is at its lowest in the ten years that Felicia has been here.

Franklin's library is in the Top 20% of attendance, bottom 29% of purchases for books and materials, top 14% for hours open.

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Jeff Nutting says times are tough, we need enough to get by and do more next year.

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Mike D'Angelo on the Library status: Expecting final plans for work to correct the situation in the library, going out to bid in late May so they should be able to go forward in the summer. They'll come back to get funding for those repairs.

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FINCOM approved budget as submitted.

In the News - consolidation, override talk raised

FRANKLIN —

At its budget hearing tomorrow night, the Finance Committee will discuss possibly bringing the School Department's $5 million maintenance budget under the town's jurisdiction, a contentious issue between Town Council members and the School Committee.

The Finance Committee will make a recommendation on the change in its budget package to Town Council by April 18, said Finance Committee Chairman James Roche.

Roche and Town Councilor Robert R. Vallee said they support the consolidation, as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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FRANKLIN —

The School Committee last night decided to send Chairman Jeffrey Roy to start discussions with the Finance Committee and Town Council about presenting voters with an override ballot question this year.

The committee is not advocating for an override, but members said they want to give voters the option in a year when the School Department faces 45 layoffs and other town departments will suffer from budget cuts.

The committee unanimously voted to propose two school options, a budget that would be close to level-funded, and one which would keep the same level of services, and which would require the override.

The close to level-funded budget would have a 1.5 percent, $800,000, increase over this year's $54.6 million budget, reaching $55.4 million. The level-services budget would rise 7.4 percent, or $4.1 million, hiking the budget to $58.6 million.

Both options will be discussed with the Finance Committee at the budget hearing Monday night.

A level-service budget would enable the district to maintain its staff and programs

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News

Franklin School Committee Meeting Agenda 4/8/08

AGENDA

Call to order Mr. Roy

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments

• Review of Agenda

• Minutes:

I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting.

• Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly

• Payroll Ms. Armenio

• FHS Student Representatives

• Correspondence:

  1. Budget to Actual

  2. Letter from Representative James Vallee regarding Portable Classrooms

2. Guests/Presentations:

   1. Prudential Spirit of Community Award Honoring Remington Middle School student

   2. Remington 6^th Grade Project Report

   3. Signing of the Educational Support Personnel (ESP) Contract

3. Discussion Only Items

• School Choice for 2008-2009 school year

• 2009-2010 School Calendar

• Second Reading of Policy JEA Entrance Age

• Second Reading of Policy JFAA-R Residency

• FY 2009 Budget – FinCom and Council presentations

• FHS Building Project & Building Committee

4. Action Items:

1. I recommend approval of the FY 2009 budget at the level service amount of (7.4%) $58,687,804.

2. I recommend approval of continuing the School Choice Program for the 2008-2009 school year.

3. I recommend approval of the 2009-2010 School Calendar

4. I recommend adoption of Policy JEA Entrance Age

5. I recommend adoption of Policy JFAA-R Residency

6. I recommend acceptance of a check for $800.00 for a portable washing station for the Davis Thayer art teachers from the Davis Thayer PCC

7. I recommend acceptance of a check for $35.72 from Follett Educational Services for surplus books for the Parmenter gift account.

8. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2625.00 from the Annie Sullivan PCC for the 7^th grade field trip to McAuliffe Center.

9. I recommend acceptance of a check for $154.83 from Target for 8^th grade field trip to YMCA in Hopkinton, MA.

10. I recommend acceptance of a check for $198.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for library books for DT.

11. I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Track Team to participate in the Penn Relays from 4/23 to 4/25/08 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Mt. Laurel New Jersey.

12. I recommend approval of the request of FHS for the Football Team to participate in the Athletic Program & Retreat at Camp Cobbossee in Winthrop, ME from 8/21 to 8/24/08.

13. I recommend approval of the request of Keller Elementary School for the 5^th grade class trip to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI on 5/2/08.

5. Information Matters:

• Superintendent’s Report

  1. School Choice 2008-2009

  2. School Calendar for 2009-2010

  3. Enrollment Comparison for 3-30-07 and 3-28-08

  4. Consolidation

  5. Online Courses

• School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

• School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business:

• To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session

• Contractual Negotiations – FEA side letters and early retirement

8. Adjourn