"Some people believe school officials are not actually going to follow through"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted May 13, 2008 @ 10:42 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Forty-seven teachers were given notices yesterday informing them they may not have a job this September, Superintendent Wayne Ogden announced last night.

The teachers, whose identities are not public, were told the district's budget made it impossible to promise them a job in the fall, Ogden said.

School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said it made him "sick."

"It's just painful for people who received the notices, it's their livelihood," Ogden said, noting some of the teachers have worked in Franklin schools many years.

"It's a heavy burden for them," said Ogden, who decided to warn teachers early to give them an opportunity to find other jobs.

Read the full story at the Milford Daily News here

School Committee Mtg Summary 5/13/08

These are the written posts I made during the meeting.

The audio files for these segments will be posted as time permits.



Text summary of each meeting segment

• Sub - committee reports/New business
• "this is not a drill"
• Reduction in Force - "layoff notices"
• Action items
• Pay to Ride - discussion only item
• English Language Learners (ELL)
• School Committee - live reporting
• Franklin School Committee Meeting 5/13/08 - 7:00 P...

Sub - committee reports/New business

Rohrbach
working on goals for the new business administrator, Miriam Goodman

Rohrbach, can we get a MetroWest Health Survey update
to be put on a future meeting agenda

Cafasso
can we get a listing of programs that are "unfunded mandates"

Nov 18th, Nov 25th
4th is election day, 11th is Veterans day

"this is not a drill"

April to April - 200 increase

coincidently works out to about $2.6 million, increase in students means an increase in costs

high school enrollment will increase at a minimum of 101

17 teacher positions are projected to be cut at the high school
parents of means make make the choice after June 10th to move the students to private school to maintain a smaller class size

Sabolinski
"this is not a drill"

Roy
"This is not the way to attract and retain good teachers"

Reduction in Force - "layoff notices"

47 individuals received notice today due to the uncertainty of budget that makes it impossible to renew a contract for next year.

Meets the contractual notice one month early to give the opportunity to look for employment.

Identities of those individuals are not for public discussion at this time.

Action items

I recommend acceptance of a check for $260.00 from Morrison Communications for the Franklin High School as commission for their logo appearing on the FHS Athletic Schedule.

2. I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,306.50 from the Parmenter PCC for the following field trips:

• Grade 3 – Plimoth Plantation
• Grade 4 – Museum of Science
• Grade 5 – Freedom Trail

3. recommend acceptance of a check for $475.00 from the Keller PCC for the Kindergarten field trip to Southwick Zoo.

4. I recommend approval of the Horace Mann 7th graders to travel to Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI on June 3rd and 4th.


All items approved.

Pay to Ride - discussion only item

The Pay-to-Ride letters need to get out to parents for next year. The pricing in the letter is dependent upon the status of the override coming June 10th.

$39,600 cost of late bus for FY 2009

If the family pays-to-ride and goes home late, they don't pay the extra dollar for the late bus
If the family qualifies for the reduced lunch program, they don't pay for the late bus

Pay-to-Ride sign ups are required in June for next September
provides time for the bus company to prepare the number of buses required

If the override passes, no change in pricing
If the override fails, there is a proposal for a $100 increase in the fee

Ogden recommends issuing the letter with pricing based upon the successful override
with a way for families to opt out if the override fails and they choose not to pay the increase required from the failed override.

updated 8:00 PM
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Cafasso:
layman's attempt at fuel escalation clause
bus company commits to provide a set amount of services for the year in advance
with fuel costs above and below a certain price, with in a range they absorb the difference
above the range, the cost is passed on to Franklin

Are all the students using the late bus, paying when they are supposed?
Probably not, probably a small amount

Kelly:
concern over time line for notification to bus company and override results
major negotiation point is in July, other opportunities before school opens and just after school opens

GATRA is an alternative, assuming their ridership builds
It would be a slower, longer ride given the nature of their route

Rohrbach:
admits the school committee hasn't voted on a total budget

Ogden:
if you don't sign up, there is no guarantee that there will be a seat for the children if you wait
it would be better to sign up, and if necessary, withdraw

Sabolinski:
There was a significant wait list last year and some of those on the list ended up taking part of the two added buses but the families had to wait until the buses come online.

Armenio:
How late can we wait?

Ogden:
July.

Sabolinski:
Schools share the late bus

Roy:
Pure energy and bio-diesel fuel?

Ogden:
we did investigate it, does not know if it was applied for
will follow up with Mike D'Angelo

Roy:
supports recommendation to go with this years rate and appropriate language to opt out as required