Franklin Matters

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Hat's Off to Franklin - slideshow

Franklin has much to be thankful for this year. I think the "Hat's Off to Franklin" sculpture helps to summarize all the goodness that the people, businesses, organizations and local government that make up this town is capable of.

Happy thanksgiving!

"you want to help him out"

FRANKLIN - When Gabriel Dut Bethou fled his remote village in southern Sudan 14 years ago, after a raid by soldiers of the faction that controlled the country at the time, it was with fear for his own life and grief for a family he thought had been killed.

Fourteen years later, the 24-year-old is preparing to return to his homeland — this time, with unimaginable joy.

Bethou, a student and employee at Dean College in Franklin, will be reunited with his mother, Ayen Aleer, and 20-year-old sister Akuot Bethou, both of whom he spent more than a decade believing to have been killed in the attack.

He will also meet for the first time two younger sisters born after Akuot and his parents — his father was later killed in other strife — relocated to the Sudanese city of Juba: Aluong, 10, and Nyakong, 14.

Read the full article in the Gazette here

Earlier this year, Franklin Matters had posted on the story as reported in the Boston Globe

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Franklin: frosty morning

Franklin: frosty morning, originally uploaded by shersteve.

How cold was it this morning?

Cold enough that the frost
protected by the shade
sugar coated the green grass

The collections of posts covering the School Committee meeting of 11/25/08

School Committee - AGENDA - 11/25/08

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

live reporting - remaining items

Reminder that the ConnectED is to be used for more than just emergencies
The reminder on the completing the survey yielded 800 additional responses, it is a powerful tool.

Subcommittee reports

building use met earlier

communications need to met to review some advertising and to prepare the enxt steps on the EdNets

Liaison reports

A small group from the DOE will visit the high school on Dec 18th to visit and assess the needs as submitted in the recent statement of interest

Wasted - lecture on Dec 7th, impact of alcohol on students at Franklin High School

live reporting - action items

4. Action Items

I recommend approval of the budget transfers as listed on the attached. - covered earlier
I recommend approval of the Horace Mann Middle School’s School Improvement Plan - approved 6-0
I recommend approval of the Remington Middle School’s School Improvement Plan - approved 6-0
I recommend approval of the Annie Sullivan Middle School’s School Improvement Plan- approved 6-0
I recommend approval of the request of the FHS Music Dept. for the April 18-20, 2009 field trip to New York City as detailed.- approved 6-0
I recommend acceptance of the donation of science equipment valued at $8,000 from Vacumet Corp. for the FHS Science Department. - approved 6-0
I recommend approval of the authorization of the Superintendent to create and administer the FPS 403B Plan document in accordance with the IRS Regulations as detailed in the attached memo. covered earlier
I recommend acceptance of the annual donation of $50.00 from Leuder’s Environmental, Inc to be used for library books for Davis Thayer Elementary School. - approved 6-0
I recommend approval of the MS Trip to NY City on May 9, 2009 as detailed on the attached. approved 5-0, 1 abstain

live reporting - modulars

Are you going to vote to give any direction to Paula and Ed to take to the Building Committee?

Take modular down because

of the condition of the modular
you have space within the building to absorb the students
you want to restore the building to a good condition

Davis Thayer, FHS and Remington-Jefferson

The action item should be an all inclusive package (removal of modular, restoration of grounds, re-wiring, etc. within the facilities).