Ed Cafasso's Letter

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for falling slightly behind in my monthly updates… The first eight weeks of the year have flown by! Here’s a brief update on recent school issues in Franklin…

Fiscal Year 2010 Budget: Intensive work is underway in an effort to figure out the best financial plan for the Franklin schools given the difficult financial climate we are all facing.

Costs continue to outpace revenues and, in the current economy, revenues are shrinking. The big drivers of school cost increases in the coming fiscal year are teacher salary hikes and step changes; healthcare prices, special education, and transportation. Normally, given the budget cuts the schools sustained in the current fiscal year, one would hope for at least a level-service budget in the new fiscal year that begins July 1, a budget that meets cost increases and preserves current personnel and programs. Instead, the net effect of declining state and local revenues means that the Franklin schools will be fortunate to secure a level-funded FY10 budget. “Level funded” means operating the schools with the same amount of money as the previous year, despite increasing costs.

Under a level-funded scenario, cuts imposed last July will be not be reversed. To balance the FY10 budget, the schools will need to trim nearly $3 million in costs – the equivalent of 60 classrooms positions. Given that 45 professional teaching positions were eliminated at the start of this school year (and 14 were cut the year prior), School Committee members, administrators, principals and staff are working together to explore and discuss every possible option in an effort to avert another dramatic teaching cutback and even larger class sizes.

Everything is on the table. In recent weeks, for example, all 51 of our non-union school personnel – administrators and secretaries – decided to freeze their salaries and give up any increases in FY10. It remains to be seen whether unionized school workers will adopt a similar approach. Also unclear are the details of how the Franklin schools might benefit from the Obama administration’s stimulus package. Keep in mind, however, that the stimulus money is not recurring revenue – once it is spent, the personnel or programs it supports will be without funding.

I urge everyone to stay close to the budget process this year by paying attention to School Committee, Town Council and Finance Committee meetings; and by seeking a frank discussion of these issues with your principals and your school PCCs. As a reminder of the budget cuts your schools have sustained in the past six years, I encourage you to visit this web link: http://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/franklin-ma-school-budget-reductions-updated-presentation?type=powerpoint

School Calendar: As Oak Street and Horace Mann parents may have heard, the state Education Commissioner has refused to grant a waiver from the 180-day requirement for the single day that classes were cancelled when the facility closed due to a September water pipe break. The result is that an additional day of school will be tacked onto the end of the academic year for Oak Street and Horace Mann students.

As of this afternoon, classes in Franklin are scheduled to end Friday, June 19, which means that the extra day of school for Oak Street and Horace Mann students would fall on Monday, June 22. But another major snowstorm is being forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Additional cancellations will push the school calendar further into the week of June 21.

Franklin High School: There has been no news on the district’s application for funding assistance from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. A professional inspectional team from the MSBA toured the building in mid-December as part of Franklin’s application for state funding assistance. We hope to have an indication from state officials soon about the likelihood of state support for the renovation of the school or the construction of a new building. You can expect school and town officials to move quickly once we are able to secure some clarity from the MSBA.

The next meeting of the School Committee is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 10th.

These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I try to distribute at least one e-mail update each month during the school year, as issues warrant. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.

Thank you!


Ed Cafasso, Member

Franklin School Committee

the new House majority leader

Chris Feeley, Franklin's town council chairman, is also a fan, citing Vallee's work ethic.

"He has his job as a state representative, he has his law practice, he serves in the military, and he is a very family-oriented guy and somehow balances all of that very well," Feeley said. "Most important for him, he doesn't make his family sacrifice, which is what I respect most."

Read the full article on Rep Jim Vallee's rise to the House majority leader role in the Milford Daily News here

"The cost is often greater than anticipated"

Franklin School Superintendent Wayne Ogden said layoffs could leave the town with a wider budget gap.

"The liability for the town overall could be huge," Ogden said, if anticipated layoffs become a reality. "In a worst case scenario, the unemployment benefits for the town of Franklin could get into the millions."

Read the full article on how layoffs affect the budget in the Milford Daily News here

"We should have plenty of time to adjust rates"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Feb 27, 2009 @ 11:28 PM

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FRANKLIN —

As part of its plan to make $19.4 million worth of upgrades to the district's sewer plant, the Charles River Pollution Control District is asking Franklin - its largest contributor - to pay the bulk of the cost.

Based on flow going into the plant, Franklin owns 67 percent of the plant's capacity, and is expected to pay $2.52 million in fiscal 2010, which is $445,570 more than its share this year.

Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting said he has received mixed opinions about whether Town Council must vote to approve the $19.4 million, 20-year bond that will be needed, or if the district can simply assess users an increased rate. He said he waiting for an official opinion from the state Department of Revenue.

Regardless of how the money will be approved, the work needs to be done, Nutting said, if for no other reason than the daily $25,000 fine the state Department of Environmental Protection would impose for not complying with regulations.

Read the full article on the Charles River plan in the Milford Daily News here

You can view the actual presentation from the Charles River Pollution Control District as given to the Town Council during the February 4th meeting here

"a wonderful addition to the state forest"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Feb 27, 2009 @ 11:26 PM

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FRANKLIN —

The state is considering buying 50 acres next to the Franklin State Forest from a private owner, said state Wendy Fox, spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The DCR has sent a notice of interest to the town, Fox said, and is talking with the landowner, Reed Trust, of 230 Village St., Medway, of which Ronald Dolloff is a trustee.

The owner is asking for $2 million for the property at 1312 West Central St. (Rte. 140), confirmed their real estate agent, Jeff Allaire of ERA Key Commercial in Franklin.

The property, zoned as office/light industrial, also includes a 1,368-square-foot, boarded-up two-story house.

Neither Fox nor Allaire would comment about how serious the state is about acquiring the land, or how close it is to acquiring it. Fox said the state has been in talks with the owners for about six months.

"We do this all the time, the state is always looking at interesting property," Fox said.

Read the full article about the state's interest in the property in the Milford Daily News here

FM #32 - Abraham Bolden

In this Franklin Matters podcast, #32 in the series, we get a special presentation. Abraham Bolden, the first African American member of the Secret Service, came to Franklin to tell his life story and involvement with President John F Kennedy.

Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes, 27 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro
My intro
FM #32

This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 32 in the series.

This session is a special one. On Wednesday evening, February 25, 2009, there was a presentation on the JFK Assassination at the Thomas Mercer Auditorium in the Horace Mann/Oak Street complex. Franklin resident Bill Glynn presented an overview of the events leading up to and around that fateful day, Nov 22, 1963. Abraham Bolden, the first African American member of the Secret Service came to Franklin to tell his story. The opportunity to hear Abraham in person was taken by about 50-60 people of all ages.

Now you can share in that opportunity. What follows is the audio recording of Abraham Bolden's talk. In his voice, you'll hear him tell of growing up in East St Louis, rising from a Pinkerton detective position to the Illinois State Police and from there to the Secret Service. In the Secret Service he met John F Kennedy in Chicago and then also at the White House where Abraham was stationed briefly.

One quote to keep in mind as you settle in for a little over an hour of Abraham's story. From the philosopher, Antonio Gramsci:

“The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and
without becoming disillusioned.”

I don't think you'll find Abraham's talk long. I found his first person narrative riveting. His direct, honest and religious approach to life comes through. You'll begin to understand how the echoes of Dealey Plaza still reverberate today.

I would like to give special thanks to Bill Glynn and Abraham Bolden for allowing this recording. By sharing in this way, we can continue the discussion.

You can read more about Abraham Bolden and his book, "Echo from Dealey Plaza" here.

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This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

"should have been aware of these plans for years"

By Rachel Lebeaux Globe Correspondent / February 26, 2009

Officials at the Franklin Food say the facility might have to close down completely if town officials insist that it vacate its space to make room for a relocated historical museum.

The pressure to move comes at a time when the pantry's use is up and contributions are down due to the dismal economy. The pantry, which serves nearly 2,200 clients from at least 15 area communities, would probably have to vacate by the summer, according to a Franklin official.

"I don't understand displaying museum items versus feeding the less fortunate members of the community," said Linda Pouliot Whites, the pantry's executive director. She said she learned only recently that the food pantry would have to leave the basement of the former senior center building on West Central Street, which it has occupied since the early 1990s.

However, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said officials made it clear that they would be wanting the pantry to relocate eight years ago, when discussions about a new senior center and a relocated historical museum first emerged. He said officials are trying to work with the pantry to find a new location.

Read the full article about the Food Pantry looking for new space as reported in the Boston Globe here