Live reporting - Superintendent update

5. Information Matters
• Superintendent’s Report

• Enrollment Comparison
• FY08 Per Pupil Expenditure Comparison to State Average

expenses per state average below across all eleven categories counted at the state level
a year ago we were below in 10 of the 11, and forecasted that we would be below in all 11
If we continue this trend, we will be below the state minimum level and the town will be forced to cut from the town side to fund the schools at the minimum level

actually one of the 11, we do want to be below the state average. In that one category, special ed students sent out of district, we are below the state average and should be, that is a good number to be

While we are still meeting scholastic performance and are performing above average, I don't know who long that will last. 2 of our middle schools are one year into a performance plan for not meeting the annual performance requirements

• FHS Building Projects

live reporting - action items

4. Action Items

1. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,000.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips for the Jefferson 1st grade to Southwick and the 5th grade to Freedom Trail. approved 6-0
   
2. I recommend approval of the FHS Art Department’s request for a field trip to NY Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 16, 2009 as detailed. approved 6-0
3. I recommend appointment of Sally Winslow to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Student Services effective July 1, 2009. approved 6-0
4. I recommend approval of the FHS’s request for a recurring field trip for 20 students to the University of New Hampshire on March 14, 2009 for their annual Jazz Festival on March 14, 2009 as detailed. approved 6-0
5. I recommend acceptance of a check for $501.02 from the FHS Class of 1942 for a scholarship for the FHS Class of 2009. approved 6-0
6. I recommend approval of the FHS recurring field trip to Providence Place Mall for Remington Middle School students as detailed. tabled to be brought back next meeting with clarifications
   

Live reporting - Discussion only items

3. Discussion Only Items

• FY 2010 Budget Matters

Ogden - Maureen and I are making the rounds
$200,000 increased circuit breaker
$125,000 central office, administration wage freeze
We are still waiting to receive Federal Stimulus money, possible to get just over a $1 M
Not sure how we can use it yet, the Federal level has not determined the usage yet

Meal tax, etc still being worked in Boston, those could add $1 M to the overall Franklin budget of which some of that would come to the Schools

Budget hearing schedule tentative dependent upon when the final numbers are ready from the State and Federal sources

• Ten-Year Summary of Capitol Projects at FHS

The PDF File of Mike D'Angelo's memo to Wayne Ogden with the listing of capital projects can be found here.

in essence, there is documentation for approx. $4 million of improvements and repairs to the high school over the past 10 years

There is an additional $2.5 million associated with the new field and the repairs of the other fields

EPA grant to clean out chemical storage, etc. Because it is a grant, that is not on this listing

This listing is those items of $10,000 or more.
Replacement of eye wash stations would not meet that criteria so there are additional expenses not reflected here

Live reporting - Horace Mann Enrichment Model

c. Horace Mann Middle School Enrichment Model Presentation

• Anne Bergen
• Rob Vacca
• Jacqui Berger
• Trich Metrick
• Bert Garr
• Mark Brady
• Dr Bergen
  

Wrote a grant to obtain funds to support the program
Gave up some of their Saturday's to take course on gifted and talented curriculum
Expose the kids to exciting things so they will want to read


Mr Garr - enrichment clusters
connecting kids to their passions, get them involved with experiential learning

• One cluster on architectural design, formed a relationship with Harvard on design/CAD
• One on WWI and the Holocaust
• A parent came forward with interest on the JFK Assassination
• Most kids don't mind writing, they just need an opportunity to write about things they like
• A group worked on an on-line music review blog

The showcase will be on Horace Mann's final day of school (whatever it calculates out to be)

Jacqui Berger

• Visited Raythenon, NitroPlastics
• New England Laborers Training Academy (for building and construction)
• With Northeastern and other local universities
• Visited the MIT Museum, spoke with MIT students
• BU Medical, City Lab, 8th graders working on experiments in a real lab environment

main initiative to get kids interested in science


Mr Vacca

NCTA - traveled with 19 other educators to Southeast Asia
made connections with those teachers and continue to share/learn
Professor and 4-5 graduate students scheduled to visit Horace Mann in May
will cost only the gas expense for the graduate students


Mr Brady

Direction of this is to break out of the classroom to make the learning very real
International robotics competition, has two teams at Horace Mann
Find out Sep 5th, the research project behind the project is a great deal of work not seen by others as the focus in on the robots and the competition
Introduce student on personal finance, entrepreneurship
Investing, focus on the assumptions behind how and why you do so, we don't think strategically anymore, 18 months is not strategic
More students in the 18-26 age group actually declare bankruptcy than graduate

Student lead yard sale - May 9th
Any items for sale, please contact the school office

Armenio - I find this fascinating, anything that can make the education ore real is good
Anything you can do to get the community into the classroom is great

Live reporting - Presentations

Rachel Porter – 100 points Girls Ice Hockey




HMMS – Math Counts Competition – Most Improved Team Certificates (Teacher/Coach: Andi Ridley)

• Askshat Agrawal
• Azmina Aysha
• Rachel Balon
• Sanjay Batchu
• Abhilahsa Boruah
• Ben Burke
• Rachita Chaudhury
• Brendan Lewis
• Ajey Pandey
• Nithya Sridhar

Live reporting - School Committee 3/10/09

Attending: Armenio, Kelly, Mullen, Roy, Rohrbach, Trahan
Missing: Cafasso


1. Routine Business

• Citizen’s Comments - none
  
• Review of Agenda - none
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the February 24, 2009 School Committee Meeting. motion to approve - passed 6-0
  
• Payment of Bills - Mr. Kelly motion to approve - passed 6-0
• Payroll - Ms. Armenio
  
• FHS Student Representatives

Music Dept Concert at Horace Mann 7:00 PM Wednesday 3/11/09
Senior Awards night - June 1
The Wrestling team won the State Championship
Raised $5,000 for the Tomorrow Fund

• Correspondence:

1. Budget to Actual
2. Transfers

"I think it'll help everybody"

The two communities will begin by sharing the first flag football game of the year, in Medway in late April or early May, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Franklin has recreational staff and extensive programs and activities, and Medway has residents willing to pay the fees to participate, since the town only offers minimal recreational activities.

"It's a win-win for everyone," Nutting said.

"It gives us revenue to keep our fees down" by contributing to overhead costs, he said.

Franklin Recreation Department Director Ryan Jette said about 5,800 kids in Franklin participate and Nutting said the department has revenue of about $400,000 per year.

"We're not going to get rich off this, but if we can make $10,000 for a little bit of work, it's worth a try," Nutting said.

Under the agreement, Medway residents can participate in a Franklin Recreation Department program or activity after Franklin residents have been given a chance to register.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Read all the live reporting from the Town Council meeting March 4th here