Attending: Whalen, Vallee, Feeley, Pfeffer, Doak, Zollo
Missing: Bartlett (arrived at 7:45 PM), McGann (no show), Mason (left at 7:30PM)
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 18, 2009 Regular & Executive Session
motion to approve, passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS none
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
"the only model that's going to be sustainable"
GHS
MEDWAY —
Selectmen Chairman Glenn Trindade said he is "very disappointed" after learning the library trustees voted against sharing Franklin Library Director Felicia Oti.
Instead, the board voted at its April 7 meeting to recommend hiring Oti seven hours a week in fiscal 2010 only to prepare the library's long-range plan, according to an e-mail Wendy Rowe sent to selectmen.
Rowe, chairwoman of the Medway library trustees and acting library director, said the board voted to hire Oti, but did not work out any details yet.
Read the full article about this twist in the regionalization efforts for Franklin/Medway libraries in the Milford Daily News here
Long Range Financial Planning Committee reports tonight
Milford Daily News
FRANKLIN —
Tonight, the Long-Range Financial Planning Committee will present its report to Town Council, which couldn't be better timing, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
"The report explains why the cost of existing town services is expected to grow faster than revenue for the foreseeable future," said Douglas Hardesty, vice chairman of the long-range committee.
"It also offers recommendations for addressing this problem. The committee believes the report will help residents trust that the problem is real and recognize that Franklin's future is tied to how we respond as a community to this crisis," said Hardesty, who is going to make the presentation.
read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
For all the reporting on the Financial Planning Committee meetings check the "Meeting Summaries" section on Franklin Matters.
For a summary of the focus group feedback used to prepare this report check here
What's the cost of 5 hours?
According to a copy of the proposal, the union demanded the following conditions: the permanent removal of five floating after-school meetings, permanent removal of the need to provide a reason for personal days, and the permanent requirement that no after-school meetings be scheduled two weeks prior to the issuing of report cards.From the Milford Daily News article on the School Committee meeting 4/14/09.
The citizens of Franklin will find out, hopefully soon, what the cost of 5 hours of meetings are. Is it worth 1 million dollars? Or is it worth more?
The teachers union in a vote to accept the 2.5 percent wage freeze for the 2009-2010 school year attached three minor conditions to the proposal.
To remove from their contract, five floating after school meetings. There already are three mandatory meetings each month for the teachers at each school. Is there really a need for these five floating meetings? I hope not.
To remove the requirement for providing a reason for taking two "personal" days. There are only two, you use them or loose them. They are already defined "personal". Does the School Dept really need to know the personal reason? I think that is too much of a controlling issue.
To add a requirement not to schedule after-school meetings in the two weeks prior to report cards. This seems reasonable. The time before report cards should be focused on preparing the accurate information for students and parents/guardians on the progress made during the marking period.
Why this was not discussed during the meeting, I can understand given the nature of the conversation that did take place between Chandler Creedon and the School Committee. They were talking about the same topic, using different words, not really answering each others questions. For me, there is a communication issue there. I hope it gets resolved quickly.
"I encourage everyone to work together"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
By an overwhelming majority, the teachers union voted to accept a pay freeze and forgo course reimbursement next year, union head Chandler Creedon announced at last night's School Committee meeting.
The Franklin Education Association's sacrifice will save the School Department $1 million - $800,000 in salary increases - and $200,000 in reimbursements, said Creedon, who is also a psychologist at Horace Mann Middle School.
The vote reportedly was 210-43.
The action will save the jobs of 20 teachers, Creedon said.
Reading from a prepared statement, Creedon said, "We the teachers of Franklin are extremely concerned about the quality and direction education is currently going in Franklin."
Read the full article about the teachers proposal in the Milford Daily News here
For all the information discussed at the School Committee meeting check here
Taking Back Childhood: Helping Children Thrive in Challenging Times
Franklin Public School’s Early Childhood Programs Present
Taking Back Childhood: Helping Children Thrive in Challenging Times
Guest Speaker: Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed. D.
Date: May 12, 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Place:
Nancy Carlsson-Paige is a professor of early childhood education at Lesley University and the author of Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World. She writes and lectures about the impact of violence in the media, consumerism and its effects on children’s social development, and how adults can raise caring and compassionate kids. She is a recognized national expert and speaks extensively on these subjects. For more information see her website at www.nancycarlsson-paige.org.
Childhood has changed dramatically in just one generation. Social trends such as the influence of media, the fast pace of life, rampant consumerism, and overly structured school days are undermining some of the basic building blocks of healthy childhood. These social forces make it harder for children today to create their own play, feel safe and secure, and build positive, loving relationships with others. Come learn about how childhood has changed for young children today and how you can reclaim what kids need most to help them flourish in these challenging times.
Taking Back Childhood: Helping Children Thrive in Challenging Times
Guest Speaker: Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed. D.
Date: May 12, 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Place:
Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium
224 Oak Street
Franklin, MA
Nancy Carlsson-Paige is a professor of early childhood education at Lesley University and the author of Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World. She writes and lectures about the impact of violence in the media, consumerism and its effects on children’s social development, and how adults can raise caring and compassionate kids. She is a recognized national expert and speaks extensively on these subjects. For more information see her website at www.nancycarlsson-paige.org.
Childhood has changed dramatically in just one generation. Social trends such as the influence of media, the fast pace of life, rampant consumerism, and overly structured school days are undermining some of the basic building blocks of healthy childhood. These social forces make it harder for children today to create their own play, feel safe and secure, and build positive, loving relationships with others. Come learn about how childhood has changed for young children today and how you can reclaim what kids need most to help them flourish in these challenging times.
Franklin's Earth Day Celebration
Franklin's Earth Day Celebration
Saturday April 18th, 2009
Beaver Pond
Starts at 9:00 AM
Volunteer to clean up targeted areas and assist with planting flowers and shrubs around Franklin.
- Please bring your own water bottle.
- Please bring your own gloves and rakes.
- Community service certificates will be issued.
- T-shirts to the first 200 volunteers.
- Clean up goes to 1:00 PM
Get some Eco-Info at Beaver Pond:
- Water conservation kits and rain barrel display.
- Mercury thermometer exchange for digital thermometers.
- Recycling tips and composting information.
- Energy conservation tips.
- Much more ! ! !
You can register on the Town website here
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