Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Live reporting - closing comments

Cafasso - a good first step on the high school (as reported) to get the renovations on the State listing.

Armenio - thank you to the parents on the All Night Party committee, they did a wonderful job.

Sabolinski - the Class of 1959 was a great thing to do, Pandora Carlucci did a nice job welcoming the group. That group was a lot of fun.

Pat Slight- big thank you to all involved! The School Committee doesn't get the recognition that they deserve. It is with great pride to say that I graduated from Franklin High.

Brittany MacLeod - The teachers, even in the hard times, the passion they have, Patrick said a lot of what I would like to say.

Roy - about a half million dollars were given out at the awards night. Ms Ohearn an 8th grade teacher had the students write a letter to themselves that she held and sent to them just before their graduation. The students in some cases had forgetten that they had written the letter.

motion to adjourn

Live reporting - Information items

Ogden - it is unclear whether the modular units will be dismantled at Davis Thayer as planned due to the current financial situation. We are looking to get a final answer because if they are going to be there, we'd like to use them.

We did jump the gun to publish the pay-to-ride letter to the parent to ensure sufficient time.
Apparently the letter did go out without some language to indicate a possible change in the amount due to the budget.

Live reporting - action items

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Malone for future enrichment programs for the ECDC. approved 7-0
b. I recommend the continuation of the School Choice Program for the 2009-2010 School Year. approved 7-0
c. I recommend the request of Corine Minkle to declare damaged and outdated books at Oak Street Elementary School as surplus. approved 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from Natalie Brunelli for the John A. Brunelli Memorial Scholarship at FHS. approved 7-0
e. I recommend adopting the FY10 Budget in the amount of $50,297,820.00. approved 7-0

Added to listing
f. I recommended approval for the FHS Girls Track Team to attend a meet on Sat JUne 13th, 2009 approved 7-0

Live reporting - school choice

Ogden - this is much influx because the budget is so influx. You have a need to vote to continue or not. We may keep the student population we have and not expand it any further.

Kelly - Can you explain how it works?

Ogden - once you vote in the affirmative, we will open up an application on the school website. Once the listing is acquired, we will see how many if any of the students could be accommodated. If there are any, there will be a blind lottery to select from amongst the applications.

About 25% of the existing students are children of school employees

Kelly - I know from conversations with school employees it is a great thing for them to have the kids here where they are working. They understand they may not be able to count on it.

Sabolinski - We'll need to look a couple of years out to see what seats could be made available.

Armenio - where are we on the kindergarten numbers?
Sabolinski - we have been flat
Ogden - I suspect that until you make the final decision on full day kindergarten, we may not see some of those that may be currently slotted with a private full day kindergarten.

Sabolinski - add backs would not change the middle school numbers

Live reporting - FY 2010

No additional news, teachers union has scheduled a vote for June 15th.
We are scheduled to go forward with the public hearing at the Town Council tomorrow night (June 10th)

motion to close the budget hearing
passed 7-0

Live reporting - Elizabeth S Fitzmaurice

Introduction to Elizabeth S Fitzmaurice (Beth)

SchCom_EFitzmaurice

17 years experience in Army Reserve, taught at West Point
Currently working in North Brookfield as Director of Pupil and Academic Services.

philosophy, high expectations for students

Cafasso - what drew you here?
Fitzmaurice - Franklin has a good reputation even in these times of stress

Cafasso - what is your number 1 priority?
Fitzmaurice - I met with Linda today, this is a well run area, I look forward to continuing her work

Live reporting - Senior Project

Sasha Warner, Judy O'Neil (names to be double checked)

survey says
100% of mentors said the project was beneficial to both the students and the teachers



proposal written during May of Junior year by students
21 students were selected
class during 3rd term
projects worked on during the 4th term

The Five P's
  1. Proposal
  2. Paper
  3. Project
  4. Portfolio
  5. Presentation
Brittany MacLeod "The trial and error and realization of how much work is required generated much pride in the final output."

Project requirements
weekly meetings with mentor, time sheets, daily reflection (written), self evaluation, evaluation by site advisor, exhibition of project

unpaid internships, minimum of 60 hours over the period

Brittany "One thing I definitely learned is that everyone in the company counts"

Lindsey Corek - Milford Hosp - nutrition; "counseling with patients... I became comfortable and confident in dealing with people in a confidential manner. This confirmed by passio for nutrition."

Alyssa Breen - Riverside Community Care - developed more of a passion for the mental health field. Offered a position scheduling at the front office for them during the summer."

Allison Negro - Norwood Hosp - "a really good opportunity to understand that this is something I may not really want to do." Heading for Univ of New Haven to study forensics.

Will O'Leary - Canaccord - worked in the Compliance Dept to ensure that the money processed complied with the existing laws and regulations. He thought he was going to have an interest in Finance but he is not so interested in that now. He will be attending Dean College and studying sports management.

Brittany MacLeod - Changed her mind from her original desire to pursue advertising.

All the students would highly recommend this project to incoming seniors.

Pat Slight - Appreciated the chance to get out of the school building and find that there is so much opportunity ahead. This program helped him avoid senioritis. This will really help him drive through college.

Armenio - this is a fabulous program, several of you realized what you don't want to do.

Rohrbach - What if anything would you do to improve this for next year?
Slight - 60 hours wasn't enough time, should increase to 70 next year. It is already in the works.
Negro - Better time management as well as the increase amount of time will avoid some of the problems a few of the students had this year.

Ogden - this project has been in the incubator for a long time, thanks to the faculty for the hours for bringing this to fruition.