In the News - hold-up, Chilson Beach, flu season

Stick-up attempt made at St. Rocco's fair

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff

------

Franklin town beach closes for summer

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Angel Roy/Daily News staff


------

Franklin officials plan for flu season

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Angel Roy/Daily News staff

Anticipation - Third Thursday - 8/20/09

Anticipation!

We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway, yay
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasin' after some finer day

Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'

No, Carly Simon is not appearing this Thursday. The Brothers McCann are!

The Brothers McCann will play in the plaza next to Cafe Dolce.

Other downtown Franklin will be open and participating:

• Spotlight shop and Franklin School for the Performing Arts
• Jane's Frames
• Sarapaan
• Rick's Restaurant
• Franklin Pizza
• Hair at Nail It
• ArtBeat
• Salon Sorella
• Pretty is Pink

Come on down to Franklin's downtown Thursday night!

Concerts on the Common - Ayla Brown

Ayla Brown will be appearing Wednesday, August 19 for Concerts on the Common from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

School Choice update

The Milford Daily News discloses that Franklin will not participate in School Choice this year.

Franklin won't participate in School Choice program

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Angel Roy/Daily News staff

What this means is that those student already enrolled will continue and that no "new" or "additional" students will be accepted into the program this year.

If I recall correctly from prior School Committee meetings, the district has approximately 50 students enrolled in the program. This is down from 2 years ago when there 70-plus students in the program.

The district's choice really was "Can we afford to fill in a few empty slots to gain the additional revenue?" When the slots would commit the district to providing the education to those students for the full program (K-12) and due to the significant reduction in teachers over the past several years, growing the average class size, the answer was "No."

Town Council - Agenda - 08/19/09

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 5, 2009

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

Historical Commission

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. DISCUSSIONS

Franklin Housing Partnership

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 09-56: Confirmatory Order of Taking-Land off Mechanic Street

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Letter from Ed Cafasso

Hello everyone,

I hope you are having an enjoyable summer and are staying cool during August’s dog days. With the start of the 2009-10 school year just two weeks away, I am writing to offer an update on several key issues, including the FY10 school budget and the exciting innovations occurring at Franklin High School.

FY10 School Budget: As many of you know, this year’s budget deliberations were among the most difficult in recent memory. The net result was the loss of a dozen positions – mostly coming from the ranks of our school librarians and physical education/health instructors. Compared to where the budget debate began six months ago, when our budget gap was $3.5 million and as many as 60 teaching positions were at risk, this outcome is incredibly positive. But it still represents another year in which our collective educational offering is shrinking.

We were able to stave off massive classroom cuts by reducing expenditures by more than $2.3 million, including wage freezes from all union and non-union staff, and by securing additional revenue of roughly $1.1 million, including a substantial amount of state and federal stimulus money.

Thankfully, class sizes should remain stable in the coming school year. Full-day kindergarten also was spared, but it will be at risk for 2010-11 school year. The late bus was not so lucky and will not be offered this year, which will have detrimental impact on the ability of many students to participate in after-school activities.

You can learn more details about how the FY10 school budget was balanced by visiting the School Committee blog at: http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/fy10-budget-numbers-finally-settled/

One note of caution: Because this year’s budget was balanced through the extensive use of millions of dollars in one-time funds and temporary savings, it is virtually guaranteed that a Proposition 2½ override will be required to offset the significant budget shortfall expected for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2010. The size of the proposed override will not be clear until early next year.

Franklin High School: I will send out an email in a few weeks regarding very positive developments regarding potential state funding for significant proposed renovations to the FHS building. In the meantime, however, FHS Principal Peter Light and his leadership team have wasted no time in thinking outside the box to execute a number of stunning improvements to the school’s educational atmosphere.

Among the key changes on tap when classes begin on September 1 are:

• Reduced class sizes in English, Math, Science and Social Studies
• Increased instructional time
• More rigorous graduation requirements
• A new GPA methodology that will make our graduates more competitive as they seek college admission
• Expanded use of and access to technology
• Longer lunch periods, and
• Online access to student grades for parents

Principal Light describes these improvements and many others in great detail in a letter to parents that is available online at http://franklinhighschool.wordpress.com/ and for download at http://franklinhighschool.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/fhs-update.pdf.

I encourage all Franklin parents, even those whose child is not yet in FHS, to read Peter’s impressive report.

Other News of Note: Parents now have three ways to pre-pay for their child’s school lunches. You can learn more about this program at your child’s school or online at http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/lunchprogram/pos/default.htm.

This year is a town election year. Positions are open on the Town Council, School Committee and several other important boards.

You can learn more about these posts at http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/014C0C4B-000F8513 (Word doc).

The town’s election calendar can be accessed at http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/014C0C49-000F8513 (Word doc).

Now more than ever, your community needs the help of volunteers who are willing to dedicate some of their free time to public service. Our quality of life depends on having thoughtful elected officials who are willing to work together to navigate through the very challenging times our community faces. I hope many of you will consider running for office to serve your friends, neighbors and fellow citizens.

I intend to run again for my seat on the School Committee, and may ask for your signature on my nomination papers.

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

edcafasso@comcast.net

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee

On these hot August days, one way to still enjoy the outdoors and stay out of the sun is along a tree-shaded trail in the woods. The photo below shows a section of the Blackstone River Bikeway along the Cumberland/Lincoln line in RI. You can help bring a rail trail for bicycles or walking to Franklin. The Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee has a meeting scheduled for this Wednesday at 7:30 PM.




Agenda For August 19, 2009

I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Volunteer to write minutes of the meeting
B. Motion to accept meeting minutes of 7/8/09

II. Possible Guest Speaker for this evening
A. Bill Desantis, Chief Design Engr. of Blackstone River Bikeway

III. Report from DCR (Ron Clough)
A. Gates at Spring St
B. Franklin Conservation Committee presentation
C. Proposed meeting with DCR Commissioner


IV. Report on Membership Committee (Dave Denison and Mark McKeown)
A. What will we be offering members to join for yearly fee
B. Contact web designer w/ outline of proposed program


V. Report from Design Committee (Jon Hollman & Ray Willis)
A. Cost estimate for grant writing Sub-Committee


VI. Report from Finance Committee (Steve Rossetti)
A. Report from Treasurer
B. Contributions to date and offer from Rotary Club


VII. Report from Grant Writing Sub-Committee: (Chris and Frank)
A. Question on Committee Officers


VIII. Report of Fund Raising Committee (Allan Sawyer)
A. Start planning for road race and other events


IX. Publicity (Dave Labonte)
A. Update on “Donation” correction to brochure
B. Distribution of brochure
C. Response to “abutters” letter
D. Response to PLUC letter
E. Report on the Blackstone meeting
F. Contact with Lynn Scornavacca


X. Unfinished Business:

XI. Set Date for Next Meeting and Adjourn

Where is the meeting?

Our next meeting will be on August 19th at the Old Town Hall in the Triangle in Franklin. Time will be 7:30 PM, first floor, entrance on Emmons St. across the street from the Dean College Community Center. If you're from this area, you should know where this is, if not - drive to the center of Franklin on Rte 140 and find the old municipal building in the Triangle.