Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
School Committee - Agenda - 11/4/09
Call to order Mrs. Sabolinski
1. Discussion Only Items
2. Adjourn
- Re-Organizational Chart Update
- Swearing In with Town Clerk
2. Adjourn
Note the meeting is scheduled for the Training Room on the third floor of the Municipal Building.
Town Council - Agenda - 11/4/09
A. SWEARING IN OF NEW COUNCIL
B. ORGANIZATION
Election of Officers
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
D. ANNOUNCEMENTS
E. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
F. CITIZEN COMMENTS
G. APPOINTMENTS
H. HEARINGS
I. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
J. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
K. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
L.LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 09-70: Appropriation – Exit 16/King Street Reconstruction Account
M. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
N. OLD BUSINESS
O. NEW BUSINESS
P. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Q. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
R. ADJOURN
B. ORGANIZATION
Election of Officers
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
D. ANNOUNCEMENTS
E. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
F. CITIZEN COMMENTS
G. APPOINTMENTS
H. HEARINGS
I. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
J. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
K. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
L.LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 09-70: Appropriation – Exit 16/King Street Reconstruction Account
M. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
N. OLD BUSINESS
O. NEW BUSINESS
P. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Q. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
R. ADJOURN
STATE SENATOR KAREN SPILKA'S 2009 SENIOR HEALTH and WELLNESS FAIR
STATE SENATOR KAREN SPILKA'S 2009 SENIOR HEALTH and WELLNESS FAIR will be held on November 21 from 9:00-1:30 at the Callahan Senior Center 535 Union Avenue in Framingham.
This year's program will include ongoing presentations on health, wellness & prevention, informational booths, and health care screening along with a wonderful hot lunch.
While at the fair, take advantage of the many workshops including container gardening, financial planning, Medicare D, genealogy, zumba, and much more.
Informational booths on topics ranging from area discounts, health care services and providers & transportation as well as health care screening will be available throughout the day.
Contact Senator Spilka's office at 617-722-1640 or email her at Karen.E.Spilka@state.ma.us to reserve your spot and take advantage of this wonderful event.
In the News - FHS Swim Team
My daughters would have liked to have had this opportunity when they went to FHS. They had swum for the Y and for the Adirondack Club before high school and switched to track & field at FHS. I hope the trial works out.
Franklin swim team ready to make a splash
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Why an iPhone could actually be good for your 3-year-old
But here’s the tantalizing part: If done the right way, with the right limits, handing a preschooler a smart phone could be good not just for the parents’ sanity. It might even be good for the child’s development.
Read the full article here. I question his logic. He quotes from sources to show both sides of the story but makes the leap to say it is a good thing without having proved that it is.
I think the evidence shows that kids should spend more time away from technology and TVs as long as possible. The book "Last Child in the Woods" raises the issue of "nature-deficit disorder". Kids should spend more time in nature and less time with technology. For more on this topic, you can read what I wrote earlier this year.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Boston Globe -- Globe Magazine by Neil Swidey on 10/30/09
Parents who hand smart phones to their preschoolers as a distraction are shocked to see how quickly the kids become pros. They may worry about such early screen time. But for this generation of "mobile kids," portable, wireless technology promises to improve the way they learn.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe Magazine using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Letter from Ed Cafasso
Tuesday, as you know, is Election Day in Franklin. I hope you will get to the polls to cast your votes for candidates for Town Council, School Committee, and other positions, including Board of Health and Board of Assessors. I am seeking my third full term as a volunteer member of the School Committee and once again I ask for your support. In my view, our schools face three priorities in the next two years:
Budget – We were able to balance the current year’s budget with state and federal stimulus money, a wage freeze for school employees, and budget cuts. Our task will be no easier when we begin working with Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski to create the fiscal 2011 budget. The stimulus monies that helped us this year will not be available next year. It also seems clear that our state aid will be threatened and local revenues will likely fail to keep pace with rising costs.
Franklin High School – Principal Peter Light and his team have made big strides in strengthening the academic and cultural atmosphere of FHS. We need to continue to support those improvements while also finalizing a plan for addressing the building’s structural deficiencies and classroom capabilities. Community support will be critical to move forward with the renovations that will help Franklin High deliver a competitive experience for our students.
Efficient Academic Excellence – The Franklin Public Schools remain a fantastic bargain in a community that offers a nice quality of life with incredibly low property tax rates. Your schools spend well below average in every cost category, but your students consistently score well above average on every academic benchmark. It’s a record to be proud of, but it’s highly unlikely to continue unless we provide more financial support and reduce our reliance on state aid.
The contested race for Franklin Town Council demands your attention on Tuesday. Twelve candidates are running for nine Council seats. In addition to having the final say on school spending, the new Council will face tough decisions on how to fund and manage public safety, public works and other services that are important to our quality of life and property values.
You can learn more about the Town Council candidates at:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x876590732/Meet-the-candidates-for-Franklin-Town-Council
Please take the time to vote for the candidates of your choice on Tuesday. It’s important to make your voices heard to those who seek to represent you. I will be outside the Field House at various times during the day. I hope you’ll say hello. And thank you for your support.
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
Budget – We were able to balance the current year’s budget with state and federal stimulus money, a wage freeze for school employees, and budget cuts. Our task will be no easier when we begin working with Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski to create the fiscal 2011 budget. The stimulus monies that helped us this year will not be available next year. It also seems clear that our state aid will be threatened and local revenues will likely fail to keep pace with rising costs.
Franklin High School – Principal Peter Light and his team have made big strides in strengthening the academic and cultural atmosphere of FHS. We need to continue to support those improvements while also finalizing a plan for addressing the building’s structural deficiencies and classroom capabilities. Community support will be critical to move forward with the renovations that will help Franklin High deliver a competitive experience for our students.
Efficient Academic Excellence – The Franklin Public Schools remain a fantastic bargain in a community that offers a nice quality of life with incredibly low property tax rates. Your schools spend well below average in every cost category, but your students consistently score well above average on every academic benchmark. It’s a record to be proud of, but it’s highly unlikely to continue unless we provide more financial support and reduce our reliance on state aid.
The contested race for Franklin Town Council demands your attention on Tuesday. Twelve candidates are running for nine Council seats. In addition to having the final say on school spending, the new Council will face tough decisions on how to fund and manage public safety, public works and other services that are important to our quality of life and property values.
You can learn more about the Town Council candidates at:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x876590732/Meet-the-candidates-for-Franklin-Town-Council
Please take the time to vote for the candidates of your choice on Tuesday. It’s important to make your voices heard to those who seek to represent you. I will be outside the Field House at various times during the day. I hope you’ll say hello. And thank you for your support.
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
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