Come out and see the art work produced by students within the Franklin schools
Having seen art in Gallery 218 previously, you will not be disappointed!
Prior Gallery 218 shows can be found here (alumni art) and here (non-Art teachers).
Monday, November 16, 2009
Gallery 218 - Portraits 2009
FHS student Sarah Libby created a wonderful postcard to advertise the opening of the new show "Portraits 2009". The show will take place at Gallery 218 adjacent to the cafeteria at Franklin High School. The show opens on Nov 16th but the reception will be held Tuesday, Nov 17th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Come out and see the art work produced by students within the Franklin schools
Having seen art in Gallery 218 previously, you will not be disappointed!
Prior Gallery 218 shows can be found here (alumni art) and here (non-Art teachers).
Come out and see the art work produced by students within the Franklin schools
Having seen art in Gallery 218 previously, you will not be disappointed!
Prior Gallery 218 shows can be found here (alumni art) and here (non-Art teachers).
School Committee - Policy Draft JIEE
The text of the proposed policy on Pregnant Students scheduled for discussion Tuesday night at the School Committee meeting is as follows:
File: JIEE
PREGNANT STUDENTS
LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71:84
Note: This policy is proposed for discussion only on Tuesday. The wording may get modified and would get moved to a second reading before be accepted according to School Committee policy.
File: JIEE
PREGNANT STUDENTS
Pregnant students will be permitted to continue in school in all instances. The student, in consultation with the school staff, will develop an appropriate educational plan if it is agreed she should no longer attend school regularly.
Every effort will be made to see that the educational program of the student is disrupted as little as possible; that health counseling services, as well as instruction are offered; that return to school after delivery is encouraged; and that every opportunity to complete high school is provided.
LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71:84
Note: This policy is proposed for discussion only on Tuesday. The wording may get modified and would get moved to a second reading before be accepted according to School Committee policy.
School Committee - Agenda - 11/17/09
6:00 Call to order Mr. Roy
1. Executive Session
1. Executive Session
-----
7:00 Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
2. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the October 27, 2009 and November 4, 2009 School Committee Meetings.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: 1. Budget to Actual
3. Guests/Presentations
a. MASS Academic Excellence Awards
1. Kimberly Takahata
2. Christopher Anderson
b. MCAS Presentation – Michele Kingsland-Smith; Beth Fitzmaurice
c. Capital Plans – Tim Rapoza; Maureen Sabolinski
4. Discussion Only Items
First Reading – Policy JIEE Pregnant Students
Subcommittee Review
5. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the 3 middle schools to New York City to see Mary Poppins as detailed.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Amy & Dana Lilly for the Annie Sullivan Student Activity Account for in-house enrichment, supplies & scholarships.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,450.00 from the various sports boosters (as listed) for television installation at FHS.
d. I recommend approval of the request of Corine Minkle to declare outdated reading and math materials and old text books surplus for disposal.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,800.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment at the FHS.
f. I recommend approval of the Technology capital plan.
g. I recommend approval of the Facilities capital plan.
h. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers and declassification as detailed.
6. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
c. Capital Plans – Tim Rapoza; Maureen Sabolinski
4. Discussion Only Items
First Reading – Policy JIEE Pregnant Students
Subcommittee Review
5. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the 3 middle schools to New York City to see Mary Poppins as detailed.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Amy & Dana Lilly for the Annie Sullivan Student Activity Account for in-house enrichment, supplies & scholarships.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,450.00 from the various sports boosters (as listed) for television installation at FHS.
d. I recommend approval of the request of Corine Minkle to declare outdated reading and math materials and old text books surplus for disposal.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,800.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment at the FHS.
f. I recommend approval of the Technology capital plan.
g. I recommend approval of the Facilities capital plan.
h. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers and declassification as detailed.
6. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Comparison 10-31-08 to 10-30-09
b. Capital Request Process
c. FHS Art Gallery 218
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
7. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
8. Adjourn
School Committee Liaison Reports
7. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
8. Adjourn
FM #49 - reference sheet
The spreadsheet with the calculations and election totals as referenced in the weekly podcast FM #49 can be found below.
The weekly podcast that explains this can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fm-49-week-ending-111509.html
If you would like a live spreadsheet copy to make your own calculations, please contact me.
The weekly podcast that explains this can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fm-49-week-ending-111509.html
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
If you would like a live spreadsheet copy to make your own calculations, please contact me.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
FM #49 - The week ending 11/15/09
Give me about ten minutes and I'll fill you in on what matters in Franklin, MA. In this session, I review my five findings from the recent town election and look over the busy week ahead.
Time: 8 minutes, 10 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes
Music intro
My intro
FM #49
This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters. This one is number 49 in the series.
In this session, you give me about ten minutes and I'll fill you in on what matters in Franklin. I'll cover my 5 findings from the recent election. And review the week ahead.
While I am not finished with my analysis on the results from the election, I would like to share what I have found thus far.
By the way – I'll make the numbers from which I draw these thoughts available. There will be a link in the posting to a doc. If you want a live spreadsheet version, all you'll need to do is contact me.
1 – population shifts
Precincts 6, 1, 2 and 5 are declining in their voter percent relative to the whole of Franklin's registered voters. (in that order) as the population shifts within Franklin.
Precincts 4, 8 and 7 are gaining in relative voter percent (in that order) for the same population shift. The numbers were calculated as a change in 2009 versus 2006.
2 – voter participation
Year 2005 2007 2009
Votes 3,119 3,845 3,244
Percent 17.6% 20.7% 16.6%
Reg Voters 18572 19509
2005 estimated to calculate out at 17,772 (avg 425 voters inc per year)
3 – ballot position
an old marketing adage says, location, location, location
Ballot position does not make a difference. The voters worked to select their candidates. Yes, the first six listed on the ballot were ultimately selected but it is more important to note that the #1, 3, 5 overall finishers were well down on the ballot. The voters knew who they wanted and weren’t overwhelmed by the total number of candidates (13).
This was also observed in the 2007 election results where Vallee, Whalen, Yurgenson and Zollo held the bottom four positions and three of them were elected. Valle took the top number of votes and Zollo was 3rd only one vote behind Chris Feeley.
4 – hidden message?
There may be something to the “elect all newcomers” attempt that was referenced in a few of the exit poll comments as reported in the Milford Daily News. That would help explain how the one candidate who withdrew from the race too late to come off the ballot actually still received 592 votes.
5 – what majority?
In the 2007 election, three Council candidates gathered more than 50% of the voters who actually cast their ballots. This year, four achieved that mark. It is still disconcerting, one that so few bother to vote and of those that do, so few of the candidates actually achieve a majority vote.
In a standard two person race, you have one vote. One person gets it, the other doesn't. In the TC, we had thirteen candidates and each voter had 9 votes. What the blanks tell us is that most folks found 5 or 6 candidates to vote for but not 9.
Given the number of blanks recorded in the elections, it seems rare that a voter actually will cast their vote for all nine of the Town Council candidates and all seven of the School Committee candidates. How significant is the blank? Almost 35% of the ballots for Town Council included blanks, and just over 50% of the ballots for School Committee.
What does this all mean? We need to understand how to better engage the Franklin voters. If you have any ideas, please let me know. I'll be spending some time on this over the next several weeks at least.
6 - A busy week ahead
Gallery 218 opens a Portrait 2009 show on Tuesday
School committee meeting Tuesday
Town Council meeting Wednesday
Third Thursday sponsored by the Downtown Partnership
FEF Casino Night on Friday
The vote results by precinct were previously published here
The spreadsheet I reference during this can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fm-49-reference-sheet.html
---- ---- ----
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can use your help.
How can you help?
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and East of Shirley. The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with permission.
MP3 File
Session Notes
Music intro
My intro
FM #49
This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters. This one is number 49 in the series.
In this session, you give me about ten minutes and I'll fill you in on what matters in Franklin. I'll cover my 5 findings from the recent election. And review the week ahead.
While I am not finished with my analysis on the results from the election, I would like to share what I have found thus far.
By the way – I'll make the numbers from which I draw these thoughts available. There will be a link in the posting to a doc. If you want a live spreadsheet version, all you'll need to do is contact me.
1 – population shifts
Precincts 6, 1, 2 and 5 are declining in their voter percent relative to the whole of Franklin's registered voters. (in that order) as the population shifts within Franklin.
Precincts 4, 8 and 7 are gaining in relative voter percent (in that order) for the same population shift. The numbers were calculated as a change in 2009 versus 2006.
2 – voter participation
Year 2005 2007 2009
Votes 3,119 3,845 3,244
Percent 17.6% 20.7% 16.6%
Reg Voters 18572 19509
2005 estimated to calculate out at 17,772 (avg 425 voters inc per year)
3 – ballot position
an old marketing adage says, location, location, location
Ballot position does not make a difference. The voters worked to select their candidates. Yes, the first six listed on the ballot were ultimately selected but it is more important to note that the #1, 3, 5 overall finishers were well down on the ballot. The voters knew who they wanted and weren’t overwhelmed by the total number of candidates (13).
This was also observed in the 2007 election results where Vallee, Whalen, Yurgenson and Zollo held the bottom four positions and three of them were elected. Valle took the top number of votes and Zollo was 3rd only one vote behind Chris Feeley.
4 – hidden message?
There may be something to the “elect all newcomers” attempt that was referenced in a few of the exit poll comments as reported in the Milford Daily News. That would help explain how the one candidate who withdrew from the race too late to come off the ballot actually still received 592 votes.
5 – what majority?
In the 2007 election, three Council candidates gathered more than 50% of the voters who actually cast their ballots. This year, four achieved that mark. It is still disconcerting, one that so few bother to vote and of those that do, so few of the candidates actually achieve a majority vote.
In a standard two person race, you have one vote. One person gets it, the other doesn't. In the TC, we had thirteen candidates and each voter had 9 votes. What the blanks tell us is that most folks found 5 or 6 candidates to vote for but not 9.
Given the number of blanks recorded in the elections, it seems rare that a voter actually will cast their vote for all nine of the Town Council candidates and all seven of the School Committee candidates. How significant is the blank? Almost 35% of the ballots for Town Council included blanks, and just over 50% of the ballots for School Committee.
What does this all mean? We need to understand how to better engage the Franklin voters. If you have any ideas, please let me know. I'll be spending some time on this over the next several weeks at least.
6 - A busy week ahead
Gallery 218 opens a Portrait 2009 show on Tuesday
School committee meeting Tuesday
Town Council meeting Wednesday
The vote results by precinct were previously published here
The spreadsheet I reference during this can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/11/fm-49-reference-sheet.html
---- ---- ----
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can use your help.
How can you help?
- If you like this, please tell a neighbor.
- If you don't like this, please tell me.
Thank you for listening.
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and East of Shirley. The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with permission.
Another unfunded mandate coming down the pike?
The advocates are focusing their attention on a bill, sponsored by Representative John Rogers, a Democrat, that would require school districts to report bullying incidents and any discipline imposed to the state. The bill, one of those to be taken up at a hearing Tuesday, has the support of such groups as the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Microsoft Corp., and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.The Bold is for my emphasis. You can read the full article in the Boston Sunday Globe here.
To be clear, I do not support bullying. I do know what it feels like. I was called "four-eyes" and worse growing up. Once I learned to stand up for myself, the bullying stopped. Bullies pick on those who are perceived to be weaker than themselves. Once stood up to, they generally back off.
I do think with sufficient funding, the schools can provide some help in this area. In fact, I think they are already doing what they should.
I do believe that the responsibility to address bullying falls squarely in the realm of the parents. The parents of those bullying need to create a better home environment (easier said than done). The parents of those being bullied need to help their students stand up for themselves (coddling them doesn't cut it).
I'll focus on the unfunded mandate part because that is what we should have some control over.
Let's recognize that even if the schools were sufficiently funded to support this reporting effort, once the kids go home, what was learned and fostered in the school environment may not be reinforced at home hence wasting the effort.
What do you think?
I added a new poll in the top center column to help obtain your feedback on this issue.
Can the Governor sing?
Can the Governor sing?
Yes, he can. Apparently, when he stopped by the Franklin Senior Center recently he joined in song with some of Franklin's finest seniors.
On the same day that he visited the Senior Center, Gov Patrick stopped by Jefferson Elementary School. The public address announcement to the school that the Governor made while there was recorded.
More on the Governor's visit can be found here
Yes, he can. Apparently, when he stopped by the Franklin Senior Center recently he joined in song with some of Franklin's finest seniors.
On the same day that he visited the Senior Center, Gov Patrick stopped by Jefferson Elementary School. The public address announcement to the school that the Governor made while there was recorded.
More on the Governor's visit can be found here
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