Documents added to School Committee agenda

Two documents have been added to the School Committee agenda for Tuesday's meeting, April 13th.

3. Discussion Only Items

A. Space Needs Sub Committee Report and Modular Rubric

I need to hear the report presentation to see if questions that come to mind when trying to make sense of the documents are answered.

"It's often very hard to find information like that"

Hoping to inform and encourage awareness among Massachusetts residents, a nonpartisan research group has launched a Web site where people can click around and see specific line items in the state budget, track overall spending and gather other related information.

"The idea is to improve transparency so that anyone in the state can see clearly what we're doing through government," said Noah Berger, executive director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Visitors to browser.massbudget.org can study how much money lawmakers have decided to spend on roads, bridges, education, public safety and other areas of government over the past 10 years.

"People really should have the ability to see how much is being spent on each of those things and be involved in debates about the quality of services that they want and that they're getting in their communities," Berger said

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Gee, wouldn't it be nice to be able to do this with the Franklin budget? The Financial Planning Committee report provides the numbers and trends on some specific areas. You can view the report here.


Franklin, MA

an update from the Franklin Food Pantry

Do you know a friend or family member who is struggling in this economy?  A recent USDA report shows that more than 200,000 households in Massachusetts lack consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food.  Here at the Franklin Food Pantry, we distributed over 45,000 lbs of food to more than 1,000 clients since October 1, 2009 (averaging 62 lbs per household per month).  We have seen our number of regular clients increase by 28%.

During the holiday season, we were able to feed more families, children and seniors thanks to our generous community, who donated more than 25,000 lbs of food and more than 200 monetary donations.  We believe our donations increased this year due to our new central location – Thank you Rockland Trust!   We are fortunate that more than 74 volunteers joined us to help us sort, check dates and stock our shelves with these community donations.  To help us accommodate such generosity, CVS volunteers helped us build shelves and makeover our storage room (a “move that bus” moment was shared by all!). 

We were able to accomplish all of the above during a very difficult economic period that we know will continue into 2010. Unemployment remains high and there are many people still struggling to secure enough nutritious food to feed their families.

Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live.  In 2010, we will expand our capacity to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food.  We are excited to announce our partnership with Tangerini’s Farm in Millis (139 Spring St) to offer fresh produce to clients from June through October.  Please visit http://www.tangerinisfarm.com/  to learn more about our Food to Share CSA program and consider making a donation to help make fresh and local produce accessible to everyone.  We are grateful to our volunteer Heather for working with Laura Tangerini to help us create this exciting local program! 

We hope to learn with you, our community, the many elements of nutrition, food systems, local resources and to explore the questions, “What is food?” and “Where does our food come from?”

Volunteers and food donations are always welcome.

Thank you for making a difference.

Anne Marie Bellavance, Executive Director
Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
P.O. Box 116
Franklin, MA 02038-0116
Telephone: 508-528-3115

hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm


This was originally posted on the Franklin Food Pantry website here:
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/



Franklin, MA

"truly beneficial to the community and bring people together"

"We wanted to have something other than grants to give back, show, and make a visual acknowledgement (with a reception) and to bring people together and truly thank them," Welsh said.

She said a majority of the recipients were present, including Concerts on the Common, Franklin Performing Arts Company, Franklin Historical Museum and the Fourth of July Celebration committee, among others.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, Massachusetts Cultural Council Program Coordinator Tara Ahmed and Craig Carey, an aide for Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, spoke of their support for the council, Welsh said.

"There was a lot of representation from the Town Council, School Committee members, local government and state government," she said. "It was just great."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Franklin, MA

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee - meeting agenda - 4/13/10

Proposed Agenda for  April 13, 2010

Attendees:                                                      

I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Introduction of new attendees
B. Quick review of minutes of previous meeting
C. Approve previous meeting minutes

II. Report from our representative from DCR
A.           
B.           
C.           

III. Membership Committee Report (Denison, McKeown, Sawyer)
A. Committee to report on membership activity

IV. Report from Finance Committee (Rossetti)
A. Report from Treasurer

V. Report of Fund Raising Committee (Sawyer)
A. Report on fund raising activities
1. Report on Raffle Ticket Sales by Carl Svendsen
2. Report Road Race Committee prep by Dave Labonte

VI. Report from Grant Writing Committee (if any)
A. Extend committee with more members & participation

VII. Unfinished Business
A. Earth Day Preparations
      a.   Make sign for bike, raffle ticket sales, etc.
B. Additional fraternal organizations in town

VIII. New Business
A. Need volunteers to work on the 2nd edition brochure
B. Form the Race Committee and set date as the 1st item of business
    Send in forms to Marsh for approval on property
C.

IX. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn


Franklin, MA

Money flowing in bid for Senate

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Money flowing in bid for Senate

via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Erica Noonan, Globe Staff on 4/10/10

With just two days before the Democratic primary for the state Senate seat left vacant by US Senator Scott Brown, political newcomer Peter Smulowitz has spent most of the campaign money he raised in the first three months of the year on his bid to defeat state Representative Lida Harkins for the party's nomination.

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• Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe West using Google Reader
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Franklin, MA: School Committee, Agenda, 4/13/10

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open and Executive Session minutes from the March 23, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills  - Mr. Glynn
Payroll  - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence

1. Budget to Actual

2. Demand for Arbitration

2. Guests/Presentations

1. Signing of the Secretaries Contract

2. JF Kennedy Food Service Presentation

5th Graders: Madison Harrington, Kendyl Ryan, Joseph Sarno, Daniel Wasnewsky. 

4th Graders: Jake Noviello, Cameron Riu, Kevin Sassaman,  Camille Fischer. 

3rd Graders: Nitin Chaudhury, Riley Downing, Arun Kavishwar, Cade Ryan.

3. Discussion Only Items

A. Space Needs Sub Committee Report and Modular Rubric

B. Budget Discussion

4. Action Items

A. I recommend approval of the 2010-2011 School Calendar with the change discussed.

B. I recommend adoption of the Secretaries Contract for July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 as detailed.

C. I recommend approval of the field trip request for Keller 5th Grade class to visit Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI on May 7, 2010 as detailed.

D. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from the Alliance for Climate Education for the FHS for supplemental curriculum materials.

E. I recommend approval of the RMS Adventure Club’s recurring trip to Mt. Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH for May 15, 2010 as detailed.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Comparison
b. Financial Audit

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn