Live reporting - budget FY 11

3. Discussion Only Items

B. Budget Discussion

Broad and general discussion with regards to the overall Town budget situation
$1.8 million difference between level service and level funded (actually 1.9 but less the 100,000 offset from the Town side)
School Committee meeting on 4/27 would get closer to the choices in advance of the Town Council meeting and discussion on 4/28

working to reduce health care costs via a redesign to allow for only a 3% increase in health care costs.

agreed last year to hold the high school harmless for cuts this year due to decisions made last year

will look at high school athletic fees versus actual operating costs, there may need to be an icrease

we'll be looking at personnel reductions in the K-5

possibly shortening the elementary school day to cover some prep time, may present some challenges for parents but would be out of the box approach to save teachers.

we are not ready at this time to put half day kindergarten on the table. going to half-day would require a systemic redesign of the curriculum, it would likely also bring about some other unintended consequences

wage freezes were obtained last year with the intent that the community would step up to do their part this year.

meeting with the administrative team in the morning to review these and get more specific.

shortening the elementary level only one day a week, not everyday
would require looking at how specialists are scheduled across the district

Cafasso - looking at the transportation contracts, I believe we can do with less buses, some of the rides might get a little longer but there are a lot of empty seats on the buses at Horace Mann

Look at turning down thermostats and see how much that would, if anything, buy us
look at the foreign language curriculum

If the voters in this town don't think they are getting their monies worth, they got another thing coming

Trahan - It is tough but I think the community will need to see what they can contribute this year.

Glynn - pay to ride, look at what it is for everyone. I know it is against state law, These cuts are painful and need to be equitable. Look at everything else we can cut to preserve the sanctity of the classroom.


I stepped up to remind the Committee to come back for their next meeting with the one-page overview reconciliation of where they started and where they are. Already tonight you are talking about 1.9 and 1.8 shortage when on Jan 26th, you were presented a 53.5 million budget that at the time was an increase of 2.2 million over the prior year.

I will help you spread the word on the need for the money but you need to get all the numbers on the same page and be in agreement on what they are. You may not be deliberately trying to confuse the issue but it could be read that way.


Franklin, MA

Live reporting - space needs

3. Discussion Only Items

A. Space Needs Sub Committee Report and Modular Rubric

Roberta Trahan - subcommittee chair
Space at the high school but most other space has been utilized
Looking for direction from the committee overall on what to do next, i.e. re-districting

Rohrbach - Davis Thayer space, Town has not yet financed to remove the modular units (although approved by School Committee).

Trahan - with the modulars out, there would be some space depending upon the enrollment at the time

Horace Mann is using space that would otherwise be Oak Streets not the other way around.

Sherlock - Clarification on the use of the rubric, a four point scale but some of the pages had two numbers, hence you couldn't make a decision?
Trahan - yes, some of the modular units fell between the status categories

Sherlock - I was also anticipating that the room capacities would be included so one could assess the true space needs and capacity requirements of what we have and what we need.

Discussion on minor re-districting possible to address crowding at JF Kennedy, Keller and shift to elsewhere.

Sabolinski - We started the re-districting process with space needs, an enrollment projection.
Roy - the last one we did was 2001, so it has lasted for quite some time
Cafasso - we need to look at where these is growth, as you go around town, there is new building coming. Look at the housing turnover, particularly with the elderly leaving at some point to "cash in" on their housing values.

That segways nicely into out budget discussion



Franklin, MA

Live reporting - 5 minute recess

5 minutes recess to allow the JF Kennedy students and families to leave

Live reporting - JF Kennedy food service presentation

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.

(copy of presentation to be obtained and added later)

95% said they wanted another choice besides milk for a drink
water and a variety of fruit juices made the list of alternatives

I won't be able to type fast enough to capture the voices and uniqueness of the presentation. Once the on-demand video is available, I'll include the link. It will be well worth a few minutes to watch. These 3-4-5th graders did very well!



Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Secretary contract

B. I recommend adoption of the Secretaries Contract for July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013 as detailed.
motion to approve - passed 7-0

Rohrbach - secretaries make things happen in the schools, thanks to them for their effort

Glynn - The end result is not a contract I would approve for my own business, so it’s not a contract that I can approve for the town’s business either.

Mullen - increases are not much due to difficult times, negotiations went very smoothly. Scheduled meetings out in advance, thanks for that.

Douglas - a big thank you!
Roy - a wonderful and collegiate atmosphere, it is surprising that it was done so quickly. Very minimal increase at best. Very key players on this team. Want to see great things for this district. Reach out and say thank you to those present and not tonight.


Rohrbach - It is not a large increase, it is minimal. 
Trahan - I too wish to thank you for collegiate atmosphere and cooperation.


Sabolinski - They are the face of the public schools, there are 17 members in the bargaining unit.


Vote on motion to approve - passed 6-1




Franklin, MA

Live reporting - School Committee Meeting 4/13/10

Present: Douglas, Cafasso, Rohrbach, Mullen, Roy, Trahan, Glynn
Absent: none


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments - none
Review of Agenda - order of events adjusted slightly (moved adoption of Secretaries Contract up to before the signing ceremony)
Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open and Executive Session minutes from the March 23, 2010 School Committee Meeting.  motion to approve, passed 7-0
Payment of Bills  - Mr. Glynn  motion to approve, passed 7-0
Payroll  - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

Glynn raised question on new schedule vs. three years of the old schedule, thoughts on it?

Gianetti - liked it, work distributed better

Price - longer lunch and bathroom breaks between sessions were good, less time missed from class.

Correspondence

1. Budget to Actual

2. Demand for Arbitration

Franklin, MA

FRANKLIN, MA: CELEBRATE EARTH DAY - April 17th

SATURDAY, APRIL 17TH

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR TOWN-WIDE CLEAN UP, KIDS ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXHIBITS AT BEAVER POND

(FRANKLIN) – Franklin will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 17th with a roadside clean up, spring plantings, and new environmental activities for all ages with activities based at Beaver Pond.
 

Earth Day kicks off “rain or shine” at 9:00 a.m. when volunteers start a town-wide roadside clean up of litter and set out plants and flowers. After this winter’s snowfall, many of the town’s most scenic streets can be quickly restored to an attractive roadside with just a few hours of time. Please bring gloves for each person and rakes.
 

All volunteers are asked to sign in at Beaver Pond between 9:00am-11:00am, so that the areas most in need of a spring clean up get attention. To nominate a town road which needs a cleanup, please call or email the DPW as soon as possible.
 

This year, volunteers will be given a trash bags for collecting cans, glass bottles, trash and litter. Volunteers simply leave the bags along the roadside by 1:00 p.m., after which Franklin DPW trucks will pick up the bagged trash.
 

Last year’s clean up brought out about 250 volunteers and the trash picked up filled one 40 yard dumpster. Over one ton of litter was collected.

Community service certificates are issued to youths and adults who sign in before and after. Earth Day t-shirts are given to the first 300 volunteers and there will be free pizza and beverages starting at 1:00 p.m. for returning clean up crews.
 

Volunteers are also needed to help pick up donated goods, help run events at Beaver Pond and assist with the registration table.
 

Also on site will be family recycling crafts, environmental booths, demonstrations, and entertainment. Dean Radio WGAO, will be on site to broadcast live from the event.
 

Sponsoring groups and businesses this year so far include: Signs by Cam, Rehrig Pacific Company, Waste Management, Comprehensive Environmental, Inc., CDM, Malcolm-Pirnie, Garelick Farms, Aubuchon Hardware, State Forest Advisory Council, Metcalf Materials, Hillside Nurseries, Domino’s Pizza, Bimbo Bakeries, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Various boys and girls scouts, Hillside Nurseries, Franklin High School Green Team, Franklin Garden Club, Franklin Citizen’s Rail Trail Committee, Green at Dean College, Dean Community Outreach program, Coles Tavern, and Metacomet Land Trust.

Originally posted on the Franklin website here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0155CD91-000F8513