Franklin Matters

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Franklin, MA: Student Success Team

The Student Success Team presentation is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

SchCom: Student Success Team Presentation 3-29-11

Related posts:

School Committee Agenda
School Committee policy revisions up for discussion

Franklin, MA

"All this is doing is advancing how plates are read"

The camera, mounted to the cruiser's light bar, can read more than 1,000 license plates an hour on cars traveling at speeds of up to 70 mph, Lt. Thomas Lynch said.
Police hope to have the new camera installed and officers trained on how to use it within 30 to 60 days, Lynch said.

Franklin got the camera with a $18,945 grant, one of 26 handed out totaling $500,000 that were recently awarded to local police departments by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to purchase the automated license plate readers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provided the funding.

"The price has come down a little bit, but it's still way out of our league," Lynch said, noting Franklin will pay $1,515 per year from its police budget for technical support and software updates beginning next year. "The grant looked like a great opportunity for us to get something we otherwise wouldn't have funds for."

The reader can compare license plates to databases such as the Criminal Justice Information System and detect cars with drivers who have expired insurance, revoked licenses, felonies and many other violations, Lynch said.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

"something to help relieve their stress"

"I thought it was going to be really boring," said Fortey, a 12-year-old sixth-grader. "But, it turns out it was really fun."

Now, Fortey plans to use some of the breathing techniques and stretches she learned during yesterday's workshop when she takes the math portion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam in May.

"It lets you relax and relieves all the stress," she said.

Fortey and 21 other members of the fitness club gathered in the school's gym to learn yoga for an hour after school. The program was funded by a $1,500 grant from the Hockomock Area YMCA and Stop & Shop.

Students sat on mats arranged in a circle in the middle of the gym while yoga instructor Meagan Krasner taught them to take long, slow breaths that use all parts of their lungs.

"This has a real scientific reason behind it," said Krasner. "It helps to slow your nervous system down."

Math standards approved for state college admissions

This announcement adds a new factor to the recent discussion on reducing the math requirement to graduate from Franklin High. An action item for the School Committee meeting on March 29th is scheduled to vote on reducing the requirement to three years of math and science.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Math standards approved for state college admissions

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 3/25/11

The state's Board of Higher Education on Thursday adopted a new standard that students applying to public colleges and universities in the state must complete four years of high school mathematics.

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Bay State Bike Week 2011

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bay State Bike Week 2011

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 3/25/11

The 2nd annual Bay State Bike Week is set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.

Last year was the first year that MassDOT and the State Bicycle Advocacy group MassBike partnered to make Bay State Bike Week a truly statewide celebration and as we learned unique in the country.

This year Bay State Bike Week will build on the successful 2010 effort and a long history of Bike Week celebrations across the Commonwealth, as MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, the statewide travel options program collaborate again on Bike Week rides and other events throughout Massachusetts. This collaboration enables these organizations to work together to get the word out as widely as possible, and to broaden the scope of Bike Week events.

Biking as a mode of transportation is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun! Check out the Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar! In addition, watch for information on how to receive cool stuff for your event, including t-shirts, reflectors and posters while supplies last. Organizers will also provide ideas and advice on organizing new events.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now! Mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week and check the website for more information.

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Friday, March 25, 2011

Downtown Commercial Zoning Workshop - presentation documents

These two presentations were used during the workshop held on Monday, March 21, 2011.

The first presentation outlines the discussion format for the workshop and then steps through the components of the proposed changes to the zoning (minimum lot dimensions, setbacks, coverage, etc.)

The summary of items agreed to during the discussion can be found in the notes of the meeting

Downtown Proposed DC Zoning 3/21/11

The second presentation document was referenced to show design features from other community's downtown area.

DC Presentation Examples 3/21/11

Thanks to Beth Dahlstrom for providing the documents. These can also be found on the Planning and Community Development web page here and here.

Franklin, MA

"It's a huge issue for municipalities"

"It's so much cheaper if we can get rid of the sources by picking up maintenance practices" and reducing the use of fertilizer with phosphorus, Franklin's Public Works Director Robert Cantoreggi said at a workshop yesterday.

About 35 municipal officials and representatives of engineering firms, environmental companies and other agencies met at the Franklin Municipal Building for the workshop, which was organized by the Charles River Watershed Association and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

The workshop came as Franklin, Bellingham and Milford town leaders worry about a federal Environmental Protection Agency pilot program that seeks to tighten stormwater regulations. The EPA has told those three towns that businesses with 2 or more acres of impervious surfaces could have to pay $6,000 to $120,000 per acre to purchase new systems to control runoff.