Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 3/13/12

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.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the February 28, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Parmenter Update
b. Health / PE Update
c. Senior Project

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading
JJ – Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips.
b. I recommend approval of the Field Trip request of the FHS Classics Club to attend the MA Junior Classics League State Convention in Hyannis from April 27 to 29, 2012 as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a digital piano from Doug Newton for the Annie Sullivan Middle School.
d. I recommend approval of the Field Trip request of the FHS Drama Club to see Godspell in New York City on March 24, 2012 as detailed.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $239.45 from Super Valu, Inc. (Shaw’s) for the Franklin Public Schools.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
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. Adjourn

Senior Project and Health/PE Updates

These two presentation documents are scheduled for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mar 13, 2012

The Senior Project update

FPS_SeniorProject_20120313

The Health/PE update

FPS_Health-PE_20120313


The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda.html

Grease is the word!

FHS production of Grease. March 23 & 24, 2012 at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin starting at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.

New High School Project: Frequently Asked Questions

You can find these on the newfhs.com/ website

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Why are we considering a High School project?
• Why did the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) put Franklin High School on warning status?
• What options did the Building Committee explore?
• Why would it cost so much to renovate the High School?
• Why would such a high portion of renovation costs be spent on structural and mechanical improvements?
• Why did the Building Committee pursue and choose the 'Model School' Option?
• What does the cost of the new school include?
• What is the impact on students between a renovation and new model school (new construction) project?
• What happens to the high school project if voters fail to pass the debt exclusion?
• Where will the New School be built?
• How big is the existing school and how big will the new one be?
• What about the Field House?
• Why don’t we wait a few years until the economy is better?
• What is the cost to the average taxpayer?
• What is the difference between a debt exclusion and a Proposition 2 ½ override?
• What impact will the new model school have on operating costs for the high school?
• What has been done to maintain the current high school building?
• What would happen to the accreditation of Franklin High if the debt exclusion fails?
• Will Franklin High School be renovated if the debt exclusion vote fails?
• 
  

In the news - assault, auction, high school

Teen charged with assaulting Franklin cop

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Auction in Franklin to benefit students

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Lonati: Support new high school for Franklin

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Tax Expenditure Budget Commission data on line

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Tax Expenditure Budget Commission data on line

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 3/9/12

The 11-member Tax Expenditure Commission has posted a wide array of materials on DOR's website in an effort to make its work as transparent and accessible as possible.
What are tax expenditures? The introduction to the FY13 Tax Expenditure Budget  puts it this way:
"In its simplest form, a tax is an across-the-board levy on a base, such as income, to which a specific rate applies and for which no modifications exist. Taxes are rarely levied in this manner, however. Instead, most state tax codes incorporate a number of exemptions, deductions, credits, and deferrals designed to encourage certain taxpayer activities or to limit the tax burden on certain types of individuals or endeavors. Known as 'tax expenditures', these provisions can have a significant impact on state tax revenues."
The FY13 Tax Expenditure Budget (TEB) is more than $26 billion, roughly $4 billion larger than projected FY13 revenues of nearly $22 billion. The Commonwealth collects less in revenue than it has chosen to forego.
The Commission is scheduled to issue a report by April 30. Agendas and minutes from Commission meetings are included on the web page, as are historic looks at TEBs from previous years and TEB's from other states.
The Commission unanimously approved a Statement of Principles (found on the agendas and minutes page) on Feb. 6 which makes it clear that the Commission believes tax expenditures merit regular scrutiny and should be subject to periodic cost-benefit analysis and review by the Executive and Legislative branches.
The eleven members of the commission are its chair, Administration and Finance Secretary Jay Gonzalez, Auditor Suzanne Bump, Treasurer Steven Grossman, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Brian Dempsey, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Stephen Brewer, House Revenue Committee Chair Jay Kaufman, Senate Revenue Committee Chair Katherine Clark, Rep. Steven Levy (designee of House Minority Leader Brad Jones), Sen. Michael Knapik (designee of Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr), Alan Clayton-Matthews (member of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisers), and James Stock (also a member of the Governor's Council of Economic advisers).

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“Everyone should do this”

During the tour, town officials answered residents’ questions, the most common of which concerned the field house. The new school would not have a field house because the state does not pay for such buildings, and putting up a new field house would be a multi-million dollar project entirely paid for by taxpayers, officials explained. 

The current field house is structurally damaged. 

Some residents complained about poor maintenance, but officials countered that, saying a substantial part of the state funding for the proposed new school comes from noted good maintenance. 

“We got a bonus from the (state building authority) for good maintenance,” Nutting said. “This has been maintained, but it’s worn out.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x127283799/Franklin-residents-tour-old-high-school-weigh-paying-for-new-one#ixzz1oby7uIu3

Additional information on the new high school project can be found in the collection here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html