Voices of Franklin: Jonathan Herndon - Vote Yes

Steve – I see that you have posted a comment posted by someone against the new high school. As it appears that your website is dedicated to all things that matter to Franklin, it is important that you have both points of view for people to read. The problem I see with Ms. Breenan’s comments are that they do not even contain any facts. She described scenarios that are meant to over exaggerate what is being proposed and will only mislead your readers. This is the first time since I have lived in Franklin (10 years) that I have seen a vote to increase my taxes as important as this one.


To be honest, in the past I have voted against some of the overrides because I felt that the town did not give me enough information of how the funds will be spent to make the right decision. The proponents of the new high school have put together a very clear, concise, and to the point presentation that outlines all the important facts and allows the voter to make sure they are making an informed choice. Even the comparisons for those that feel it would be much cheaper to just refurbish the current school. I want to highlight some of the key numbers:


The three original options had an estimated cost as follows (all
numbers rounded to nearest million):
Renovation #1 $86,000,000
Renovation #2 $96,000,000
New Custom School $98,000,000


The great news about the school project is that the MSBA will pay a large share of the cost depending on which option the Town chooses. The final cost of the school and the exact
reimbursement amount cannot be determined until the proposed school is approved by the MSBA and the town has received bids. However for planning purposes the following estimates were used based on assumed reimbursement from the MSBA for eligible costs.


If we look at the same three options after the estimated MSBA reimbursement amount the cost to the town would be approximately as follows:
Renovation #1 $38,000,000
Renovation #2 $43,000,000
New Custom School $47,000,000


Here is the link to their report and website:


http://www.newfhs.com/images/FAQcampaign.pdf


http://www.newfhs.com/facts.php




In my opinion, it is very simple math. We can either have a state of the art school that will continue to allow Franklin to thrive, and for those that need to hear it, increase our property values, then this is an opportunity that we cannot waste. If this does not pass, you can guarantee that we will face continued budget overrides, lower property values and lower government services.


The high school is in dire need of repair. If the concern is that the new high school is not affordable, I would think that only paying 50% of the costs is much more affordable then paying 100%.


Jonathan Herndon
41 Mary Jane Road
508-520-7974


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Voices of Franklin: Sean Donahue - Vote Yes

On March 27th, I encourage everyone in Franklin to vote YES for the new Franklin High School. It’s the right decision for Franklin, its taxpayers and most importantly, its students.


As a graduate from Franklin High School in 2007, I’ll be the first to tell you we have an excellent school system. I strongly believe I received a great education in Franklin and thank my parents for moving here shortly before I was born to make that possible.


The accolades Franklin frequently receives as one of the best places to raise a family are well deserved. For some reason, some people point to our high performing – and efficient – school system as a reason to vote against the new school. While I agree great teachers are the most important aspect to a good education – and Franklin has them – we also can’t ignore the learning environment.


The current Franklin High School’s accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has been on warning status since 2005 for numerous reasons related to the building. Lack of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, outdated science labs, inadequate facilities such as the nurse’s area, minimum recommended size classrooms, lack of a full sprinkler system and field house structure and roof being in poor condition are among the reasons cited by NEASC and an existing conditions report done by Kaestle Boos Associate. It is vital we correct these issues both for our students and to remove our high school from warning status.


After six years of work and exploring all possibilities, both the Franklin School Building Committee and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) agreed building a new model school made the most sense for the students and for the taxpayers in the long run. The costs of a model school are much more easily predicted since it has been built before, while an expensive renovation often runs into unforeseen costs along the way and problems related to an aging 40 year-old building will continue to appear after a renovation is done. The model school also comes with a much better reimbursement rate from the state, 59.52% of reimbursable costs, than a renovation would have, leaving Franklin taxpayers to pay $47 million on a $104 million school.


I’ve heard some “no voters” talk about the school as extravagant – that we’d be better off saving a few bucks to build a school that more closely resembles a prison than a place of education. I strongly disagree with the classification of new high school as extravagant. Thanks in part to the extravagance of Newton North – which among other things included a pool and cost two times as much as the proposed FHS for just a 12% bigger student population – the state won’t reimburse a town if they wish to build an extravagant high school. The proposed Franklin High School’s cost is comparable to the other high schools that have recently been built across the state and on a per pupil basis actually is more cost effective than many of them.


The exterior of the new Franklin High School facing the woods or otherwise not easily visible is just as drab as some of the “no voters” would like the entire building to be. The front, or exposed parts of the building, has a few design elements to draw attention to the main entrance – I’d hardly call that extravagant. I see the new Franklin High School as a place where students would be excited to go to learn in every day, I don’t think we should underestimate that value.


Another complaint brought forth from some “no voters” has been the false claim that everything inside the current building will be thrown away. That is simply untrue. While part of the cost of the new high school is much needed new technology, the technology and any useful furniture in the current high school such as smart boards, computers and anything else that would be helpful will be transferred to the middle and elementary schools providing them with a needed upgrade in technology as well. In that sense, building a new high school will benefit all the schools.


I’ve also heard plenty of questions about maintenance of the high school. We can’t change the past, but I can tell you changes have been made and having recently toured all the Franklin schools, our maintenance staff is currently doing a great job of keeping our combined middle/elementary schools looking like new and our older elementary schools are being kept in good shape. That leaves me confident a new high school would be well maintained.


I have no children of my own or family members that will directly benefit by attending the new high school, but I’ll be voting YES, along with my family, on March 27th because it’s the right thing to do for Franklin and its students. I hope you’ll join me – one vote could make the difference.


Sean Donahue
Franklin, MA. 


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If you have something you'd like to submit for 'Voices of Franklin', please follow these instructions:

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"good or bad schools factor into their buying decisions"

The state has offered to reimburse Franklin nearly 60 percent of certain costs for the $104.5 million school, leaving Franklin residents to foot a $47 million bill. 

“These are the people that hear what other people say about Franklin, day in and day out,” Michael Doherty, chairman of Citizens for a New Franklin High School, said of the agents. “They know the quality of our schools is the foremost thought on a buyer’s mind.” 

The real estate agents join town boards, such as the School Committee, Town Council, the Finance Committee and the Long-Range Financial Planning Committee, as well as the Franklin Republican and Democratic town committees, in expressing public support for the new school.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1617892889/Franklin-real-estate-agents-back-new-high-school#ixzz1pN2m7pHQ

Five Guys Supports the New FHS

Support a local business while supporting the proposal for a new FHS. Five Guys will donate 10% of their sales on March 20th to the Citizens for a New FHS.

Tuesday, March 20th

5 pm – 10 pm

Franklin Village Plaza

Franklin, MA

Five Guys - Make your dinner count

Real Consequenc​es of a Failed Debt Exclusion on March 27th

Dear Franklin Friend:

Supporters of the new Franklin High School share a common saying: "It's a no-brainer." With the state providing a reimbursement rate of nearly 60 percent for the construction of new, fully furnished and equipped high school, a YES vote on the town-wide debt exclusion vote on March 27 seems like the obvious choice.

During our time spent sign-holding at the polls recently on Primary Day, it was clear that some residents believe there are better options. We respectfully disagree. Here's why.

·    The funding earmarked for the new FHS by the Massachusetts School Building Authority depends entirely on the passage of the debt exclusion. The MSBA's policy on this point is very clear, "Given the overwhelming capital needs of school districts across the Commonwealth and the MSBA's limited capital program funds, the MSBA cannot indefinitely tie up funds allocated for a project that lacks local support." You can read the MSBA's complete policy on failed debt exclusion votes here.

·    There is no guarantee that future efforts to obtain financial support from the state will be successful, or that they will receive the same rate of reimbursement or any reimbursement at all. An evaluation of a failed vote would need to occur and the Building Committee, along with the Town Council and School Committee, would need to determine whether to pursue a new building in the future or whether to pursue a renovation project; in what timeframes those options could be pursued; whether to seek state funding, etc. The process would begin again. In the meantime, taxpayers will pay 100 percent of the cost for any stop-gap repairs or improvements at the current building.

·    The reimbursement rate for a model school is higher than for a renovated school because new construction carries less risk. Our model school has been built before, meets or exceeds all standards, and is highly unlikely to encounter cost over-runs or surprises during construction. The current state reimbursement rate of 59.52% is unique to the model school design that voters are being asked to approve March 27. It is not the rate that would apply to a renovation proposal. Plus, we know borrowing or construction costs are at historic lows right now. We don't know what they will be down the road.

·    Even a basic renovation – to replace the building's failed HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, to make access compliant with state and federal law and to address other issues – will cost taxpayers nearly as much, take longer and cause more disruption to students, parents and teachers than the construction of a new model school. At the end of a renovation project, the result will not be the modern, smartly designed facility you have seen during this campaign.

The model school approach means we can deliver a 21st century facility on time with no costly surprises and without disrupting classes or endangering students – that's a big reason why such a broad cross-section of your friends and neighbors are working so hard to win a YES vote on March 27.

If voters approve, the new FHS will be ready for use by fall 2014 while classes continue uninterrupted at the current building. And the full tax impact, 74 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, will not come into play until July 2016 -- almost two years after the facility opens.

It is obvious why supporters are calling this a "no-brainer," but it is not a done deal. Do NOT take this vote for granted. Voting YES is important. Do NOT assume the debt exclusion will win approval without YOUR VOTE on March 27. For more information on voting hours, absentee voting, lawn signs and other opportunities to help in the homestretch, please visit our website at http://www.newfhs.com/contact.php. You can also "Like" and visit our Facebook page often for updates: http://www./facebook/newfhs.

Please share this email with your friends, neighbors and social networks so that everyone understands the consequences if the debt exclusion vote is not approved. Encourage your friends to vote YES on March 27. Make no mistake: There is a Real Need and this is the Right Time!

Thank you for your support. Have a great weekend!

Citizens for a New Franklin High School

Vote Yes for FHS on March 27! A Real Need. The Right Time.

In the News - Circle of Friends, civic character

Circle of Friends to host Peter Mulvey in Franklin

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Ward: Vote on new high school will test Franklin’s civic character

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Trivia Bee - partial recap

I went to the Trivia Bee to take some pictures of the early rounds. As I arrived, Glenn Jones recruited me as a substitute for one of the members of the Town Council team. I hope someone got a picture of Bob Bissanti, Glenn and I on stage. As 'apolitical' as I am and need to be as an information source, that is as close as you'll see me get to a "Town Council seat".

I was able to help with some of the questions but none of us knew the two ingredients for "an Arnold Palmer drink". We went with a wild guess at 'Scotch and water' and lost. Now we know it is half ice tea and half lemon aid. After we dropped out in the 5th Round, I got called away to pick up my daughter at the train station. Maybe someone can fill us in on who won?

The "Miracles", sponsored by Tom Powderly, were the Round 2 winner by answering this question correctly: What river does the Brooklyn Bridge cross? (answer below)

The Dean College Team won Round 3 by answering the question: How many years are celebrated in a sesquicentennial? (answer below)

The Franklin School Committee won Round 4 with the answer to the question: What do you call a group of monkeys? (answer below)

The "Munibees" participated in Round 2

The Rockland Trust Team participated in Round 4

Answers
Round 2 - East River
Round 3 - 150
Round 4 - troop


The 15th Annual Trivia Bee is a fund raising event for the Franklin Education Foundation.