New dorm scheduled to open in December

The new dormitory at Dean College will open in December. The Milford Daily News provides a summary:

The $9 million project broke ground in the spring and has stayed on budget. Only some interior and landscape work remains, according to Brian Kelly, Dean College’s assistant vice president for capital planning and facilities. 

The Planning Board approved the project in February. 

On Friday, there were some construction crews working behind the dorm, as students heading to class passed by. 

Located on West Central Street, a stone’s throw from the Franklin Historical Museum, the dorm will address overcrowding on campus. It is part of the school’s long-term design plan.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107411783/New-Dean-College-dorm-will-open-in-Franklin-in-December#ixzz2CTiKbZMP

Construction progress: Sep 2012

Nov 2012

MassBudget: MA Among States with Highest Income Inequality

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Massachusetts among States with Highest Inequality The gap between Massachusetts's richest and poorest households is the 8th highest in the nation, according to a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. Comparing income inequality in all fifty states over the last 3 decades, the report finds that: As of 2008-2010 (the most recent data available), the highest-income 20% of households in Massachusetts had incomes over 8 times larger than the lowest-income 20%.* From the late 1970s to the mid 2000s, this gap grew faster in Massachusetts than in every state but one (CT).* Income for the top 20% of households in Massachusetts more than doubled between the late 1970s and the mid 2000s (adjusted for inflation). By contrast, the bottom 20% saw virtually no income growth over that same period.* To provide a fuller picture of the situation in Massachusetts, MassBudget has put together an accompanying slideshow, with additional information about statewide inequality, poverty, the minimum wage, and more. Read PULLING APART, a joint report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute View MassBudget's Slideshow PULLING APART IN MASSACHUSETTS *The numbers cited in this email are available in Table 1 (pg. 17), Table 8 (pg. 35), and Table 7 (pg. 33) of Pulling Apart. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Pack 126: Annual Pancake Breakfast

Saturday Dec. 1 from 8:00 - 11:00 AM

Elks Hall 1077 Pond St. Franklin

Pictures with Santa for $3

Themed raffle baskets $1 per ticket

All you can eat pancake breakfast $6 per person, children 2 and under and scouts in uniform are free.

2012 Annual St. John's Christmas Fair

This year St. John's Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, December 1^st from 9am - 3pm in the St. John's Parish Hall located at 237 Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA.  

There will be homemade gift baskets, Cookie Walk, pastry table, as well as hot soup and coffee to enjoy.  

Pictures with Santa as well as other activities for the kids!  

Join us for a fun day! 

In the News: NationalGrid, all night party, Division 1

Franklin officials to meet with National Grid, again

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

All night party parent meeting set in Franklin

by Zachary Comeau/Daily News correspondent

Local student-athletes agree to go Division I

by Jessica Trufant/STAFF WRITER

Under budget and a gem!

The Milford Daily News article on the School Building Committee update of the new Franklin High School is here

New Franklin High will be a gem, architect says

by Matt Tota/Daily News Staff

The new media center and library as depicted in design documents.

My live reporting of the Schools Building Committee meeting can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/live-reporting-high-school-update.html

and here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/live-reporting-question-and-answer.html

The agenda document for the meeting:

"substantial long-term consequences"

This morning, while reading of the new high school building project and construction phases, there is also an article touting research on the cost of high school dropouts. An interesting combination of articles!

In a push for more programs to re-enroll students who have dropped out, the education research group the Rennie Center Tuesday released a report on the statewide impact of dropouts. 

The average Bay State dropout costs taxpayers $122,000 over the course of his or her lifetime, the report said, through cash assistance and benefits including food stamps, health care and housing subsidies.

Read more: With dropouts, taxpayers also pay a price - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x35739381/With-dropouts-taxpayers-also-pay-a-price#ixzz2CHrFSrb1

Additional information on the study released can be found here
http://www.renniecenter.org/events/121113_event.html

The Complete presentation by the Rennie Center can be viewed here: