Franklin Matters

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Explore MA bike trails and paths

Summer is here, and for cyclists, it’s time to get ready to ride. Cyclists love Massachusetts because of the beautiful scenery and variety of terrain available across the state.

If you’re new to Massachusetts or to cycling, you’re in luck. The Commonwealth has plenty of great trails and paths to ride.

explore MA bike trails and paths

Follow the link to find a selection of bike trails around MA.
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/recreation/explore-massachusetts-bike-trails-and-paths/

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

live reporting - Closing

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
Molly Duncan - 8th grade student, did a presentation on 'green schools'
Horace Mann will join the green school forest
thoughtful and really well done

received copy of town resolution
received Music Boosters to support sound equipment for the new high school
thank you

annual report has been submitted to the Town Clerk
lengthy report, School Committee picture on the front
available at the next election

38 teachers, etc will be in Boston for a conference for the next couple of days
Principal Fortin will be doing a session on digital learning
nice opportunity for educators to think about their goals for next year

high school still getting ready to open on time
move still underway, demolition will begin next week

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
none

School Committee Liaison Reports
none

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
none

7. Adjourn
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting - Action Items

4. Action Items
a. I recommend moving Policy JJE – Student Fundraising to a second reading.
motion to move to second reading, seconded passed 7-0

b. I recommend adoption of the following revised policies:
1. AC – Discrimination Harassment
2. CHCA – Approval of Student Handbooks
3. IJOAA – Field Trips
4. JICFB – Bullying
5. JII – Student Complaints and Grievances
6. JLCD – Self-Administration Medication

motion to drop the listed policies, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend elimination of the following Policies:
1. AC-E – Public Discrimination Complaints
2. AC-R – Harassment Discrimination Investigation Checklist
3. ACA – Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender
4. ACAB – Sexual Harassment Policy for Students
5. ACE – Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
6. ACE-R – Rights of Handicapped Persons

motion to accept the policies as listed, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $150.00 from Janet DeNapoli in memory of Mr. Joseph DeNapoli for FHS in-house enrichment.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0

e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,045.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for FHS music department.
motion to accept the policies as listed, seconded, passed 7-0

f. I recommend approval of the school lunch price increase as detailed.
motion to accept the policies as listed, seconded, passed 7-0

g. I recommend establishment of a student technology revolving account as detailed.
motion to accept the policies as listed, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting - School Committee - July 15, 2014

Present: Douglas, O'Malley, Rohrbach, Clement, Mullen, Trahan, Jewell
Absent: none

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments - none
Review of Agenda - no adjustments
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 24, 2014 School Committee Meeting.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payroll Mrs. Douglas

FHS Student Representatives - none (school vacation)
Correspondence: BICO Info and Activities

2. Guests/Presentations

a. School Lunch Price Increase – Miriam Goodman

required to recalculate every year, proposing an increase of 10 cents across the board, as well as a premium meal increase of 50 cents (optional)

b. Student Technology Insurance Revolving Account – Miriam Goodman

Looking to establish a revolving account with the new 1:1 initiative at the high school to cover the new chromebooks. $25 per year, for coverage of accidental damage or theft. If not, then the cost to replace the device would be $300. Any expenses from the fund would coverage the insurance, repairs, etc. They already have a lost book revolving account which would cover the lost scenarios.

3 year insurance policy purchased with the initial purchase of the chromebooks
based upon expenses from existing chromebook coverage, the cost over the three years is approx $70-75 so the 25 year cost per year would be recovering that expense.

stolen requires police report vs lost (I don't know where it is)

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading

JJE – Student Fundraising

second time at a 'first' reading, removed some of the negative connotations that it seemed to contain, also more clear now

the policy effective states that bake sales, etc would be coordinated through the Principal's office.
We may need to re-do this, as there are rumors that the State (MA DESE) will be coming out with some standards in this space, hopefully before the end of the summer, and hopefully we'll be inline and not need to revise

supplanting vs. supporting has long been a discussion

when school budgets are cut, parent associations tend to step in to help coverage. Hesitate to get the state involved in details like pencils, etc.

this revision was done to help declare some guidelines within which to set expectations on fund raising

fund raising is inherently discriminatory, so our path is the middle road

Policy – Second Readings

AC – Discrimination Harassment
CHCA – Approval of Student Handbooks
IJOAA – Field Trips
JICFB – Bullying
JII – Student Complaints and Grievances
JLCD – Self-Administration Medication

Elimination of Policies

AC-E – Public Discrimination Complaints
AC-R – Harassment Discrimination Investigation Checklist
ACA – Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender
ACAB – Sexual Harassment Policy for Students
ACE – Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
ACE-R – Rights of Handicapped Persons

FHS Last Tour: Corridors and Student Art Work - part 7 (photos)

Let's continue the walk through the corridors of Franklin High School on the 'last tour.' I'll share photos of student art work and other significant items of interest picking up from where we left off last time.

student art - 1

student art - 1 detail a

student art - 1 detail b

student art - 1 detail c

student art - 1 detail d

student art - 1 detail e

student art - 2

Downtown Improvement Project map (PDF)

A regular reader managed to scan the map handed out at Thursday's Downtown Improvement Project meeting to share. (Thank you!)

I had shared a photo of the map earlier, now you can download and view this PDF version.

photo version of map

You can also find the photo along with the meeting notes here

Herbicide - before and after

As noted during June, the herbicide spraying was going to happen. On my regular walks I managed to capture a before and after sequence on King St by Spruce Pond.