Live reporting - Capital discussion

2. Guests/Presentations

c. Capital

Sally Winslow, Tim Raposa, Joyce Edwards, Beth Fitzmaurice

The capital is from 'free cash' and what is available after the winter snow storms have been covered.
overview of the process, not as formal as the operating budget timeline

first priority is STEM Labs

looking to bring parity to the middle schools
3D printers, robot center
assist with 8th grade transition to the high school

also would help to support the coding initiatives that the State is looking to foster
did pilot at Horace Mann this year to see how well it would go
$100,000 per lab x times schools

Edwards - maynnot have much start up time involved, more in curriculum development, the teachers professional development can be covered with in the existing development budget line

Raposa - we can add some money with the purchase to include some professional development time, either with the rep or as part of the deal

Edwards - other schools will be able to participate with Horace Mann when they get their training this year

2nd and 3rd priority

Chromebooks and carts, middle school level for 8th and for elementary school s district wide
this prepares for PARC testing
Chromebooks are 1:1 at the high school, these would be shared devices and used for only in-school use

O'Malley - I would hate to have the discussion and approval of these to be derailed by the politics of PARC

replace the PA system at JFK

had been transplanted from Oak St (about 2004) had been a replacement of the original JFK system; is not working in all places, is not a safety concern but an inconvenience; can work with the vendor to get the dark spots corrected but should go forward with the upgrade to be more compatible with the other buildings

replace carpeting at Davis Thayer

looking to spruce up the school, modulars coming down this summer
working with Facilities to spruce up the school
no summer programs at the school this summer
will also allow some work to be done during the summer

Trahan - any thought of replacing carpet with other flooring?
Sabolinski - it is softer for the kids to be on

Special Education van request

12 vans - from 2003, a wheel chair van not in good condition
used purely as a spare van but really should be replaced
this would be replaced by a non-wheel chair van, equiped like the most recent two purchases; 

Live reporting - Presentations (Excellence Awards, Special Education)

2. Guests/Presentations
a. MASS Academic Excellence Awards

1. Madison Wendell
2. Haley Frank

recognized by Superintedent as in the Top 1% of their class

b. Trends in Special Education – Elizabeth Fitzmaurice

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/fps-special-education-update.html

Stephanie Gedis,  Dillon Scarnicki, and Sara Mulcahey 

right around state average of 16% of students identified as 'special education'

767 - serviced in main stream classrooms
81 - sub-separate serviced within district but not mainstreamed in the classrooms
68 - out of district serviced

extremely fortunate to be resourced as they are

par for the course, most of the students and families are happy with the service
some due go to litigate but that is a private peice that is not fair to the students and families involved

student achievement is on the rise, it is very exciting
if you have to do it, you might as well get something out of it

Sarah Mulchaey, Vide President, Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
http://franklinsepac.org/

mission to support the parent of special education students
Transition Fair - a big success coordinated recently
there is a feeling of isolation, in that there is no one to help, when there is a community to provide support
the town has been amazing supporting us

Best Buddies in the high school and middle schools, now expanding to elementary schools

Inclusion

Transition
how do it on their own beginning at 14


Dillon Scarnicki
provided a video of the goal he recently scored for the FHS hockey team
as well as other likes and dislikes, and shared his dream

Parent view
Brendan, a student at Oak St
now takes the bus rather than the white van

you can't make it in this world if you can't speak up for yourself

The first tweet by the @FPS4Students account (was also retweeted by @FranklinMatters)

A successful night at school committee showcasing student achievements. Thank you @FHS_Puck #ourfirsttweet
— FPS PPS (@fps4students) January 14, 2015

O'Malley - this is the best sporting performance where a team (or most of it) shows up to support you Dillon

Rohrbach - thank you, this was a great presentation tonight. It shows how important the parent parnters are. The out of district expenses are very much asn issue, but you do a great job in managing those out of district tuitions.

Fitzmaurice - about $5 of the total school budget is for out of district tuition; are able to manage some of the students to return to service within the district. We are careful before sending a student outside. They go because that is the best place for them to get those specific services and the decision is not taken lightly. We try to make things work here.

Rohrbach - we have been very innovative to provide the students the opportunity to stay here

Jewell - tonight is one of the most emotional nights I have had sitting in this role. The next man up is a good philosophy. This team can go to the state becuase it is a team effort, a lot of average players are playing above because they are playing encouraged by the others. I can tell you how well I feel tonight.

Trahan - this is an amazing night, thank you. We are a community in this town!

Mullen - I have heard several presentations over the years, this was the best. 

Live reporting: School Committee - Jan 13, 2015

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


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments - none

Review of Agenda - none

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the December 9, 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
re: the robe discussion
five options

• each choose
• alternate rows
• chhose color per grad/year
• alternate by person
• (one other to be added)

Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

The Curry House - now open

Reporting by walking around Sunday, I grabbed a new photo of the sign changes for The Curry House, now open on RT 140.

The Curry House is now open on RT 140

I also stopped by Monday to pick up a menu. The menu is still a work in progress according to the gentlmen I talked with. The formal copies are due this week. (Note: the menu is one large double sided 11 x 17 sheet so I managed to make a PDF in four sections.)



You can find The Curry House on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Curry-House/996915603668154

The webpage linked to from Facebook is not yet ready

"join Rattle City in supporting the Panthers"

Caroline Cafasso writes about Rattle City in Pantherbook:

If you come to a Franklin High School sports game, there’s a good chance you’ll see the famous Rattle City. In fact, it probably would be hard to miss.  

You’ll see dozens of FHS students, some decked out in odd and festive costumes, and others holdings signs and pictures. Everyone, however, will be chanting and screaming, rooting for their beloved Panthers.  

So what exactly is Rattle City? Despite its size and prominence, there are still many FHS students, particularly underclassmen, who do not know or understand its role. It may be because the name “Rattle City” may not have an obvious meaning to everyone. The idea is to have a fan section that is so rowdy and enthusiastic that it psyches the opposing team out. It was inspired by various colleges whose students practiced such a strategy during sports games. 

Pantherbook photo of Rattle City at a Basketball game in January 2015

Read the remainder of the Rattle City story here: http://pantherbook.org/top-stories/2015/01/12/the-story-of-rattle-city/#sthash.8eBAR5tE.dpuf

LiveArts: Kevin Owen - Jan 25

From the LiveArts webpage, we read about the next concert, Sunday Jan 25 at 3:30 PM:

A first at LiveARTS: the featured solo instrument is the French horn! Liberated from the orchestral brass section, virtuoso French hornist, Kevin Owen, with his pianist wife, Asako Shibata, “cuts loose” in an awe-inspiring demonstration of what the French horn is all about. Often regarded as the most difficult of the instruments in the orchestra, the French horn and its lovely tonality will be demonstrated by Owen in performance and in informative remarks that will be not only illustrative but fascinating. Owen is widely recognized as one of the the finest horn players today, and his participation in an exceptionally wide variety of ensembles throughout his career is nothing short of astounding.

Kevin Owen, French Horn (LiveArts photo)

LiveArts postcard

For additional information and ticket procing, visit their webpage here
http://www.liveartsfranklin.org/

Kidz Plaster Zone - 524 W Central St

Reporting by walking around walk on Sunday, I found a 'new' business on RT 140. Located in the stores in front of Primrose Car Wash and next to Dadarrio Hardware. From their webpage, I find that they opened in Aug 2014. 

For those looking for crafty parties for kids, and those looking for a crafty adult night out this is an option!  

Our specialty is crafty fun for all ages!

Every kid loves plaster painting. We carry a large selection for boys and girls as well as adults. Pieces are ready to take home the same day! With a wide variety of plaster figures, plaques, curio boxes, picture frames to choose from, there is something for every age, interest and budget.

We have a fun and friendly place to create your very own masterpiece.

We provide kids safe paint, brushes, smocks, glaze, glitter - you provide the creativity.

Fantastic Birthday Parties and a delightful area to get together and celebrate.

Paint, eat and have fun.

Walk-ins are always welcome at our beautiful and conveniently located studio -

drop in anytime!

Prices range from $5-$30 with all materials included.

Gift Certificates are available in $10.00, $25.00, and $50.00 denominations.

Kids Plaster Zone - 524 West Central St

Looking for a perfect venue to celebrate your child's birthday? 

Check out our Birthday Party Package and let us take care of all the party details for you. 

Priced to fit everyone's budget!

For more information, visit their webpage here
http://www.kidzplasterzone.com/

or find them on Facebook here
https://www.facebook.com/kidzplasterzone

Kidz Plaster Zone street sign