Franklin Matters

Monday, February 9, 2015

TeamFitness - The email you've all been waiting for.....

February 2015

Another Snow Email from

Team Fitness and CrossFit Franklin!

Someday we may find humor in all this.

But as of now, we find it extremely frustrating. As we have tried to find a basis on making this decision in a wise manor, we waited on the Franklin Schools and their decision to cancel school on Monday, February 9, 2015.

So, we have decided to remain closed in the morning and will examine the situation as the day progresses for a later in the day opening (that is if the roads, parking and weather cooperate). Please visit our Facebook pages for updates and another email blast will be sent with a final decision on the afternoon.

Keep warm, dry and take care with shoveling,

Forward this email


Team Fitness Franklin \| 100 Franklin Village Drive \| Franklin \| MA \| 02038

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Franklin Public Schools: School Cancelation - Monday, Feb 9

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello,

Due to the snow storm, school will be canceled tomorrow, February 9th. There will be no afternoon or evening activities. All school offices and central office will be closed.

Think Spring and stay safe!

Sally Winslow
Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Parmenter Elementary School, in the snow Sunday morning, Feb 8th

This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.

For those with good eyes yes, that is the red marker of a buried fire hydrant. I went back after my walk this morning to dig it out.

fire hydrant in front of Parmenter School

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 10, 2015

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.

AGENDA

"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."

Franklin Public Schools: 'the key to learning'

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 13, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Senator Karen Spilka, Senator Richard Ross and Representative Jeffrey Roy

b. Middle School Blended Learning – MS Principals

The Blended Learning presentation document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/middle-schools-blended-learning.html

3. Discussion Only Items

Policy – Second Reading – For Elimination

o GCBA – Professional Staff Salary Schedule

Policy – First Readings

o KCDA – Memorial Commemorations

o KCD-E1 – Non-Budgeted Funds Donation Form

o KCD-E2 – Guidelines for Donations of Gifts/Memorials Non-Budgeted Funds to the Franklin Public Schools

The policy documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-public-schools-memorial-policy.html

4. Action Items

a. I recommend adoption of the 2015-2016 School Calendar as discussed. (Note the draft calendar can be found here http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-public-schools-draft-calendar.html )

b. I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
c. I recommend elimination of Policy GCBA – Professional Staff Salary Schedule as discussed.
d. I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading:

1. KCDA – Memorial Commemorations2. KCD-E1 – Non-Budgeted Funds Donation Form3. KCD-E2 – Guidelines for Donations of Gifts/Memorials Non-Budgeted Funds to the Franklin Public Schools

e. I recommend approval of the request of Anthony Joseph to take Keller 5th graders to Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI on May 1, 2015 as detailed.
f. I recommend approval of student activities as detailed.
g. I recommend acceptance of the donation of pottery glaze from EMC (valued at $68.30) for the Empty Bowls program at Oak Street Elementary School.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,394.00 from the Keller PCC for field trips.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for Library books.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for Extra Curricular Music.
k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $305.50 from All American Publishing for the Athletic Department.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,725.00 from the Gen Youth Foundation for Remington Middle School.
m. I recommend approval of the request of Dawn Lacerda to take 5th grade JF Kennedy students to the Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown, RI on March 10, 2015 as detailed.

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. Executive Session

Personnel Update

8. Adjourn

Middle Schools - Blended Learning

The presentation document scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2105.

Blended Learning in the Middle Schools

Franklin Public Schools: Blended Learning at the Middle Schools from Franklin Matters

community entrance to FHS

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Feb 10, 2015 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Franklin Public Schools: draft calendar for 2015-2016 school year

The school calendar for 2015-2016 as currently drafted for review and discussion by the School Committee can be shown here:

You can also find a copy here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczRE5jajdpcGVieVk/view?usp=sharing

Davis Thayer Elementary School in the snow

Franklin Public Schools: Memorial Policy documents

On the agenda for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 10th (due to the blizzard, the meeting on Jan 29th was canceled) are revisions to the policy on memorial gifts.

You may recall the discussion around the Graci family memorial proposed for the new high school. During the two years in which the family had been preparing the gift, the policy had been changed restricting the gift that the family had been planning.

The old policy and the proposed policies are provided here for review and comparison.

The changes to the policy require two readings. Assuming they move successfully from one reading to the next, even with modifications, they can be approved at the second reading.

'Old'/current policy

File: KCDA

MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIONS

The Franklin Public Schools recognize that all life has equal value. In keeping with the mission of the school department and in recognition of the contribution of deceased faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, donations may be made to Franklin scholarship funds.

The Franklin Public Schools do not commemorate deceased individuals in the form of assemblies, memorials, dedications, plaques, gardens, plantings, walkways or other permanent physical structures.

In the event of the death of an actively employed staff member or an enrolled student, the School Crisis Team will follow the protocol delineated in the district’s Emergency Response Manual and will determine a course of action that is appropriate to the situation and is consistent with district policy.

the proposed Kristin Graci Class of 2007 Memorial

Cross References: KCD, FF Emergency Response Manual

Proposed policy revision:

File: KCDA

Memorial Commemorations

The Franklin Public Schools recognize that all life has equal value. In keeping with the mission of the school department and in recognition of the contribution of deceased family, staff, students, alumni, and community members, donations to the Franklin scholarships are encouraged.

If an individual or group would like to make a memorial donation other than a scholarship, the person/group, must contact the Principal at the school where the donation is to be located. The Principal, in consultation with the Superintendent and the School Committee will determine the appropriateness of the gift. Franklin Public Schools do not commemorate deceased individuals in the form of assemblies, dedications, gardens, plantings or walkways.

In the event of the death of an actively employed staff member or an enrolled student, the School Crisis Team will follow the protocol delineated in the district’s Emergency Response Manual and will determined a course of action that is appropriate to the situation and is consistent with district policy

Cross References: KCD, KCD-E1, KCD-E2, FF, Emergency Response Manual

PDF Copies of the policy revisions and associated documents can be downloaded here:

Proposed policy revision
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczdXV3bTM1M0lQQTQ/view?usp=sharing

Policy donation form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczLTZXb0dzUFRlS0U/view?usp=sharing

Policy guidelines
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczalpfSnpCaGQ1RkU/view?usp=sharing

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Feb 10, 2015 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Walking Franklin in the Snow

As many of you know I spend time on the weekends walking around Franklin, "Reporting by walking around." With 43" os snow deposited in such a short period of time, the range of my walks has been challenged. Yesterday, I did get to venture a good deal in and around downtown testing the sidewalk status. As shown in the sample photos here, the status of the sidewalks varies greatly.

Some sidewalks are cleared by the DPW, some by the residents or business owners, some not at all.

I'll need to do some research in the Town bylaws to find out what if anything is said about clearning sidewalks. I recall there is a policy against putting snow into the streets. For some of the businesses on Main St, they don't have much of an option for where to put the snow, other than to pile it further on the sidewalk. Doing so creates a narrow path way restricting handicap access, nevemind making it more challenging for people to walk together.