Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Mar 24, 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 School Committee: Douglas, Rohrbach, Mullen, Trahan
back row - O'Malley, Jewell, Clement (Town of Franklin photo)

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 10, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Best Buddies – Elizabeth Fitzmaurice and Stephanie Geddes

Documents for the Best Buddies portion of the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/best-buddies-update-to-school-committee.html


3. Discussion Only Items

School Choice Vote
Capital Plan Update

4. Action Items

a. I recommend not accepting any new School Choice students for the 2015-2016 School Year.
b. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from Walmart for Supplemental Curriculum Materials at Davis Thayer Elementary School.
d. I recommend approval of the request for HMMS to take 6th & 8th grade students to Mystic Aquarium in CT on April 1, 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. Adjourn

Best Buddies - update to School Committee - 3/24/15

The Best Buddies program is expanding within the Franklin School district. This presentation document is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2015.

FPS Best Buddies Keller Elementary from Franklin Matters

Best Buddies logo

Additional documents referenced during the discussion can be found here



Intro letter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczVk5lUGJMR2N5bms/view?usp=sharing

Dodgeball flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczeFpIdnduSnlQZ3c/view?usp=sharing

Best Buddies Bulletin
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczMXU0Zk5FVkNwWGM/view?usp=sharing

Artifical vs. real turf

In the updates from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and confirmed by School Building Committee Chair Tom Mercer, the bids for the new practice field at FHS came at at about $800K. This was less than the expected $1 - 1.1M budgeted for.

Saving money is always a good thing. Since the discussion started last year, the Franklin Matters Twitter account has been copied on some tweets about the issue with crumb rubber as we have reported on the discussion.

For example:

#dangerous #fields tonight at 11PM on @cbsboston investigates #crumbrubber infill on #syntheticturf CC: @FranklinMatters @jeffroy
— Turf Grass Forum (@turfgrassforum) March 19, 2015

screen grab of CBS Boston video report on health concerns with artificial turf fields

Last Wednesday night's I-Team report can be viewed here:




While it is important to note that of the 51 studies cited not one proves a connection, there is also the issue that the studies did not look at the long term effects. So while it is good that we will save money spring sports teams can play on the limited turf fields now (Beaver St and the high school field) rather than waiting for the snow to melt, we should also recognize that our kids are participating in a study of the long term effects.

The current turf fields were cleared with the help of funding provided by the local lacrosse and soccer leagues. It is okay to plow the artificial turf fields but not to do so on real turf fields.

The 'practice field' on the grounds of the new FHS had been budgeted for as regular grass and changed during the Town Council meeting in November
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/the-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html

Last Wednesday nights brief update
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/live-reporting-legislation-through-to.html

If the embedded video doesn't work properly, you can also follow this link to view it on the CBS Boston website here
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/03/18/i-team-health-concerns-raised-over-artificial-turf-fields/

Property lines, permits, and erroneous enrollment numbers were key topics Wednesday

The quick summary of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday is as follows:

1. The Council approved acceptance of several roads that have a a defined road plan and property lines. Some of the early developments had property lines where the ownership went to the middle of the road. In those cases, for the town to take responsibility for the road, it would need to reach agreement with all the home owners; which can be a tedious if not almost impossible task. There are several developments where these road plans are being worked and these tonight were the latest in the series where progress has reached a good point.
2. Ownership and property lines also arose from a citizen comment. The resident had purchased a home 40+ years ago, had water problems reportedly from the street which the Town at the time corrected with a pump and drainage. Turns out the land never really should have been built upon, the town workers then should not have spent public money for a private benefit. The pump recently failed which the town did replace but also said that this was the last time they were doing anything about it, leaving the homeowner in a real quandary. Fortunately, all parties will work together to see if they can reach a satisfactory conclusion.
3. Gus Brown, the Building Inspector, provided an overview on the work of his department. The presentation doc can be viewed below.
4. The School Budget got some good news this week. What had been a $600K shortage due to the Charter School funding and reimbursement process turns out to not be the case as some erroneous enrollment numbers were used which caused the problem in the first place. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will be reworking the numbers to use the proper set of enrollment and this situation should be resolved. 
5. The Town is still awaiting the arbitrators decision on the fire fighter union. This decision would affect the budget as the union has not had a contract for 3 years. The decision has been planned for by putting away some funds to cover but how much will be covered will be dependent upon the decision and then whether the Town Council accepts the decision. Hence, the overall FY 16 budget process is starting real slow this year. One thing is sure, there will be a balanced budget before June 30, 2015. Stay tuned for further developments in this space.

Franklin Building and Zoning Department from Franklin Matters

Magnolia Heights, a 140 unit development at Chestnut Ridge, RT 140

For additional info on Magnolia Heights, one of the developments underway that the Building Inspector is visiting regularly, check their webpage
http://www.seniorlivinginstyle.com/p/independent_living/amenities_11072/franklin-ma-02038/magnolia-heights-gracious-retirement-living-11072



You can find all my notes reporting live during the meeting here:

• Live reporting: Legislation through to closing

• Live reporting: Presentations

• Live reporting: License Transactions

• Live reporting: Public Hearing on street acceptanc...

• Live reporting: Town Council - March 18, 2015

Economic Development Committee meeting on Pond Street traffic study

Sharing an email from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting:

Good Morning 

The chair of the ED committee has asked to post an economic development meeting next Wednesday at 6 pm prior to the planning workshop to discuss the attached daft traffic report prepared by BETA about potential development of the Pond street site. The Traffic engineer Greg Lucas will be in attendance to explain the report and answer questions.

Call with Questions 

Thanks 

Jeff

Franklin Municipal Building

A key quote from the report attached below

"As can be seen in the above table, operational concerns for the movements to and from Old West Central Street are further exacerbated by the addition of trips from the theoretical Pond Street development. Although overall intersection LOS remains at an acceptable level, the development will further degrade existing areas of concern."

Fortunately, there are some recommendations that can work to alleviate the traffic concerns. They will require further study before MassDOT accepts and funds the work.

Tri-County Children’s Center To Host Open House And Registration

The Tri-County Regional Children’s Center, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, will host an Open House and Registration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children so that they can participate in many of the same activities they’ll enjoy as preschool students. Each child will be given the opportunity to select a prize.

The Children Center's Preschool Program is open to children who are three years old by September 15, 2015 and no older than four years, 9 months by December 15, 2015. Sessions are held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:50 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. The cost is $36 per week.

The Toddler Program is open to children who are between 18 months and 30 months by October 1, 2015. Sessions are held on Mondays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Parents or caregivers are required to stay during the toddler session. The cost of the Toddler Program is $8 per week.

High school junior Corrinne Lombardi, of Wrentham, works with 

a preschooler in the Tri-County Children’s Center

Tuition is subject to change. A $25 non-refundable fee is due at the time of registration. Parents or caregivers must bring their child's birth certificate to registration.

Enrollment is limited to residents of the 11 towns within the Tri-County district, which includes Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham. A random drawing of names will be held to determine enrollment.

Under the direction of three instructors, Michelle Tilden, Lisa Oxford and Dina Taylor, each of whom possesses extensive training and experience, high school students in Tri-County’s Early Education Program plan and implement curriculum for the center’s preschool and toddler programs.

On a typical day in the center, the children are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of open-ended art projects and scientific inquiry that embraces their natural sense of curiosity and wonder. They also participate in language activities, play board games that support mathematical and language concepts, browse the center’s extensive library, and simply enjoy playing with their peers. Children have the opportunity to enjoy the center’s natural outdoor play space, which is an extension of the indoor classroom.

“Our program is based on years of sound research regarding developmentally appropriate practice,” instructor Michelle Tilden explained. “What we offer for children encompasses the whole child’s developmental needs: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. It is not just academics. Will they learn those foundational academic skills? Absolutely! But not at the cost of their natural joy, wonder and curiosity.”

To learn more, please call the school at 508-528-5400 or visit the center’s website, tcchildrenscenter.com

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

Greater Boston Food Bank Update: Meet Lyn, Client and Volunteer

The Franklin Food Pantry is proud to be a Strategic Partner of the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB).

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March 18, 2015
Follow GBFB on    The Greater Boston Food Bank's (GBFB) Brown Bag program provides supplemental groceries to more than 8,000 seniors every month, ensuring they don't miss meals and receive the nutritious food they need to stay healthy. Lyn, from Amesbury, regularly receives groceries from one of GBFB's Brown Bag programs. She's also a proud volunteer, helping others in need. Read more about Lyn on the GBFB blog. GBFB is committed to supporting healthy lives and communities through the food we distribute and the nutrition education programs our Registered Dieticians offer. Did you know that 81% of our 51 million pound distribution meets the highest nutritional rankings? Team GBFB also follows the same healthy lifestyle. During National Nutrition Month®, we're sharing some of our nutritious recipes and tips on staying active. Follow our National Nutrition Month® posts throughout March. Mike and Peter will be racing to End Hunger Here at the 2015 Boston Marathon. This is both Mike and Peter's first marathon and they are running to raise funds for the one in nine residents of eastern Massachusetts who struggle to have enough to eat. Learn more about Mike and Peter, their motivation to run for GBFB, and how you can help them reach their goals. Get Our Annual Report At GBFB, we strive to operate as efficiently as possible. During fiscal year 2014, we achieved some major milestones and want to share them with you in our annual report. Thanks to our supporters, we're on our way to making an even greater impact in 2015. Recipe of the Month A great shipment of green beans arrived this week! Green beans are full of vitamin A and can be served as a side or within a dish. Check out some of the green bean recipes we offer to clients.

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