MassBudget: Feeding Students, Counting Kids, Distributing Chapter 70 Aid: Two New Briefs from MassBudget

Feeding Students, Counting Kids, Distributing Chapter 70 Aid: Two New Briefs from MassBudget    MassBudget is releasing two new papers analyzing the issues below, available HERE and HERE. To expand educational opportunity by making sure that more students are well-fed and ready to learn, the federal government has created a program that allows schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in districts with large numbers of low-income students. Schools that implement this program, called Community Eligibility, no longer collect paper forms from every child to determine who is eligible for free or reduced price meals. Instead, schools use a data matching system to automatically enroll for school meals those students who are already enrolled in other programs that support low-income families. This program improves efficiency and expands access to school meals. The transition to this new system has created logistical challenges for other school programs - in particular, our Chapter 70 school funding formula - that have for many years used income data collected through the traditional paper forms. The Governor's budget, following a recommendation of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), proposes some reforms that seek to address these challenges. It also proposes additional reforms in the way aid is provided to districts with large numbers of low-income students. In Proposed Low-Income Student Changes Would Have Varied Chapter 70 Impact we describe the proposals, identify promising elements, and detail ways in which the proposals do not solve some important problems. Specifically, by using data that dramatically undercount low-income students in some districts - but not in others - this proposal leads some districts to receive significantly less aid for their schools than they would have received if their low-income students were being counted more accurately. This brief includes Chapter 70 detail under two alternative scenarios for every district in the Commonwealth. In Direct Certification for School Meals: Feeding Students, Counting Kids, Funding Schools we describe a number of solutions that would improve the effectiveness of the direct certification system and its ability to accurately identify low-income students. These solutions include extending the automatic matching system and including all relevant programs, improving the ability of the automated program to identify matches, expanding the ability of schools to resolve partial data matches, and making sure that all low-income families are enrolled in the food and health care programs for which they are eligible. By delaying the use of new direct certification data in the Chapter 70 formula and implementing the strategies that could make that data more comprehensive, the state could get a more accurate count of low-income kids for our school funding system and other programs. These efforts would also have the benefit of ensuring that families are enrolled in programs for which they are eligible, helping more kids and families avoid hunger and stay healthy. 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 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with screen grab of MassBudget report

Information Presentation on Death with Dignity

A Death with Dignity Informational Presentation will take place at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street on Sunday, Feb 28th, from 1-2:30 p.m. 

The presenter will be Marie Manis, Massachusetts Campaign Manager for Compassion and Choices, which is the leading nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life.

Compassion and Choices

For more than 30 years they have increased people's quality of life and given them added peace of mind in their final days – even when injury or illness takes their voice. They work to change attitudes, practices and policies so that everyone can access the information and options they need to have more control and comfort in their final days. 

You will hear more about the national aid in dying movement and the bill currently in the MA legislature co-sponsored by 29 lawmakers, and find out what you can do to support it. 

This event is open to the public.

In the News: Pond St discussion proceeds, Medway warrant pending state's decision

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Talks have begun regarding a possible condominium development on Pond Street, though the matter will not come before the Town Council again this month. 

Earlier this month, the council took a non-binding straw poll vote in favor of an 85-unit development on a town-owned, 33-acre property on the street. The proposal would have a developer purchase the land for about $1.65 million. The council decided to have town staff draft a formal resolution, which would be voted upon at a future meeting. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said that there had been some progress in talks with the developer. 

"We had an initial meeting just yesterday," he said Wednesday. "There will probably be a follow-up next week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160217/franklin-pond-street-development-talks-progressing

An annual Town Meeting warrant article asking residents to approve a $75.2 million payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with Exelon is currently a placeholder pending a state board’s decision on allowing the company’s proposed expansion to move forward, selectmen and town officials said Tuesday. 

Town Administrator Michael Boynton, while going over the May 9 special and annual Town Meeting warrants, suggested that if the article goes forward, it should be first. 

“It’s going to be the biggest discussion of the night,” he said.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/entertainmentlife/20160216/medway-exelon-pilot-article-placeholder

THE BLACK BOX Sets The Stage For Culinary Cabaret Food And Wine Event

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents Culinary Cabaret 2016 on Friday, March 4, from 7-11 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. The annual food and wine event showcases the culinary and performing arts, featuring masterful dishes and gourmet specialties. The evening also includes a culinary-themed silent auction and entertainment by the ACME Jazz Quartet and the international touring ensemble Electric Youth.

Celebrating Culinary Cabaret’s 5th anniversary, FPAC is pleased to collaborate with exceptional area chefs and restaurants, including Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, a Culinary Cabaret founding partner. Davio’s Executive Chef Paul King served up prime beef short rib and butternut squash purée garnished with crispy leeks in 2014 and fresh Maine lobster cake over a spicy slaw topped with a black olive aioli in 2015. The signature event’s 2016 reprise will once again pair food and art of outstanding and creative caliber and showcase an impressive roster of vendors to present an innovative evening of inspired cuisine.

Culinary Cabaret 2015 in THE BLACK BOX

Savor fine wines, craft beer, and delicious appetizers, desserts and dishes from Café Assisi, Genji Sushi, Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill, J and L Catering, Twist Bakery, 3 Restaurant, The Curry House and more. Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits will partner restaurant stations with representatives from vineyards and distributors, who will pour wines specifically chosen to complement the chef-prepared specialties. Reflecting Pour Richard’s “Never Drink Ordinary” motto, beverages will feature small producers, high quality and eclectic selection.

Tickets for Culinary Cabaret are $75 and are fully inclusive of the evening’s food, wine, beer and entertainment. Event proceeds support Electric Youth’s 2016 European concert tour, featuring a July 4th performance for U.S. troops stationed at Aviano Air Force Base. For more information, visit www.FPAConline.com. Tickets may be purchased online at www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by phone at 508-528-3370.

Franklin Library: 2 events today - puppets and magic

Two events for the little kids today at the Franklin Library. 

Sparky's Puppets at 10:30 AM

Sparky's Puppets at Franklin Library

Greg the Magician and Axel, the magic dog at 1:30 PM

Greg and Axel at Franklin Library

These were shared from the Franklin Library pages

http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/02/sparkys-puppets-tales-from-snowy-lands.html
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/02/greg-magician-and-axel-his-dog.html

LiveARTS presents Cynthia Raim - Feb 21

The Detroit-born, Curtis-bred, Philadelphia-based pianist, Cynthia Raim, is no stranger to LiveARTS. Indeed, like Linda Bento-Rei, she too was an early advisor, sympathetic friend, and “encourager” supreme during LiveARTS’ beginnings and early years. 

pianist Cynthia Raim

Nor is she a stranger to the LiveARTS audience who gasp audibly with expectant pleasure whenever her name is mentioned: another close and dear friend. One of Rudolf Serkin’s most gifted students, early on she received worldwide acclaim as the winner of the coveted musicians’ musician’s Clara Haskil medal. 

Of more immediate interest to us, arising from her early career, is another win: the International Bach Competition. This year, Cynthia Raim comes back to LiveARTS--and back to Bach. LiveARTS is privileged to announce that it will present one of the first-place winners of the International Bach Competition in the rarely performed Goldberg Variations, perhaps universally acknowledged Johann Sebastian Bach’s noblest composition for keyboard. This performance is simply not to be missed.

For additional information on the LiveARTS performances visit
http://www.liveartsma.org/

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Networking Luncheon This Friday

Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com Reminder: Networking Luncheon Friday Join the Franklin Downtown Partnership at our Networking Luncheon  1 p.m. Friday, February 19 Dean College's Smith Dining Center Make contacts, share information, form collaborations.  Connect with the Networking Committee to reserve your seat at the table: Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu Franklin Downtown Partnership | 774-571-3109 | franklindowntownpartnership.org Connect with us:

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