Dean College 2016 Commencement Exercises - Saturday, May 14th @ 11a.m.

Dean College 2016 Commencement

WHEN: 

Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.


WHERE: 

Awpie Way (Front Lawn of Dean Hall) Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038


WHAT: 

Dean College will be celebrating its 150th commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 14th at 11:00 a.m. Commencement speakers include Dr. Paula M. Rooney, Dean College President, Mark D. Boyce, Chairman of the Dean College Board of Trustees, Candice Coco Lam, Associate Degree student speaker, Jaclyn Coutoumas, Bachelor's Degree student speaker, and Allison Clarke, School of Continuing Studies speaker.

Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private, residential college located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. Dean College offers baccalaureate degrees, associate degree programs, as well as a robust schedule of part-time continuing and professional education credit and certificate programs throughout the calendar year.

Dean College

Summer STAR Class - Accessorize Yourself! - for entering grades 3. 4. 5

Franklin Public Schools ~ Lifelong Learning Institute Accessorize Yourself ! Summer STAR Class July 11 to 15, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for entering grades 3, 4, 5 If you are looking to add a little "blink" to your daily wardrobe, look no further.  We will be creating many wonderful projects during the week.   T-shirt Transformations We will take an ordinary t-shirt and turn it into a new accessory such as a scarf or hand bag. Duct Tape  Duct tape comes in so many colors and patterns that we can create interesting bracelets and lanyards. Summer Accessories We don't want to forget about our sunglasses and flip flops.  Just adding a few jewels, beads and flowers and we have just created a new item to wear this summer! Register Today FPS, Lifelong Learning - lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us - 508.553-4814

"oppose this misguided, unnecessary, dangerous and costly project"

"Residents from Walpole, Sharon, Canton and other surrounding towns filled the front end of the Walpole High School auditorium Monday night to speak out against the proposed Spectra pipeline. 

"I urge you to take every step possible as a member of MEFS (Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board) and the human race to oppose this misguided, unnecessary, dangerous and costly project," said Bri McAlevey of Sharon. 

On Monday night, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board held one in a series of public hearings on the proposed 10.1-mile Atlantic Bridge Project, known colloquially as the Spectra Energy pipeline project. Four miles of the project would run through Walpole, with other sections running through Milford, Bellingham, Medway, Millis, Franklin, Norfolk, Sharon, Stoughton and Canton."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160510/state-board-hears-spectra-pipeline-opposition

No Spectra sign on Franklin lawn

Environmental Merit Award for Regency Transportation

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Sixteen winners from Massachusetts were recognized Tuesday at the 2016 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s New England regional office. The environmental leaders were among three dozen recipients across New England honored for helping to improve New England’s environment. 

Each year EPA New England recognizes individuals and groups in the six New England states who have worked to protect or improve the region’s environment in distinct ways. The merit awards, given out since 1970, honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160510/epa-recognizes-franklin-hopedale-companies

Regency Transportation

Regency Transportation can be found on the web at http://regencytrans.com/

Live reporting: to Closing

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

• unified track meet rescheduled to Wed, May 11, 3:30 PM
• up coming events with the summer program; band, art, chorus, high school experience and many other opportunities are available
• 1966 reunion class to participate at the FHS graduation
• Transportation letters went out last week, if no letter, call the Central Office; K-6 over 2 miles eligible; middle and high school busses will be filling up
• May 25th School Budget hearing at Town Council; how do you measure adequacy? It is usually not adaquite

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

• Policy Sub Committee
• more policies coming up for update next meeting

School Committee Liaison Reports
Coffee hours scheduled for various times and places



6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Motion to Adjourn 

• Dr. O’Malley

meeting closed

Live reporting: Calendar discussion and action items

3. Discussion Items

• Calendar Committee Decision

Sabolinski updated on meeting with the FEA leadership to review the proposed calendars to discuss the impact

1 - PDD day for Aug 29th, students back on the 30th - move the PDD day to the Friday of that week, less of an impact on students
2 - half day before Thanksgiving, it was transitioned to a day off recently in light of requests for full day off
3 - Feb vacation has biggest impact on staff, looking to tackle the snow day issue with alternatives to make up snows days with days in school

special needs parents as well as others are concerned about the break up of the instructional periods so the kids don't get into a rhythm; the heat was a piece but not a huge issue

the schools are still used during the school breaks so there is no savings from  heating
therefor there is no financial impact for the changes to the calendar

it would be so much easier if the State adopted a statewide calendar

DESE has guidelines and Burlington has piloted the process so it would be easy enough to do with a combination of technology and 'blizzard bags', we would propose the plan, have you approve, and then get DESE to sign off on it

Donna Grady - FEA President
why are we changing the calendar, we don't have data that we have an identified problem
some folks are still confused by this calendar being two years out
teachers get frustrated by the choppiness of the school beginning period (Sep-Oct)
what is the impact on instruction going to be?
there are other issues with completing in June 8th, summer camps etc are not yet open

vote on recommendation on one of two calendars
Option 1 - no change to Feb
Option 2 - change to Feb
vote on Option 1 was 7-0 

motion to make half day to full day, seconded for the 2017-2018 calendar
vote on this motion was 7-0

motion to move the PDD from Aug 29th to the Friday before the Labor Day weekend
vote on this motion was 7-0

"a sign of the School Committee being responsive to what has been heard"
we have two years of calendars set so people will be able to plan accordingly


4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the request of Nancy Schoen to take Middle School Music students to Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH on Friday, June 10, 2016 as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,290.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $190.00 from BJ’s Wholesale Club for district wide in-house enrichment.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $3,295.00 for the Paul Castelline Memorial Scholarship.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $435.60 from General Mills-Box Tops for Davis Thayer.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting: School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC)

Was the wellness committee

School Wellness advisory Committee Presentation May 10, 2016 from Franklin Matters

It is a standing committee, multiple parties represented

we set goals and have tangible progress each year

Page 4 - role/requirements of group

Page 5 - three goals set in mental health, physical activity and nutrition

the guidance update provided at a prior School Committee meeting reflects some of the details of the goals achieved

over 200 in ski program during winter

expanding implementation of breakfast to all the schools, one at a time
school gardens growing, raised beds at some of the schools

hydroponic garden at Parmenter growing lettuce, chard, and tomatoes

84.5% of the students on grades 6-12 responded to the wellness survey
21.5% of the parents, and 51.8% of the faculty

Key findings, parents are not always aware of what is going on in the schools
need to do a better job of communicating and sharing the information (Page 15)

"While you have spoken to the high number of yeses, there are 25% of the parents are saying there is not enough being done"

sought alternative ways, through partnerships (i.e. Reebok with the BOKS program)

collaboration, Franklin will help train the Y summer staff in some of the 'zones of regulation' so there will be consistent language used

track/field and wrestling are both non-cut sports

trying to meet the needs of kids either in the morning or after school
with different physical activities