It's #GivingTuesday!

IT'S #GIVINGTUESDAY! Celebrate the spirit of the holidays and show your support for THE BLACK BOX and the venue's exceptional live music and theatrical programming with a Giving Tuesday donation today!  We gratefully appreciate gifts of any amount, and will enter your name in a raffle drawing for a pair of tickets to the Franklin Performing Arts Company's holiday musical Humbug! (performances on 12/17 & 12/18) as a token of our thanks for your Giving Tuesday contribution.  We are also pleased to offer two tickets to any Cabaret, Classical, Local Artist or Jazz music series event at THE BLACK BOX this 2016-2017 season for anyone who donates $100 or more. Your gift certificate, to be redeemed for the music concert of your choice, will come packaged with THE BLACK BOX calendar of events and wrapped for holiday gift-giving, making it a great time to give and receive!   Thank you for supporting THE BLACK BOX on #GivingTuesday! DONATE NOW!

Franklin Performing Arts Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing, and box office management.

Franklin Performing Arts Company - PO Box 16, Franklin, MA, 02038, (508) 528-8668
Vendini, Inc. - 660 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 1 (800) 901-7173

Capital Budget Planning Committee - Agenda - Nov 30 - 7:00 PM

1. Capital Budget Requests

A. Turf Fields design and development funds 

B. Google Doc’s 

C. E-Permitting Software for the Town Clerk’s Office

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/capital_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda_11-30-16.pdf

the crumb rubber fill will be one of the considerations for the turf field replacements

The meeting is scheduled for the Council Chambers and will follow the Economic Development Committee scheduled for the same room to begin at 5:30 PM.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/11/economic-development-committee-to-take.html

Related posts on the crumb rubber turf issue

• Legislative request to US Consumer Product Safety Commission

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/massachusetts-legislators-submit-letter.html

• Medway took action to move away from crumb rubber

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/06/article-two-would-also-ensure-all.html

• NBC covers the crumb rubber safety issue

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/10/fields-of-danger-video.html

• New England Center for Investigative Reporting gets into it

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/05/the-state-recommends-common-sense-to.html

• What do Franklin's turf fields look like? photos from a walk around Franklin in February

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/photos-from-walk-around-franklin.html

"evidence of student learning must be included in the body of evidence evaluators use to determine educator ratings"

"The state’s education commissioner, aiming to end a long-brewing controversy, is proposing to scrap a rule requiring school systems to develop individual ratings for teachers and administrators based solely on student test scores. 

“I heard loud and clear from teacher unions and administrators that having a separate rating has more downsides then upsides,” Mitchell Chester, commissioner of elementary and secondary education, said in an interview. 

His proposal, however, would not entirely do away with the use of student test scores in evaluating teachers and administrators, prompting mixed reaction to the proposal Tuesday. 

Instead, it would require school systems to fold the scores into a separate system of judging educator performance: the annual job review, a process that has been based largely on observations, and a review of other evidence, such as lesson plans."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/23/state-may-scrap-teacher-ratings-tied-test-scores/FMn4OSFqbuVvYFGSgyX8YM/story.html

The full agenda for the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov 29, 2016 can be found here
http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/docs/FY2017/2016-11/

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

"Importantly, the proposed amendments eliminate the separate student impact rating, but preserve a focus on student learning in the evaluation framework. This approach addresses the concerns about a separate student impact rating while retaining evidence of student learning based on multiple measures, including common assessments and statewide student growth measures, as a component of the educator's summative performance rating."

http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/docs/FY2017/2016-11/item2.html

Summary of Proposed Amendments

The proposed regulatory amendments include the following:

• Eliminating the separate student impact rating of high, moderate, or low, which was to be reported to the Department at the educator level.
• Retaining the 5-step cycle, which culminates in a summative performance rating based on multiple categories of evidence and the professional judgment of the evaluator. (See the attached Quick Reference Guide for more information about the evaluation process.)
• Establishing a "student learning indicator" under Standard II: Teaching All Students (for teachers) and under Standard I: Instructional Leadership (for administrators). Standards describe the broad categories of knowledge, skills and performance of effective practice, and indicators describe specific knowledge, skills, and performance for each standard. By including a student learning indicator, impact on student learning is a component of the rating for the Standard. The rating for the Standard, in turn, is a component of the Summative Performance Rating. The student learning indicator does not result in a separate stand-alone rating.
• Providing additional information about the types of measures that can be used as evidence of educator impact on student learning, including: a definition of common assessments, establishing the use of common assessments and statewide growth measures in the evaluation process as optional for educators who are not responsible for direct instruction, and clarity that other evidence of student learning beyond common assessments and statewide growth measures may be considered.
• Adding a new definition of "expected impact" on student learning to guide evaluators and educators in understanding the role of professional judgment in looking across multiple measures to understand an educator's impact on student learning.

In addition, the proposed amendments also include technical changes unrelated to the student impact rating, such as removing provisions describing timelines that have expired.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/docs/FY2017/2016-11/item2.html

FHS Boys Hockey Boosters and Incontro Restaurant team up for a great discount offer

The FHS Boys Hockey Boosters will be selling these cards for the whole month of December and into January at various times at the rink. We will post on Facebook and Twitter the times we will be at the rink. Anyone can also contact the FHS email listed on the flyer.

http://www.fhspantherhockey.org/

FHS Boys Hockey Boosters and Incontro Restaurant team up for a great discount offer.

http://www.incontrorestaurant.com/

Norfolk County Register of Deeds Announces REBA Meeting - Dec 6

Register William O'Donnell Announces REBA Meeting at Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William O'Donnell Announces  REBA Meeting at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds   Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell Announces Real Estate Bar Association for MA ~ REBA Meeting at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Tuesday, December 6th at 8:30am Register O'Donnell Announces REBA Meeting at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell, in conjunction with the Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts (REBA), announces REBA's Residential Conveyancing Section (RCS) will hold a practice development and educational breakfast meeting for REBA members and their guests at 8:30AM on Tuesday, Dec 6th at the historic Norfolk County Registry of Deeds building, 649 High Street, Dedham, MA.    The meeting will take place in the Registry's Hannon Annex, named after Barry T. Hannon, Norfolk County Register of Deeds from 1970-2001. Featuring an original vault, computer terminals for the public's use, over 14,000 books and conference room sized tables with seating, the Hannon Annex is one of many rooms at the Registry Building named after a former Norfolk County Register and dedicated for use of the public and members of the real estate bar for the purpose of conducting real estate closings and transactions.    The meeting, sponsored by Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency and Belmont Savings Bank, will include an overview of issues important to REBA along with an update on legislation before the Massachusetts Legislature affecting real estate conveyancing. In addition, a discussion on solar panels and how they affect properties, homeownership, refinances, and more will also take place.    Register O'Donnell noted, "I am delighted to provide Registry facilities to REBA for the holding of their meeting. As Register, it is important to have a good working relationship with key stakeholders including the real estate conveyancing community. REBA does an outstanding job promoting best practices which helps not only real estate attorneys and their clients but Registry customers and employees."    REBA RCS Co-Chair Attorney Michelle T. Simons notes that all REBA members and their guests are welcome, regardless of their practice concentration. The program is free of charge. Interested participants are requested to RSVP by Dec 2nd to Nicole Cohen at cohen@reba.net. To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.    The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org.

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026-1831 Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Franklin Library: Holiday Party - Dec 2

The Franklin Public Library will host a holiday party on Friday, Dec from 2:00  to 4:00 PM. Games, goodies, crafts, and a drawing for a "Bundle of Books".

Franklin Library: Holiday Party - Dec 2

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/11/holiday-party-friday-december-2-200-400.html

In the News: Holiday Stroll set for Thursday; Food Elves kick off new drive

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"With Thanksgiving over, the Franklin Downtown Partnership is preparing to kick off the holiday season with its much-anticipated Holiday Stroll next week. 

The event, set for Thursday, Dec. 1, 4:15-7 p.m., will include a tree lighting, carols and other holiday festivities. 

The first celebration of the season will take place in the town's newly upgraded downtown business district, with Main Street closed to traffic for the duration to give revelers a chance for a leisurely stroll among the attractions on Main, West Central, East Central and Summer streets."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161127/franklin-downtown-partnership-planning-holiday-stroll/1

new seasonal banners up on the street lights in downtown Franklin

"After their "12 Days of Donating" drive last year garnered more than four tons of food, the Franklin "Food Elves" are gearing up for another run this December. 

Though the group hopes to once again near or beat that total, it's monetary donations that will be the focus of this year's effort. 

The drive, now in its 11th year, is run by local students - the "Food Elves" - to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161127/franklin-12-days-of-donating-drive-to-start-dec-1