"the most significant expansion of the Foundation Budget since the formula was adopted in 1993"

On Wednesday, Jan 23 - Governor Baker introduced his budget for FY 2020

"The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a multi-year school finance reform initiative to increase funding for school districts to invest in a quality education and fully implement the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. An Act to Promote Equity and Excellence in Education will be filed alongside the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) state budget, which includes a significant increase in state education aid to fund the first year of the reform plan. 

The reform bill filed today updates the Foundation Budget formula to provide more support for school districts to meet the rising cost of health care and special education costs, as well as educating English language learners and low-income students, and will provide a significant influx of funding for communities with the highest need. The proposal will also target additional support for the lowest-performing schools to offer programs that give every student greater opportunities to learn. 

The initiative also gives the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education the ability to support persistently underperforming schools, in part by utilizing a limited amount of Chapter 70 funds, if necessary, to implement needed reforms and investments with the district."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-unveils-school-finance-proposal-to-fully-fund-the-foundation-budget

The full budget proposal "House 1" can be found online
https://budget.digital.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy20h1/?_ga=2.204023573.464126164.1548721468-696967160.1504383407

Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) state budget

Follow the MA state budget cycle  https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Senate

In the News: resident celebrates 101 year birthday; MBTA proposes fare hike

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

Anne Randall celebrates 101

"While she sang along, enjoying shrimp cocktail and a whiskey sour, Anna Randall partied hard at her birthday celebration at Atria Senior Living. 

Randall was overjoyed Monday, the day she turned 101 years old. 

“This is just wonderful,” she said. “I never knew they would ever do this. I’m not sure they’ve done it for anyone else.” 

Resident Services Director Tiffany Suza said that Randall is a born fighter and can’t seem to wipe the smile off of her face."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190129/franklin-resident-turns-101

MBTA proposes fare hikes

"Seeking to contain its budget deficit in the face of rising expenses, the MBTA on Monday announced a proposal to raise the price of bus, subway and commuter rail rides by an average of 6.3 percent beginning July 1 in order to raise more than $32 million in new annual revenue. 

The proposal, which is open for public input and must be approved by the Fiscal and Management Control Board, would see the CharlieCard price of a bus ride increase by 10 cents to $1.80, the price of a subway trip climb by 15 cents to $2.40 and the price of a monthly link pass, which allows unlimited subway and bus trips, rise $5.50 to $90 per month. 

Not all MBTA fares would increase under the proposal. A bus ride will still cost $2 if paying by cash and the fare to take the Hingham/Hull ferry to Logan Airport will be reduced from $18.25 to $9.75 to equal the proposed new fare to take the ferry to Boston, two exceptions the T said will make it easier to implement an automated fare collection system by 2021."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190128/mbta-proposes-fare-hikes

For more info on the complete proposal and to submit feedback
https://www.mbta.com/fare-proposal-2019

The PDF with all the changes
https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/fares/fare-proposal-2019/proposed-fare-changes-2019-final.pdf

MBTA proposes fare hikes

Studio Two: Benefit Concert for HMEA - Feb 15

Please join us Monday, February 15, 2018 at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin.

7:00 - 10:00 PM  (doors open at 6:00)

$20 per person  (proceeds benefit HMEA)  Click here to purchase your tickets
https://www.hmea.org/events/studiotwo/

"Unlike other Beatles Tribute acts that try to deliver the entire Beatles catalog in single two-hour show, STUDIO TWO concentrates only on the most exciting and fun time in The Beatles career: The club and touring years. 

These are the years where people actually saw them play. The years where The Beatles crafted their sound, and their stage performance-and the years where they took the world by storm, and changed everything."

Studio Two: Benefit Concert for HMEA

For more about Studio Two visit their webpage
http://www.studiotwotributeband.com/

For more about the good works that HMEA does, visit them on the web at 
https://hmea.org/

Town Council to vote on $4.5M capital budget Wednesday, Jan 30

"Be It Moved and Voted by the Town Council that the sum of Four Million Five Hundred Ninety-Six Thousand ($ 4,596,000) be appropriated and transferred from the following sources:

Free Cash                                                   $ 2,296,000
Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings   1,800,000
Sewer Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings     500,000"


The Capital Budget memo that outlines the items for consideration some of which are proposed for funding
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/10._fy20_capital_plan_proposal_memo.pdf

The resolution outlining the specific items to be funded with the request
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/10a._19-02_resolution_capital_fy19_v2_2.pdf


The complete Town Council agenda and released documents can be found online
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/january-30-town-council-agenda

The meeting is scheduled for Weds, Jan 30 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

Among the Capital Budget items is $23,000 to continue the herbicide treatments at DelCarte

FHS Fenerty, Pierre finish 3rd, and 4th respectively in their events at MSTCA Coaches Invitational

The Coaches Invitational run on Saturday, January 26 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston had some top performances from FHS women runners

Girls 55 Meter   91 #  248 DeSimone, Kaylee   12 Franklin                  8.20   7  8.193

Girls 300 Meter   19 #  250 Fenerty, Jillian    9 Franklin                 44.30   8

Girls 600 Meter   3 #  251 Fenerty, Julia     12 Franklin               1:39.47   8

Girls 600 Meter   32 #  256 Powderly, Samanth  11 Franklin               1:45.62   5

Girls 1000 Meter   31 #  253 Hawkins, Sydney    10 Franklin               3:17.90   3

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles  (Finals)  4 #  255 Pierre, Daniella   12 Franklin               8.74

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles  (Prelims)  46 #  248 DeSimone, Kaylee   12 Franklin      9.96   8

Girls 4x200 Meter Relay   24 Franklin  'A'                                       1:53.86   5

Girls 4x400 Meter Relay   7 Franklin  'A'                                       4:15.43   3

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay   23 Franklin  'A'                                      10:36.84   2

At the MSTCA Large School Coaches Invitational Julia Fenerty finished 3rd in the 600 meter race and Bella Pierre finished in 4th Place in the 55 Meter Hurdles. Both athletes ran their fastest time of the season. Congrats!

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 27, 2019

The complete MSTCA results can be found:
http://www.mstca.org/Winter_Season/Winter%202019/Resultslarge.htm

FHS Panthers

Franklin Library: Remembering the Blizzard of '78

Franklin historian, Alan Earls will present a slideshow and talk on "Remembering the Blizzard of '78", Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 PM.

Franklin Library: Remembering the Blizzard of '78

Shared from the Town of Franklin Public Library page
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/remembering-blizzard-78

“We are seeing persistent and troubling gaps in opportunities across communities and student subgroups”

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

Should students have a say on policy?

"When Maya Mathews was in fifth grade, her favorite subject was math. 

But when she entered sixth grade and asked to be placed in a more-advanced math track, her request was denied because a teacher said she “lacked the confidence necessary to handle a more rigorous curriculum,” Mathews recounted. 

“I was shocked. It had never really occurred to me that I had to show confidence as well as right answers in order to handle a more rigorous curriculum,” she said. 

Mathews is currently a senior at Newton North High School and serves as the student member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is also the chairperson of the State Student Advisory Council and a fourth-term class president."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190128/should-students-have-say-on-policy/1

The School Committee goals can be found
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/scgoals.pdf

Strategy for Improvement Presentation
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/strategy-improvement-presentation

Elementary Schools Improvement Plan
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/elementary-sip-presentation

Middle Schools Improvement Plan
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/ms-sip-presentation

Davis Thayer Elementary School in an early morning sunrise