“They went further than any other Franklin girls team has ever gone"

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the recap of the FHS girls basketball loss in OT to Springfield Central in the D1 Semifinals.

"Springfield Central is headed back to the MIAA D1 State Championship for the third straight year, but it wasn’t without a hell of a fight from the Franklin girls basketball team first. 

The Panthers went toe-to-toe with the three-time West sectional champions, forcing overtime with a late bucket before bowing out of the tournament with a 64-57 loss at the hands of the Golden Eagles in the D1 State Semifinals. 

“When you’re this close, you’re a game away, they are definitely disappointed,” said Franklin head coach John Leighton. “For the girls, I think in the next 24 hours, the sense of accomplishment will come back, but right now, it stinks. It’s raw because it just happened and was overtime. It’s one thing if you lose by 20, you know the season is done. But not here when you’re battling until the last 12 seconds. It’ll hurt tonight, but it’ll get better.” 

For the second straight game, junior Megan O’Connell scored in the final seconds, this time a layup with 6.1 seconds left to tie the game at 48-48 to force overtime."

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-basketball-overtime-state-semifinals/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Franklin-Springfield-Central-Girls-Basketball-03-12-19/

Franklin’s Megan O’Connell drives to the basket against Springfield Central in the D1 State Semifinal. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

HockomockSports.com Player of the Week: Megan O’Connell, FHS Basketball

Via HockomockSports, we share the news of the Player of the Week selection of Megan O'Connell

"Franklin junior Megan O’Connell has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for March 3 through March 9. O’Connell is the 23rd player chosen as Player of the Week for the 2018-19 school year and the 13th player in the winter season. 

O’Connell has been an important part of Franklin’s league championship season, but that went to a new level on Friday night at Worcester State when she hit arguably the biggest shot in the program’s history (to this point). With the Panthers down one to undefeated top seed Wachusett in the Div. 1 Central final, O’Connell grabbed an offensive rebound and hit an off-balance putback at the buzzer to secure the program’s first-ever sectional title."

Continue reading about Megan online
https://hockomocksports.com/player-of-the-week-megan-oconnell-franklin-basketball/

HockomockSports.com Player of the Week:
Megan O’Connell, FHS Basketball 

Franklin SEPAC: When Friends Don't Come Easy...Supporting Children Who Struggle Socially - Mar 21

When Friends Don't Come Easy...Supporting Children Who Struggle Socially

Please join us for a presentation on friendship. While making friends comes naturally to many children, for others it is a skill that must be learned and practiced. Child therapist, Alison Ratner Mayer, will lead parents in activities to increase understanding of the social challenges children face daily, and will discuss how parents can support their child’s social development.

When: Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 PM
Where: Third floor Training Room of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA.

This event is free and open to the public.

Follow the event on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/365062414221183/

Franklin SEPAC: When Friends Don't Come Easy ...
Supporting Children Who Struggle Socially - Mar 21

Do Something IncredABLE! - May 19

2019 IncredABLE Day Volunteers Needed!

Click here for available Volunteer Shifts or a Volunteer Application https://www.hmea.org/make-a-difference/volunteer-with-us/ Click here for a printable, shareable Volunteer Flyer! https://files.constantcontact.com/85dddbe6301/2e70f863-571c-4964-bd47-01f62b9ef8f8.pdf In appreciation of your service in support of HMEA's IncredABLE Day, all registered volunteers will receive a Volunteer T-Shirt, a Volunteer Gift, and a Book of 6 Dream Raffle Tickets! Click to view the 2019 Dream Raffle Prize List! Stay up-to-date with all things IncredABLE! Facebook HMEA, Inc. hmea.org Instagram @HMEAinc

HMEA | 8 Forge Park East, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by sshepherd@hmea.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Live reporting: Information Matters to Closing (Executive Session)

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations;
Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s
Evaluation)

presentation at Town Council Weds 3/13

Coffee at Library last Saturday to talk about start times, not a large presence
community needs to get out an engaged in the conversation
there are many opportunities to get involved
next coffee Apr 27, find a way to get involved

policy did meet

MASC in similar budget strategies, looking to get $100/student vs. Governors current funding of $30/student

possible time on learning statement to get more time on play and recess

b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task
Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; School Start Times Advisory
Committee [SSTAC], MASC)

School Start times meeting 3/14 to decide on recommendation to bring it to the School Committee meeting 3/26


6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes of the February 26, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. FHS Scholarships
I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $8,115.00 for scholarships as follows:
$7,500.00 from the Digital Federal Credit Union
$615.00 from Sheila Lima
c. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $1,750.00 from Parmenter PCC for field trips as detailed.
d. FHS Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1.44 from K12 for in-house enrichment at FHS as detailed.

motion to approve consent agenda as above, seconded, passed 7-0


8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence
a. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
b. Student Activity Accounts Report – Miriam Goodman
c. Franklin Hall of Achievement – (Erin Miller) Dr. Anne Bergen

11. Executive Session
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA/RN unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

12. Adjournment

motion to adjourn to Executive Session, not to return, passed 7-0 via roll call


School Committee meeting agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/scagenda_3-12-19.pdf

Document folder for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-12-2019-school-committee-packet-documents

Budget discussion memo
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/budget-discussion-memo

Town budget discussion memo
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/town-budget-discussion-memo

Live reporting: Discussion/Action Items

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Salary Budget Vote
I recommend adoption of the FY 2020 Salary Budget of $57,129,259.00 as part of the total FY 2020 Budget of $66,826,115.00 as discussed.

slight revisions to adjust down due to some personnel changes since the prior discussion/meeting

motion to approve, seconded, passed 6-0 (Feeley recused)

b. Expenditure Budget Vote
I recommend adoption of the FY 2020 Expenditure Budget of $9,696,856.00 as part of the total FY 2020 Budget of $66,826,115.00 as discussed.

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. Policy First Reading
IJOAB – Extended Field Trips
Administrative Procedures for Student Travel
i. I recommend moving Policy IJOAB – Extended Field Trips to a second reading.
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 7-0

d. Appointment
I recommend the appointment of Mrs. Paula Marano as Director of Student Services for Franklin Public Schools.

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0


4. Discussion Only Items
a. Budget discussion at Town Council - preview 3/13/19

budget issue becoming more clear, looking like the approved budget is $2.6M more than the Town can allocate. more discussions will occur but it looks like there will be less than a level service budget at this point.

Schools are more than just an educational institution, as seen in multiple points during the earlier portion of the meeting

enrollment declines (particularly in elementary have results in reductions in staff over the past several years); charter school funding looks like it will be reduced by the State

budget issue not just this year, also as indicated in budget memo from Jeff Nutting, FY 2021 is also expected to be more challenging

Live reporting: District Improvement Plan Update

b. District Improvement Update – Curriculum & Instruction

(presentation to be added later - posted to Schools page on Weds (usually) so I can add it with the meeting summary later this week)

a view from the back of the room; Central Office personnel presenting on Strategic Objectives II and III

outside group in working on an analysis of the resources and alignments available to meet the needs of the students,is it enough? are there gaps? report readout due initially at end of March

screen grab of a presentation slide on Objective III

doing well with what they have but there are budget implications with time to learn, and overall resources available