Charlie Baker Nine-Foot Puppet Comes To Franklin

On Thursday, September 26, at 10:00 AM, a group of climate activists and supporters from Franklin and surrounding towns, will gather at 541 West Central St. (Route 140) in front of Dunkin' Donuts with a nine-foot puppet of Governor Charlie Baker. The hour-long event is part of the Charlie's Climate Catastrophe Tour happening around the state organized by 350 Massachusetts, a statewide network of climate activists. The public is invited.

Carolyn Barthel, Coordinator of the 350 Mass Greater Franklin node, said, “Despite the disastrous Merrimack Valley explosions a year ago in which over 80 homes were damaged or destroyed and one person killed by gas line explosions, Charlie Baker continues to push new gas infrastructure in the state, including the dangerous Weymouth compressor station project. We must reduce our carbon emissions by stopping new gas infrastructure projects and transitioning from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources like solar and wind.”

The West Central location for the September 26 demonstration was chosen because it is the site of just one of 71 detected gas leaks in Franklin. Consumers pay for these gas leaks, not only monetarily in their gas bills, but in our atmosphere, adding to our growing climate crisis.

350 Mass is also sponsoring Thursday, October 17, 7:00-9:00 PM, with the Massachusetts Climate Action Network and the Franklin Democratic Town Committee a two-hour educational presentation, “Franklin 2050: The Climate Crisis” at the Franklin Elks Lodge, 1077 Pond Street, Franklin. It features a short video narrated by Morgan Freeman and three speakers to talk about the causes, the effects and what we can do about the climate crisis. The public is invited.

For more detailed information, go to “Franklin 2050: The Climate Crisis”
at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franklin-2050-the-climate-crisis-tickets-65325208457


Franklin alone has 71 detected gas leaks!
 

Franklin 2050:The Climate Crisis

"Gov. Baker declares 4-month ban on vaping products"

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

"Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts.

Baker made the announcement at a press conference where he said he was declaring a public health emergency in connection with vaping-related lung illnesses. Hundreds of cases of the illness have been reported nationwide and Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel has already ordered all cases to be reported to the Department of Public Health for the next year.

“We as a commonwealth need to pause sales in order for our medical experts to collect more information about what is driving these life-threatening vaping-related illnesses,” Baker said.

The temporary ban will apply to flavored and non-flavored vaping products, Baker said, in retail stores and online. The ban applies to all vaping products and devices, including tobacco and marijuana. It takes effect immediately."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190924/businesses-and-users-react-after-gov-baker-declares-4-month-ban-on-vaping-products

Live reporting: Discussion Only items through to Closing

4. Discussion Only Items
a. Revised FY20 Budget
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/revised-budget

this is a tiny bit of money and not 'found money'

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports 
Budget
prepared a 5 year projection for review
budget issues for community sharing

Community Relations
soccer field Sep 28 at 9:00 AM at Dacey Fields
to be where the community is on Saturday

also at the Harvest Festival Oct 5 (noon to 5:00 PM)

Oct 21 - Social Media Panel at FHS 6:30 to 8:30 PM
parents and children and impact it has on our lives
library media center at FHS

newsletter should be out next week

Policy
meeting again, Oct 24 getting to the last B policies

Public Schools Advocacy, MASC
legislative Forum next Feb, date TBD
resolutions for the MASC conference to be reviewed Oct 15

b. School Committee Liaison Reports
Joint PCC
earmarked funds from State budget to support vaping work
Gov Baker issued a 4 month ban on vaping products due to the health risks

Substance Abuse Task Force
vaping diversion developed at high school level being reworked for middle school

School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]


6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items
expecting to hear from advisors/students on the high school summer trip
2 year NEASC update report in progress
MASC resolutions for review


7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 10, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. Executive Session Minutes
I recommend approval of the executive session minutes from the September 10, 2019 School Committee meeting to be released as detailed.
c. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,560.50 from the Parmenter PCC for supplemental supplies as detailed.
d. Remington Middle School Trip
I recommend approval of the request to take the RMS Adventure Club to Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH for a recurring field trip on October 19, 2019 as detailed.
e. Budget Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.

motion to approve, seconded. passed 7-0

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence


12. Adjournment

motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 7-0

The documents released for this meeting can be found on the School District page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-24-2019-school-committee-packet  Additional documents will be added to this page post meeting (generally during the business day after the meeting)

Live reporting: Discussion/Action items

Return to open meeting from Executive Session  (8:33 PM)

motion to ratify and approve MOA with 
7-0 via roll call  

3. Discussion / Action Items

• a. Elementary School Improvement Plans

I recommend approval of the 19-20 School Improvement Plans for Davis Thayer, Jefferson, Keller, Kennedy, Oak Street and Parmenter Elementary Schools and ECDC as presented and discussed.

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (move to action while elementary principals were still in the meeting)

• b. Policy – First Readings

I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading at the next School Committee meeting as discussed:

• BEDB – Order of Business 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/current-bedb

• BEDH – Public Participation

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/current-bedh


motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 7-0





The documents released for this meeting can be found on the School District page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-24-2019-school-committee-packet  

Additional documents will be added to this page post meeting (generally during the business day after the meeting)

Live reporting: School Start Times Update

b. School Start Times Update – Dr. Ahern

part II of the update, part I was done earlier this calendar year after the Advisory Committee completed their work

student and issue of sleep came to our attention, should not lose sight of

Superintendent Ahern making recommendation on school start times to School Committee tonight pic.twitter.com/YzeiAdt7Eb

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) September 24, 2019

"I would suggest that we pause on its consideration of start time changes across all schools. However, we NEED to continue to address the health of children including sleep."

there will be challenges with the FY 2021 budget, attention needs to be paid there
comprehensive closing study of Davis Thayer requires attention
all collective bargaining agreements are up for renewal this year

MetroWest survey data just came out to say sleep is not increasing among our students

What will be a measure of success for this yet? A return to 2016? or ??
I would be curious to see what other surveys are reporting

current start and end times changes were to meet current contractual requirements and NOT in any relationship to school start times

Linden - there may be members in the community who won't like the idea of pausing. Start times and sleep deprivation is damaging, our district is damaging your children. There is too much tardiness and absenteeism. I deeply disappointed in this decision.

MJ - the pause will not make this go away

Tim Keenan - appreciation for the work done previously, and to Dr Ahern for her answers, I have done a lot of reading and an author of the key studies. I actually got responses. There is a different between sleep research and start time research. There is nothing compelling about start time. The Sleep research is compelling.

Suggestion to come to the Nov meeting on Sleep

Wants to get to a research article that is compelling on Start Time and have a dialog on it.

Feeley - thanks for the summary

Bergen - there are other issues that are in-front of us that we need to deal with
others who have changed recently have taken time to do it right before making the change

Zub - I think it is the right thing to do, there is no right answer, we want to the the best thing for our students. It may be interesting to see if anything is done at the state, California has one on the governor's desk.


11. Executive Session

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

motion to go to executive session, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting: Elementary School Improvement Plans - school year 2019-2020

2. Guests / Presentations a. ECDC and Elementary Schools – School Improvement Plans

• ECDC School Improvement Plan 

Kelty Kelly, early childhood education 

SEL committee rebooting implementation plans for 'cozy corner' or 'green zones'

added physical development aspects to revision on their report card

what the children should be doing and where they are at the moment

develop a playgroup for parents of children with early intervention (EI) transition process (covered by Federal law for the families in the home through age 3, then covered by schools)

using community garden to help infuse science into the classroom

developing an FEF grant proposal for children with mobility issues

team committed to work developing use of large touch screens effectively in the classroom

2nd year with school council

working on core values, survey to last year and this year, as well as staff

exploring a relationship with Dean College on a new bachelor program in early education

clarification on EI (expanded above)

what is digital literacy for preschool students? that is what they want to explore, use of short video clips integrated into the classwork and enrichment of the material

"all children can"

all the ECDC teachers are special educators

• Davis Thayer School Improvement Plan
• Jefferson School Improvement Plan
• Keller School Improvement Plan
• JF Kennedy School Improvement Plan
• Oak Street School Improvement Plan
• Parmenter School Improvement Plan

(photo of principals to be added later)
(group presentation document not available tonight, to be shared when available later)

new homework guidelines
professional development opportunities (understanding by design or UbD)

reviewing current special ed practices to ensure meeting needs of students
implement a continuum of enrichment and interventions

2-way communication to further enhance engagement with the schools community and community in general
create clear focus areas for school councils

clarification homework policy, not a change, just spreading the word

passion project tapping into the students interest with a formal structure

are the schools working independently how is the sharing working?
some schools at different stages but the goal is to develop and share across
want to ensure the lessons are complete and vetted before sharing across

are you keeping baseline data on interventions to see what works 

The documents released for this meeting can be found on the School District page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-24-2019-school-committee-packet  Additional documents will be added to this page post meeting (generally during the business day after the meeting)

 

Live reporting: School Committee - Sep 24, 2019

Present: Feeley, Linden, Douglas, Scofield, Bergen, Schultz, Zub
Absent: none


1. Routine Business

a. Review of Agenda
no adjustments

b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments
none this evening

d. Superintendent’s Report
MCAS results just announced
the full district results will be annouced later
Kennedy - for exceeding their targets
Davis Thayer - from high growth measures

strong results across the district, more details later this fall

Student Opportunity Act in the news
multiple proposals about education review and funding revisions
House and Senate joint committee issued their report
looking to establish a 21st century trust fund
accountability measures built in to the proposal

still early goes to Senate first, then House before possibly getting to the Governor for signature
minimal aid, circuit breaker could be a positive impact (addition of transportation for Special Ed)
charter tuition reimbursement, competitive grants available

preview professional development, half day on Friday
staff work directly connected to goals on the school improvement plans
relationship building and social emotional learning

apology to the high school families
a phone call went out at 6 AM instead of the intended scheduled for 6 PM
an accident and a simple mistake, re-looking at communications guidelines


The documents released for this meeting can be found on the School District page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-24-2019-school-committee-packet  Additional documents will be added to this page post meeting (generally during the business day after the meeting)