Franklin Public Schools: Closure Update and Vacation Survey Response Requested

April 7, 2020

 
Dear Franklin Families,

We are thinking of you and your children as we adjust to a new phase of Remote Learning this week. We all recognize there is a big learning curve here (including your Central Office team who had a bit of a fumble Sunday night with live streaming). We are all learning!

Survey about April Vacation
There have been many questions about April vacation. DESE Commissioner Jeff Riley issued a statement on Friday, deferring to local decision making for potential changes to April vacation/the school calendar. Some districts have already made decisions to either stay with April vacation or to eliminate it in favor of shortening the end of the school year.

Right now, in Franklin, we are expected to end on Wednesday, June 24, or our 185th day. We are surveying both faculty/staff and families to learn more about your preferences. 

Please complete this form by noon on Thursday, April 9.

https://forms.gle/rnq9LEwh6bZj9Jo38


Breakfast, Lunch, and Weekend Backpacks Over Long Weekend
Friday, April 10 is a non-school day, as it is Good Friday and typically a day off of school in our school year calendar. As a result, the breakfast and lunch program from FHS will not be operating. We will, however, issue Thursday and Friday lunches and breakfasts on Thursday, April 9. Additionally, weekend backpacks will be available for pick up on Thursday, April 9, instead of Friday, April 10, this week.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools


Closure Update was shared from
https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent/pages/messages-superintendent-regarding-coronavirus

Franklin Public Schools: Closure Update and Vacation Survey Response Requested

Franklin Residents: Recycling Center Hours This Week

Recycling Center Hours This Week

Hours This Week:

• Friday, April 10 ~ 8 AM to 3 PM
• Saturday, April 11 ~ 8 AM to 3 PM
• Sunday, April 12 (Easter) ~ Closed

Reminder, the Recycling Center is only accepting yard waste and brush at this time. 

A pass is required and can be purchased in advance by calling the DPW Admin office at 508-553-5500.

More info
https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/urgent-alerts/beaver-st-recycling-center-re-open-following-guidelines
 

Franklin Residents: Recycling Center Hours This Week

Franklin Board Of Health - Agenda - April 8, 2020 - 5:00 PM

VIRTUAL MEETING: Connection link ->

https://zoom.us/j/741337294?pwd=T01TQ3dQZkVuWEp2ejk2VndJVXU2Zz09


Franklin Board Of Health 
Duly Scheduled Meeting
Wednesday, APRIL 8, 2020, 5:00 PM, Virtual Call 

AGENDA

This meeting is being recorded. The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

1) Reading and acceptance of February 5, 2020 minutes 

2) Old Business

A. None
Chairman opens the floor for any other old business

3) New Business

• A. Discussion of COVID-19
• B. Title V procedures
• C. Application to the Regional Collaboration and Community Planning for funding

4) Health Director’s Report

Chairman opens the floor for any other new business

5) Citizens Commentary

6) Adjournment


Next Board of Health meeting will be Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 5:00 PM in Room 106

 

Franklin Board Of Health - Agenda - April 8, 2020 - 5:00 PM

Senator Rausch: COVID-19 Update #10

CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 UPDATE #10

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Hi friends,

I hope you all are staying safe during these trying times. My team and I are still working around the clock to respond to this pandemic and support constituents and communities throughout the Commonwealth. My commitment to intersectional equity and justice has always been a top priority, and this commitment is stronger than ever. 

There is no doubt that black and brown communities, low-income families, and undocumented individuals are disproportionately impacted by the significant economic downturn spawned by COVID-19 and are over-represented in coronavirus cases nationwide. I pledge to continue centering equity and justice as we continue to devise and implement solutions to this unprecedented challenge.

Quick update on my personal work: I was asked to serve on the Senate’s COVID-19 public safety subcommittee. I accepted immediately, and was honored to be asked by leadership. I also continue to serve in my capacity as the Senate Chair of the Municipalities Committee. I am deeply focused on crafting legislative solutions that constituents and communities so desperately need, and getting those solutions across the legislative finish line.

A note about face masks: on Friday, April 3, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a recommendation encouraging cloth face coverings in public settings, since individuals who contract COVID-19 can carry the virus without symptoms and transmit the virus to others. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in places such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and anywhere else where community-based transmission may be high. 

This recommendation does not replace social distancing, stay-at-home measures, and hand washing recommendations that remain in effect. Also, this does not mean people need N95 or medical grade masks; the clinicians and first responders need those. If you have access to N95 masks, please contribute those resources to the statewide COVID-19 response efforts.

Yours in service,

Senator Becca Rausch

Senator Rausch: COVID-19 Update #10

The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full contents
https://mailchi.mp/1e0cb164d333/covid19-update-12306901

Franklin Cultural District Committee: Agenda - 4/08/20

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

7:00 PM

Due to the growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we will be conducting a remote/virtual Cultural District Committee Meeting.

In an effort to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, citizens will be able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or Landline Required) OR citizens can participate by copying the link (Phone, Computer, or Tablet required).

Please click on https://zoom.us/j/373351887 or call on your phone at 312-626-6799, meeting ID is 373351887.

Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes 7:00 PM

• March 11, 2020 CDC Meeting

Chair’s Update 7:05 PM

• Massachusetts Cultural Council Webinar 
• FCD/MCC Grant Updates
• FY 21 Regional Tourism Grant Application 
• May 12th Partners Meeting

Partners Sub-committee Update 7:20 PM

• Possible Franklin Cultural District Newsletter

Marketing Sub-committee Update 7:30 PM

Goals & Data Sub-committee Update 7:40 PM

Future Cultural District Partners Meeting Dates 7:50 PM

Next Meeting Date 7:55 PM

• Cultural District Committee Meeting, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Cultural District Partners Meeting, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Adjourn 8:00 PM

The listings of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

For Additional information, contact:
Bryan W. Taberner, AICP, Director
Department of Planning and Community Development
508-520-4907; btaberner@franklinma.gov

Franklin Cultural District Committee:  Agenda - 4/08/20

“It’s something we all have to do until things get back to normal”

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

"Police officers are doing their best to socially distance themselves from others, but sometimes at emergency calls, that can be impossible.

This weekend, three Milford Police officers were exposed on the same call to someone with the coronavirus, and because of that, they are now quarantined, Chief Michael Pighetti said.

As a result, Pighetti said his department has added even more stringent procedures to make sure that officers and civilian employees practice social distancing during the workday.

“This is a fluid situation and it changes minute-by-minute,” said Pighetti. “We try to do our best practices and we’re doing our best to stay away from each other.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200407/in-wake-of-coronavirus-police-officers-make-changes-to-keep-distant-from-each-other

Coincidentally, I recorded a conversation with Franklin Police Sgt Brian Johnson recorded on Monday and this is one of the topics we talked about. Stay tuned, you should be able to listen to the recording in a day or so.

“It’s something we all have to do until things get back to normal”

"every community can assume that the virus is here"

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

"At least four towns in the MetroWest and Milford regions are no longer publicly reporting the number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases in their communities.

On March 28, the state Department of Public Health recommended that individual communities stop publishing the number of COVID-19 cases to protect the privacy of patients. However, reporting those numbers remains entirely up to each individual community.

At least three communities in Greater Milford are following the DPH’s advice: Franklin, Millis and Upton, according to town public health officials. Those three towns, however, had already released information about their first confirmed positive cases in their communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200407/at-least-four-communities-not-reporting-new-coronavirus-cases

The next Franklin Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 5:00 PM. It will be a virtual meeting. Information on how to connect is contained in the meeting agenda

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/agenda-4-8-2020_revised.pdf

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal