Real time reporting: School Committee meeting - April 14, 2020

Remote meeting via Google Meet. All School Community members present via roll call.

FY21 Budget Open Hearing
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/fy-2021-budget

Taking notes via Twitter, the complete thread can be found online
https://twitter.com/search?q=schcomm0414&src=typeahead_click

The text of each tweet note can be found here: I believe I have ordered them in the proper time sequence.

• Real time reporting of first virtual School Committee meeting including FY2021 budget hearing #schcomm0414
• No audio yet via the live stream from the Town of Franklin page, maybe it will come on soon. The Google meet link works fine
• Real time reporting - FY21 Budget Open Hearing underway - follow doc at link https://buff.ly/32taiOT” https://buff.ly/2yT6xaX

• Problem with audio via live stream as well as cable feed not yet resolved. Try the Google meet link, sound there works. Can't paste link here go to schools page and meeting agenda
• Participation seems to be growing for meeting, and the SchComm did get questions thru the chat window!
• Supt Ahern talks about the critical needs added to last year's base. #schcomm0414 ... Approx 44 on virtual meeting at this point if I read the screen properly
• Likely budget gap to be larger than what was previously expected due to pandemic circumstances
• Looking ahead slide from #schcomm0414 meeting, bunch of big questions there stay tuned to revised Town budget timeline for further info. SchComm voting on this Apr 28
• Reading line items of the budget, individual holds can be placed for further discussion on those items
• Questions on principals at the high school, one believes there is too much, that it is a luxury implying we can afford it. Response that the structure is not the same as other schools, we only have 1 on curriculum
• Questions on instructional coaches and related expenses. Response clarification came in that these support the direct education of the students and support the teachers
• Special Ed out of district placements approx 75-80 students, range from $45k to a high of $245k per student, legally required to provide
• Closing budget hearing via roll call, moving to regular meeting agenda
• In the superintendent report, recognition for Kit Brady who is stepping down from an active role with FEF...
• Three candidates selected as finalists for FHS. Names to be added with formal announcement later
• Question on approving pay for hourly workers thru May 4, why not go for end of year? Possible issue with cafe worker funding but could go for end of year now.
• Vote on hourly pay through school closure, passes 7-0 via roll call.
• Proposal to do away with April vacation, use that for 4 days of remote learning and end sooner (if it comes to that). Could end June 18 with this approval, passes 7-0 via roll call
• Superintendent Ahern provides update on remote learning plan, acknowledge difference between K students and high schoolers, grading on complete or incomplete, or P/F basis, let concept is access and not everyone has it
• Elise Stokes shares parent experience (she has 2) while balancing her work too, kudos to the teachers for adapting to this
• Facility study awaiting the sizing report, complicated by the facilities closure, McKibben to redo numbers in Aug given pandemic period, likely to be something less (~5%)
• Consent agenda (leaving out the Mar 10 minutes - not in package) read as otherwise listed; moved, seconded, passed 7-0 via roll call
• Back to #schComm0414 - 3 finalists for FHS principal position (hopefully I get names spelled properly) Rick Arena, current Asst Principal at Groton-Dunstable Reg HS; Josh Hanna, Asst Principal at Hopkinton HS; and Bill Klements, Deputy Principal at FHS

Full text of the Principal search update can be found here
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/news/fhs_principal_search_update_for_future_fhs_families.pdf

 Full text of the Superintendent's Report can be found here
 https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/news/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_april_14_2020.pdf

Franklin TV video replay
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=737
 

School Committee member Elise Stoke providing an update on the Facilities study

questions submitted via Chat

Superintendent Sara Ahern providing an overview of the FY 2021 budget

School Committee Chair Anne Bergen opening the meeting

slide capture during the budget hearing

FM #246 School Committee Mtg (Virtual) 4/14/20 (audio)

FM #246 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 246 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the first virtual School Committee meeting conducted on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

The video was broadcast successfully by Franklin TV however, the audio did not come through for either the live stream or the Cable channel broadcast. The audio was successful within the Google Meet. This recording was captured from the Google meeting.

The meeting opens with a roll call, they conduct the formal budget hearing and then close the hearing to conduct their normal business meeting.

The recording runs about an hour and 50 minutes, so let’s listen to the School Committee meeting.  Audio file  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HsLSpym7




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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

screen capture of the Google meeting 4/14/20

The video replay for this meeting is available
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=737

Live performance by FHS - Friday, April 17 - 7 PM

"Students from FHS Theatre 1 & 2 will be collaborating on a LIVE radio drama performance of The 39 Steps. Tune in to our live-stream this Friday night for a full hour of entertainment. Show begins at 7 PM!"

Students from Theatre 1 & 2 will be collaborating on a LIVE radio drama performance of The 39 Steps. Tune in to our live-stream this Friday night for a full hour of entertainment. Show begins at 7pm! pic.twitter.com/UFz4i6RA7j

— Mr. Grossman (@mistergrossman) April 13, 2020

Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinPSart/status/1250055011666735105?s=09

Live performance by FHS - Friday, April 17 - 7 PM

Franklin Matters Radio Schedule for this week

To listen, tune the radio dial to 102.9 or via a browser on a desktop, notebook or mobile device, go to wfpr.fm


Wednesday, Apr 15 - 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM

• Jamie Hellen - “Talk Franklin”

Thursday: Apr 16 - 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM

• Board of Health meeting 4/8/20

Friday, April 17 - 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM

• Lynn Calling - Franklin Food Pantry; Fire Chief McLaughlin on COVID-19; Karen Alves, Senior Center updates for pandemic period

These episodes are also available via the Franklin Matters podcast which you can find on iTunes, Google Podcast or many other podcast apps.

FHS "Keep Music Alive"

Good Morning,

My name is Diane Plouffe and I am the Director of Music in the Franklin Public Schools. During this time of isolation, the music students and teachers from Franklin High School decided to "Keep Music Alive". It is our hope to share a variety of performances from home with the community. 

We hope that it will bring some joy to your days. It has taken us some time to figure out how to do this remotely, but we are learning more each day! Our performances may come in a variety of formats. We will do the best we can.

I have participated in our first release to kick things off! Miles Reed, senior, and I will both be performing pieces by J.S. Bach. More to come!

Enjoy!

Diane


Miles Reed, Cello - Sarabande from the 3rd Cello Suite by J.S. Bach





Diane Plouffe, Violin 1&2, Ted Cetto, Organ - 2nd Movement from the Concerto for 2 violins by J.S. Bach




--

Diane M. Plouffe
Director of Music
Franklin Public Schools
Franklin High School
218 Oak Street
Franklin, MA 02038
508-613-1650
Twitter - @ FranklinHSOrch

St Mary's: Important Information Regarding the Religious Education Office

Religious Education Office to close 

Friday, April 17 -- Sunday, July 26

Good Morning,

We hope that everyone is doing well and making the most of these trying times. Together we will get through this! We have had to make the difficult decision to close the Religious Education Office from the end of the business day on Friday, April 17th--Sunday, July 26th. We will reopen bright and early on Monday, July 27th. It is our hope that we will be able to see everyone in person and this will all be over. July 27th will also be the day that our registration for 2020/2021 begins. It will run from Monday, July 27th--Thursday, August 27th. An email will go out to you on July 27th and you will be able to register 24/7 using the online link.

I will continue to respond to your emails this week. During the time that we are not in the office, all emails will be forwarded to the Rectory Office and answered as best as possible. Full and complete answers will be available after we return on Monday, July 27. In the case of an emergency please contact Trish Murphy at 508-528-0020 (ext. 10) and the voicemail will be returned as soon as possible.

During this time Roger Gullo, Confirmation Director, will still be available by email (confirmation.director@stmarysfranklin.org) for the Confirmation students and their families.

We miss all of our families and will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Please be safe and stay healthy!

Karen Ackles + Liz Bertoni

St Mary's: Important Information Regarding the Religious Education Office

Part of Clark Cutler McDermott coming to life to save lives

From State Rep Jeff Roy's YouTube channel, he shares a segment from the Boston Fox station. The text I have seen on Facebook attributed to Town Council Chair Tom Mercer who is also part of the video segment. Tom and I have also been in contact to schedule an wfpr.fm/Franklin Matters radio show on this topic.

"The former Clark Cutler McDermott Plant is trying to be brought back to life to help in the growing need for PPE’s. This project started just one week ago when I received a call from a gentleman inquiring about current ownership of the former Clark Cutler McDermott Company as he was a former employee of CCM years ago but was familiar with the equipment that was once in the building. He explained to me what he was looking to do (Make PPE's).

Our Town Administrator and I were able to connect him with the current owners of the property Rick Kaplan and Casey Killam. After this connection was made I called Representative Jeffrey Roy who is not only our State Representative, but the House Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus which encourages “Making it in Massachusetts.” Jeff was able to connect them with the right people at the State Level to get the ball rolling there. He enlisted the support of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership (MassMEP) to help navigate the process.

As of this post the group led by Norb Jankowski who now lives in Michigan and Peter Berzin from Pennsylvania both arrived in Franklin earlier this week. We have met as a group on Tuesday and again yesterday. In the last few days they formed an LLC with the help of Franklin attorney Michael Doherty. They have identified a material supplier in Rhode Island and are now reaching out to a stitchery so that once these PPE’s are die cut at the CCM plant, they would go to a stitching plant and then initially right out to our Massachusetts & Rhode Island front line first responders and Hospitals.

They feel they will be able to produce over 100,000 PPE’s weekly from Franklin’s CCM facility. There still are a few more steps to be made before this project comes to fruition. They are keeping the Town updated on their progress daily. This is a wonderful opportunity for our great community to help in this worldwide crisis.

Two very special “Thank You’s” need to go to Rick Kaplan & Casey Killam of Remax Real Estate who have made their property available to this group and to Representative Jeff Roy for once again jumping in and making the State connections necessary to help get this entity up and running hopefully in record time.

https://youtu.be/TXrtEyLhR70



https://twitter.com/jeffroy/status/1250095036194271234?s=20