Franklin Matters

Friday, May 15, 2020

CDC releases edited coronavirus reopening guidance

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening.

The tools are for schools, workplaces, camps, childcare centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurants. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.

Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings. The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions, according to government emails obtained by the AP and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200514/officials-release-edited-coronavirus-reopening-guidance/1

Restaurants https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EJO4CY1czWcXshNxxjGbfxbZpdiSSzKx

Workplaces https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pO3A2iyJTXo2ERxL-B6sTdijtiE0NMok

Mass transit https://drive.google.com/open?id=17v9IzGHx8X5KCDG49oeBWotQje2dxJSW

Schools https://drive.google.com/open?id=131ML-PTTw2QqjJPpLKrVLR84yZFcc24i

Camps https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K7tfCnoO1wRvGrA4FGEPcM30X6QHNYLb

Child care https://drive.google.com/open?id=1L28t20hUUdoDuT4cKo1WZkhvbDUp4RPF

https://www.cdc.gov/

FSPA to Hold a Series of Virtual Open Houses

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold a series of Virtual Open Houses for prospective students and families live on their Facebook page. The community is invited to join FSPA director Raye Lynn Mercer to tour the facilities, ask questions, and learn more about FSPA programs in music, dance, and drama, whether for recreational enjoyment or serious study.

The Virtual Open Houses will be held on Wednesday, May 27, Monday, June 8, and Wednesday June 24 at 4:00 pm. Raye Lynn Mercer will lead viewers on a tour of the school’s 38 Main Street facility, discuss class offerings, and answer previously submitted questions as well as questions asked in the comments in real time.

Serving more than 500 students annually from 45 communities in Massachusetts’ Metro West region, FSPA is committed to quality education in the arts with exceptional curriculum, outstanding professional faculty, and unwavering dedication to each and every student enrolled. Founded in 1985, FSPA is a unique place where students of all ages and levels of ability participate in an array of music, dance, and drama programs with professional instruction and extraordinary performing opportunities.

FSPA’s faculty boasts outstanding professional artists, performers, and teachers. Their impressive credentials are indicative of the excellent instruction available in all programs. FSPA instructors strive to meet the individual needs of each student, working to develop each student’s abilities to his or her own potential.

Performance is an integral part of an FSPA education and the school offers unrivaled performing opportunities for students throughout the year. On the calendar annually are student recitals, concerts by faculty and guest artists, master classes, student showcases, holiday shows, the school’s signature Spring Concert, and summer camps and intensives. In addition, for students whose level of interest is more focused, there are special performing ensemble opportunities available by audition.

The Virtual Open Houses will be held live on the Franklin School for the Performing Arts Facebook page. Visit www.FSPAonline.com for more information. Follow FSPA on Facebook, Instagram (@FSPAonline), and Twitter (@FSPAonline).

FSPA to Hold a Series of Virtual Open Houses

Senate Passes Legislation Authorizing Short-Term Borrowing During Historic Remote Session

The Massachusetts State Senate convened Thursday for the first-ever remote session in the history of the body to pass legislation to allow short-term borrowing to meet the Commonwealth’s financial obligations.

“I am proud of the Senate’s ability to meet the challenges of this public health pandemic and humbled by the historic nature through which today’s vote was taken.” Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The legislation that advanced today will help the Commonwealth responsibly meet near-term budget challenges as we continue to address the impacts of COVID-19. I’d like to thank Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues as well my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this legislation.”

“In order to protect the Commonwealth’s taxpayers and maintain fiscal discipline during this public health crisis, the bi-partisan legislation passed by the Senate today authorizes the Commonwealth to finance the recent extension of the 2019 state individual income tax filing deadline and provides a necessary bridge to help us get through the next few months until the next fiscal year,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thanks to the steady leadership of Senate President Spilka, the continued hard work of my colleagues in the Senate, and the continued collaboration with our partners in the House and Administration, the passage of this bill will allow the Commonwealth to meets its fiscal obligations and pay its bills without negatively affecting our residents in the midst of this pandemic.”

"This borrowing bill, passed with bipartisan collaboration, will allow state government to deliver on its commitments without disruption. That, in turn, will translate into the actions we need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and support important spending items like local aid and school funding," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R- Gloucester)

The legislation, An Act to Facilitate the Delay of the Income Tax Filing Deadline, complements legislative action taken in early April to extend the income tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020, which provided flexibility to residents and families across the state amid the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The extension mirrors actions taken on the federal level.

To ensure budgetary stability, the bill allows the treasurer to borrow during Fiscal Year 2020 to meet financial obligations that would normally be fulfilled through income tax filings.

The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

Hold the date: June VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON Veterans Coffee Social - June 3

June VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON Coffee Social

Join us Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Our May VIRTUAL Coffee Social was a success! There were 18 guests in attendance via Zoom, a free video-conferencing tool.

It was great to see so many of our veterans on-screen and know that they are staying healthy and safe. We were also joined by our friend Courtney, a dedicated Starbucks Associate who assists us at our monthly Coffee Socials. Starbucks continues to be such a generous community partner and we can't thank Courtney and the rest of the Route 140 Starbucks team enough!

We are not sure when the Senior Center will re-open but we plan to host the June Coffee Social either in-person or virtually via Zoom.

Stay tuned for updates on this web site!

Hold the date: June VIRTUAL or IN-PERSON Veterans Coffee Social - June 3

Thursday, May 14, 2020

FM #269 School Committee Meeting 5/12/20 (Audio)

FM #269 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 269 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The show notes includes links to the meeting agenda, my notes from the meeting, and links to other documents for the meeting.

The recording runs about just over two hours, so let’s listen to May 12 School Committee meeting https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H6bqMCL7

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My notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/school-committee-meeting-notes-may-12.html

School Committee agenda https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/scagenda_5-12-20.pdf

Meeting packet with other documents
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/may-12-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet

FHS graduation plans
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/in-news-fhs-planning-memorable.html

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"

FM #269 School Committee Meeting 5/12/20 (Audio)

In the News: FHS planning ‘memorable’ graduation parade

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

"Despite high school memories, like prom and spring sports, lost to the coronavirus pandemic, Franklin High School Principal Paul Peri said the district is planning what could be one of its most memorable high school graduations.

On Tuesday night during a Franklin School Committee virtual meeting, Peri, joined by Senior Class President Danny Harrington and Vice President Chorrkin Chin, outlined the school’s plan for a graduation parade tentatively scheduled for June 5 in place of its usual ceremony, which is held every year in the high school gymnasium.

“Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been meeting quite a bit with various groups and we are trying to pull together a graduation ceremony like never seen before in Franklin, and I think that the class advisors and officers have done an absolutely incredible job of really working with all the different parties involved,” said Peri.

Three possible routes have been mapped out, with students starting at the middle schools they attended in town, and the top 10% of the class and class officers starting at the high school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200513/franklin-high-planning-memorable-graduation-parade-for-class-of-2020-after-schools-closed-due-to-coronavirus

Franklin Matters notes from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/school-committee-meeting-notes-may-12.html

The full presentation document was shared by Principal Paul Peri.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19DNrSqaQz_rygjzPkfH1LzHqSMfa2PPK/view?usp=sharing

Three photos of the virtual presentation on the FHS graduation are shown below.
additional photos from the meeting can be found
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RLBKWryhsqBbhB2k7

route on the FHS campus to get to the diploma distributions points shown in red

example from Milton HS on how they set up for diploma distribution

sample pictures gathered as part of the FHS planning for graduation

"Each phase must ensure that cities and towns have full access to the resources needed to reopen"

From the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

"The MMA today (5/13/20) presented a comprehensive set of municipal priorities and recommendations to the state’s COVID-19 Reopening Advisory Board, the 17-member panel drafting the state plan that will be released on May 18.

The MMA is calling for:

Timely notice to local government in advance of each reopening phase

Strong and specific health and safety standards and directives from the state on how to protect the public and employees during each phase

Delivery of resources to all communities to ensure equity and consistency in public services throughout the state

Clear affirmation of local enforcement authority and high standards for industry to follow to ensure consistency across Massachusetts

Arlington Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine and MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith presented a detailed framework for action that was developed by a special MMA Reopening Advisory Committee of municipal officials from across the state.

The MMA emphasized the need for a careful and sustainable reopening process that is driven by public health needs above all, so that Massachusetts can avoid a second shutdown, which would devastate chances for economic recovery in the near term while lives are again at risk."