Franklin Matters

Monday, August 24, 2020

“The days just sort of would go by”

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

"From the beginning of the pandemic, most were aware of the disease’s devastating mortality rate among older people.

As of Aug. 11, Massachusetts residents over age 70 accounted for 86% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, according to data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. About 65% of the total deaths reported in the state have occurred at skilled-nursing facilities, nursing homes and rest homes.

Still, as COVID-19 tore across the state and new cases surged from March through late June, skilled-nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and many independent living facilities became hot spots for the infectious disease.

Joining first responders, doctors and nurses — familiar heroes in times of crisis — residents, caregivers and staff at these facilities found themselves on the front lines of the pandemic. Too often, they found themselves alone in the fight."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200824/senior-living-facilities-bore-brunt-of-covid-19-in-massachusetts-now-hear-from-staff-and-resident-about-life-on-front-lines?rssfeed=true

Franklin Community 2020 Voting Guide - Primary - Sept 1

A worthy set of material to prepare for the Primary election. Get your copy here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pJTTTmSxr5JwjJVzdBl-ra2_KEAMd0pq/view?usp=sharing

or here

For additional information on voting visit the Town Clerk page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

For the Franklin voters "election collection" visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/2020-election-collection.html

the Franklin voters "election collection"

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Franklin, (MA): School Committee Meeting Agenda - 8/25/20

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters 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…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations
A. Tom Angelo, FHS Athletic Director Josh Hanna, FHS Principal

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Athletics at Franklin High School
I recommend the approval of Franklin High School sports teams participating in MIAA seasons although school is opening in a predominantly remote environment as detailed.
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_fhs_athletics.pdf

B. Policy - First Readings
I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading as discussed:
● EBC (SUPPLEMENTAL) - Creation Of A General (Interim) Policy On Covid-related Issues
● EBCFA - Masks/Face Coverings (New)
● COVID Policy Addendums
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_b_-_policy_1st_reads.pdf

C. 2020-21 Revised Calendar
I recommend approval of the revised 2020-2021 School Calendar as discussed.
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_c_-_revised_20-21_calendar.pdf

D. Digital Learning Integrationist
I recommend the approval of three Digital Learning Integrationist positions in Franklin Public Schools as detailed.
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_d_-_digital_learning_integrationist.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. School Committee Presentation Schedule
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/sc_presentation_schedules_2019-present_-_2020-2021.pdf

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your August 11, 2020 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B. Approval of Executive Session Minutes
I recommend approval of the Executive Session minutes from your August 11, 2020 School Committee meeting to be released as detailed.

VIII. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

IX. Payroll Ms. D’Angelo

X. Executive Session

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3), move to go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to potential litigation as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the School Committee and the chair so declares, and not to reconvene in an Open Session.

XI. Adjournment

The agenda doc, including connection info

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-82520

The meeting packet with all docs released for this meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-25-2020-school-committee-meeting

Franklin, (MA): School Committee Meeting Agenda - 8/25/20

In the News: “We’re just keeping on top of it"

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

Forgive your town clerk if she looks a little bleary-eyed.

“We’re working around the clock,” Sudbury Town Clerk Beth Klein said. “We’re working weekends. We’re working late at night.”

With a little more than a week until the Sept. 1 state primary, town clerks throughout the region set up COVID-19-safe sites for a week of state-mandated, in-person early voting that began Saturday, piling the job on top of weeks of unexpected, labor-intensive, mail-in voting work.

“We’re trying to do the best we can. It’s just a very, very short time frame that we had to do this,” said Ashland Town Clerk Tara Ward, adding that other town departments have pitched in to help. “It was a tight squeeze. All of a sudden we were slammed.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200822/mail-in-voting-demand-is-straining-local-clerks-offices-heres-reform-clerks-say-they-need-for-november?rssfeed=true

Vote Early In Person: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GYM

Sunday Aug. 23 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Monday, Aug. 24 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday, Aug. 25 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 26 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday, Aug. 27 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday, Aug. 28 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

For additional information on voting visit the Town Clerk page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

For the Franklin voters "election collection" visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/2020-election-collection.html

In the News: “We’re just keeping on top of it"

Zooming into the Future, Part 7

Many of Our Zoom Meetings are Invisible

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 08/23/2020

Invisible Zoom Meetings? (Whaaat?) It just means that we are communicating on all fronts via Zoom, including how our weekly programming is produced for wfpr●fm, Franklin Public Radio. You can’t see them, but you can hear them.

Our mighty group of stalwart RadioGang volunteers (Stalwart was my word-o-the day.) are at it every week, producing music programs, interviewing important local guests, and providing timely information. My kudos and deepest thanks to all of them for a staunch dedication that elevates us as a small local station to a national level of professionalism through their unwavering pride of purpose. We are fortunate.

Frank Falvey, Jim Derick, Todd Monjar, Steve Sherlock, Dr. Anne Bergen, Dale Kurtz, Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone, Jay Horrigan, Pandora Carlucci and guests rise to the moment through a slew of Zoom-powered interviews that keep us keepin’ on.

Our ongoing success is all their fault. ( Note that a ‘slew’ is even more than a bunch. )

This week? The candidates are up front.

On Monday through Wednesday you can hear interviews with the candidates. Frank Falvey has been interviewing the many candidates running for the Fourth District seat. Learn all about them in their own words on 102.9 fm.

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.

This week's full program guide can be found online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

or for archive purposes use this one https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r43VaJR5nW9FGYad08TObBFVmX8YD-Eh/view?usp=sharing

Zooming into the Future, Part 7

THE BLACK BOX: Montgomery and Marshall Duo - Aug 28

THE BLACK BOX welcomes the Montgomery and Marshall Duo with two shows on August 28 at 6:30 and 8:15 PM in the theater’s parking lot.

James Montgomery and Bruce Marshall are celebrating 26 years together as a duo in 2020. They started in 1994 after Bruce Marshall auditioned for the James Montgomery Band and asked James if he was interested in acoustic work as a duo. Their first gig was opening for the Band at the State Theater in Providence, RI and old friend Rick Danko introduced the pair as “the real deal”. Although Marshall didn’t get the electric gig, he ended up forging an enduring musical and personal relationship with James that continues to flourish.

Get tickets online or call the box office https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1398&month=08&year=2020