"THIS YEAR’S MCAS exams will be conducted this spring but will feature “significantly” reduced testing time for third through eighth graders and no schools will be newly named underperforming in the upcoming school year, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley told superintendents in a memo Tuesday.
“The sudden shift to remote learning last spring, and the continuation of hybrid/remote learning this school year has likely led to significant learning loss for students around the country. The extent of the learning loss in the Commonwealth is not yet known,” Riley wrote. “The Department continues to believe the MCAS test is a crucial diagnostic tool to promote student success and educational equity and we remain committed to administering the assessment this spring, while recognizing the need for adjustments and flexibility.”
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
"the crucial part of this is we have to have the data for diagnostic purposes"
Continue reading the article online
Both FHS varsity basketball teams top Milford on Tuesday, Jan 5
From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results:
Girls Basketball = Franklin, 51 @ Milford, 22 – Final
– Franklin opened the season with a big win on the road. Olivia Quinn scored a game-high 19 points to pace the Panthers, while Brigid Early and Kayleigh Houlihan each added eight in the win.
Boys Basketball = Milford, 52 @ Franklin, 62 – Final –
"If there was a textbook on how to play Franklin basketball, it would look a lot like how the Panthers played on Tuesday night.
In a 62-52 season-opening win over visit Milford, the Panthers’ unselfish offense resulted in four players reaching double-figures in the scoring column and their aggressive defense never let the senior-laden Hawks get comfortable.
Maybe more impressive was that the game marked the first meaningful minutes for all but two Panthers — Declan Walmsley (game-high 18 points, six rebounds) and Andrew Byfield (13 points, 13 rebounds). The other seven Franklin players that checked in were experiencing their first meaningful minutes in a varsity game."
Continue reading the game recap by Ryan Lanigan, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com.
For a photo gallery from this game
For other scores around the Hockomock League
 |
| Franklin’s Jake O’Brien goes up for a shot in the first half against Milford. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) |
Boston Globe: "Mass. offers Internet access help for unemployed"
From the Boston Globe:
"Massachusetts is offering to help the unemployed find work by providing subsidies for Internet access, and in some cases doling out free equipment.
Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announced a program Tuesday at the Springfield Innovation Center that will offer subsidies and tech assistance to unemployed residents, with the goal of helping them find work.
Unemployed individuals are eligible for a subsidy if they live in a Charter or Comcast service territory; residents of other communities may be eligible for a personal cellular hot spot from Verizon. The agency implementing the new service, MassHire, is also connecting individuals with a vendor that is handing out Chromebooks if they do not have a device at home."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Gov Baker tweeted Tuesday with the announcement as one of three made that day https://twitter.com/MassGovernor/status/1346562007781298177
"Today our Administration launched 3 programs to boost internet connectivity for residents across MA:
- Rightwards arrow New subsidy to assist job-seekers within @MassHireCenter
- who face tech barriers
- Rightwards arrow WiFi hotspots targeted to Gateway Cities
- Rightwards arrow Expanding @MassBroadband hotspots in Western MA"
 |
| 3 programs to boost internet connectivity for residents across MA |
MA House, Senate finish session by moving finish line past midnight
"The Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday morning passed long-awaited agreements on a $627 million economic stimulus bill and a multibillion-dollar transportation borrowing package, but only after bending its own rules — and the calendar — to finally get the proposals to Governor Charlie Baker’s desk.
Despite giving themselves five extra months to hash out major bills, lawmakers toiled until 4:42 a.m. in a chaotic end to their two-year session. It came well past what was supposed to be a deadline of midnight Tuesday to complete their work, and hours into the same day the new legislative class will be sworn in.
The last-minute deal on the economic development package featured a measure Baker has long sought to help speed housing production, and it would unlock hundreds of millions in borrowing, including relief for businesses battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers said. The 101-page bill did not include, however, language legalizing sports betting that had passed the House but ran into opposition in the Senate."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/05/metro/last-gasp-major-bills-remain-limbo-with-legislature-barreling-toward-end-session/
"WITH SOME LEGISLATIVE sleight of hand, the House and Senate extended their sessions from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and succeeded in passing most of the major pieces of legislation still pending on Beacon Hill.
A trimmed down transportation bond bill, an economic development bill without sports betting, legislation dealing with college campus sexual violence, and a handful of other measures all made it to the finish line by moving the finish line from Tuesday at midnight, when the legislative session was scheduled to end, to the wee hours of Wednesday morning."
Continue reading the article online
75 Historic Women Trailblazers of MA
visitMA (@VisitMA) tweeted on Tue, Jan 05, 2021:
Looking to get inspired for the #NewYear? Read about 75 Historic Women Trailblazers of #Massachusetts, who helped shape our state and nation. #mylocalma @newenglandvisitLink to PDF and visitor guide = https://t.co/hseTNdc4rx
Shared from Twitter = https://t.co/LpsdRTEzyi
 |
| 75 Historic Women Trailblazers of MA |
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Franklin, MA: Board of Health Meeting - Agenda - Jan 6, 2021
Franklin Board Of Health
Duly Scheduled Meeting And Public Hearing
Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 5:00 PM
AGENDA
1) Reading and Acceptance of December 2, 2020 meeting minutes
2) OLD BUSINESS
3) NEW BUSINESS
- Dashboard update
- Discussion of COVID-19 Vaccine for first responders
- Virtual PIC training grant update
- Messaging grant update
- Local upgrade approval for 441 Maple Street
- Approval of BOH monthly meeting dates for 2021 Chairman opens the floor for any other new business
4) CITIZENS COMMENTARY
5) ADJOURNMENT
The agenda doc contains connection info
 |
| Franklin, MA: Board of Health Meeting - Agenda - Jan 6, 2021 |
Community Preservation Committee seeks At-Large Candidates
Community Preservation Committee seeks At-Large Candidates
The Town of Franklin seeks interested residents who wish to be a member of the inaugural Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The Town voted overwhelmingly to approve the adoption of the Community Preservation Act at the November 2020 election. The Town Council established a Community Preservation Committee(CPC) in December and is seeking applicants for the four At-Large seats.
We have opened the application period for the four (4) At-Large resident vacancies. If interested, please fill out the form and required information below. Resumes are optional but preferred and helpful. Application period: Monday, January 4, 2021, through Sunday, January 24, 2021.
If you are interested in serving please apply here:
http://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php
The new Town bylaw can be found here:
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/signed_cpc_bylaw_20-864.pdf
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/signed_cpc_bylaw_20-864.pdf
For more information on Community Preservation visit the town website, which will continue to evolve as the program gets active:
https://www.franklinma.gov/community-preservation-committee
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/cpc_vacancy...
https://www.franklinma.gov/community-preservation-committee
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/cpc_vacancy...
Shared from the Town of Franklin page https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/community-preservation-committee-seeks-large-candidates
 |
| Community Preservation Committee seeks At-Large Candidates |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)