Franklin Matters

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Boston Globe: "Kids in need of remedial support already were vulnerable before the pandemic"

"Maureen Ronayne thought 2020 would be the year when, at long last, her 10-year-old son Daniel would learn to read at grade level. She and her husband had spent six years fighting to get Daniel, who is dyslexic, the supports he needed from the Medford public schools. Those included a spot at the school with the most reading support, a separate class at the school dedicated to reading remediation, and a private tutor funded partially by the district.

“He was definitely showing progress,” says his mother, who also has dyslexia, a disability that hinders a person’s ability to read words correctly and efficiently. The fourth-grader had made steady gains in the Wilson Reading System, a curriculum designed for students with reading difficulties, rising from 2.5 in the fall of 2019 to 3.2 last March. (The system has 12 steps designed to help struggling readers become able ones.)"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/19/magazine/schoolchildren-struggling-read-covid-19-has-been-wrecking-ball/

Boston Globe: "a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor"

David Abel (@davabel) tweeted on Tue, Jan 19, 2021:

"After years of protests, a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor https://t.co/DWe9KVmz44 via @BostonGlobe"

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/davabel/status/1351704672403394561

The Weymouth Compressor StationJOHN TLUMACKI/GLOBE STAFF

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Subcommittee Meeting - Jan 21, 2021

Policy Subcommittee Meeting

1/21/2021 = 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)

I. Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

1. GA - Personnel Policy Goals
2. GBA - Equal Employment Opportunity
3. Policy Distribution Folder

II. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. None

III. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

A. Policy BEDB - Order of Business
B. FPS Travel Policy
C. Continued Review of F Policies

Agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/1.21.2021_policy_subcommittee_meeting_agenda.pdf

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Jan 21, 2021

BFCCPS: Applications for 2021-2022 school year open and information session videos available

"In a traditional year, BFCCPS hosts information sessions so that interested families can meet us in person, learn more about the school and have a building tour. As a result of the continuing health crisis, in person meetings will not be possible this year so we’ve adjusted our plans accordingly.

This year, we have arranged for videos featuring our staff, parents, teachers and even a BFCCPS alumna to help you learn more about the BFCCPS Experience. While these videos can’t truly replicate our traditional face to face events we hope that our enthusiasm for the school is evident.

A virtual Question and Answer Session will be held in January 2021. Please stay tuned for details and registration. If you would like to watch all the videos in sequence, you can visit this YouTube playlist otherwise, you can watch selected videos below. "

Video link = https://youtu.be/FdtGxn5AKS4

Application available = http://bfccps.org/about/enrollment/?doing_wp_cron=1611099577.2429950237274169921875

Statement from House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka - Climate Change Legislation

"The ambitious and ground breaking climate bill that we sent with overwhelming bipartisan support from both the Senate and the House meets the urgency of the global climate crisis. Months of work was exhaustively studied by members of the conference committee, and the result was a bill that rejects the false choice between economic growth and addressing climate change. We must combat climate change while also maintaining a thriving economy and expanding the housing stock that will ensure future, sustainable growth. The legislation sent to the Governor showed how it can be done.

Today, the House and Senate introduce this legislation as written and passed. We are confident that members of the House and Senate will again act with urgency by swiftly sending this bill back to Governor Baker's desk."

and from CommonWealth Magazine articles on the climate change legislation:

Questions on Baker’s $6b climate change cost estimate

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/questions-on-bakers-6b-climate-change-cost-estimate-2/

Debunking Baker’s 6 reasons for climate veto

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/debunking-bakers-6-reasons-for-climate-veto/

Mariano, Spilka take defiant tone on climate change

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/mariano-spilka-take-defiant-tone-on-climate-change/

Mass Cultural Council: Learn about the COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals

"Learn about the COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals. The program offers grants of $1,500 to people who have lost income derived from their work as individual artists and independent teaching artists/humanists/scientists as a direct result of COVID-19 related cancellations and closures in Massachusetts.

Mass Cultural Council staff will discuss the application process, then take questions from attendees."

Shared from: https://t.co/2GU6H8MuGm

Application process: https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/covid-19-relief-fund-for-individuals/