Franklin Public Schools: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Feb 25

Policy Sub Committee Meeting

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)  
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 6:00 PM

Agenda

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

I. Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

1. BEDB - Order of Business

2. Policy Distribution Folder

II. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. None

III. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

Agenda doc and connection information:  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/2.25.2021_policy_subcommittee_meeting_agenda.pdf

Franklin Public Schools: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Feb 25

Rain barrel orders available - Water conservation rebates now available

"It's that time of year again! Spring is right around the corner and it's time to consider installing a rain barrel at your home. The Great American Rain Barrel Company is offering Franklin residents discounted barrels for just $69. Residents may then apply for a $50 water conservation rebate from the DPW for a total cost of only $19 (rebates are limited to two per household)! 

Order before midnight on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 and pick up at the DPW Admin Office (257 Fisher St, Franklin) on Wednesday, May 12, from 4-6 PM."

Click here for more information or to order: https://www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/community/

How to apply for a water conservation rebate:

https://www.franklinma.gov/public-works/news/water-conservation-rebates-now-available

Shared from Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/931498886934582/posts/3903972679687173/

Rain barrel orders available

"Riley’s announcement got a mixed reception"

 

"TAKING DIRECT AIM at Massachusetts school districts and teachers unions that have been reluctant to return to in-person instruction, state education commissioner Jeff Riley said he wants to use state education regulations to push districts to bring students back to the classroom.

Riley said Tuesday that he wants to see elementary grade students back in school five days a week in April, with older grades possibly to follow after that.

Adopting a much more aggressive posture than state officials have taken in a debate that has divided the education community, Riley said he’ll seek authorization to deem remote instruction not eligible to be counted toward state-required “structured learning time” hours. The proposal, unveiled Tuesday morning to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, would give Riley leverage in pushing districts back into in-person classes, something he, Education Secretary Jim Peyser, and Gov. Charlie Baker have been urging more schools to do for months. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/state-looking-to-force-school-reopenings/

 

Gov Baker's Press Conference video = https://youtu.be/r1_cncW2Tqo

FHS A World of Difference: video on Angela Davis

FHS A World of Difference (@Franklin_AWOD) tweeted on Tue, Feb 23, 2021:

Today's Black History Month Video is on human rights activist, scholar, and author: Angela Davis! https://t.co/UnVfVHteZ6

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/Franklin_AWOD/status/1364226161862209536

Today's Black History Month Video is on human rights activist, scholar, and author: Angela Davis! pic.twitter.com/UnVfVHteZ6

— FHS A World of Difference (@Franklin_AWOD) February 23, 2021

 

CommonWealth Magazine: "With ‘cliff’ looming, T stalls for time"

"MBTA officials are planning to put off the release of a new, five-year capital plan until June 2022, a move that reflects the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and also the political calculus of a governor running out of funding options for the T’s ambitious capital spending program.

 It may sound like a minor issue, but good government types recommend setting out capital spending targets in five-year increments. The Government Finance Officers Association says a multi-year plan is the best way to ensure proper development and management of capital assets and send a message to contractors that the money for projects is in the pipeline. “A capital plan should cover a period of at least three years, preferably five or more,” the association says."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/with-cliff-looming-t-stalls-for-time-2/

Learn more about the MBTA's capital projects https://www.mbta.com/projects/building-better-t-2020

tree clearing along the Franklin Line to prepare for the PTC improvements

The Guardian: "Drug-sniffing dog finds cereal frosted with $2.8m worth of cocaine in Ohio"

"US customs agents made a surprise discovery when a sniffer dog investigated what looked to be a perfectly innocent shipment of frosted cereal, only to discover that the sugar coating was in fact a large amount of cocaine.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Bico, a narcotic detector dog with US Customs and Border Protection, uncovered the haul of drugs in a shipment of breakfast cereal from South America that was headed to Hong Kong.

“Officers found white powder and the flakes were coated in a grayish substance after the dog alerted on the shipment,” the paper reported.

The value of the drug was estimated at $2.8m."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/22/cocaine-frosted-cereal-cincinnati

Finance Committee meeting - starting time changed to 6:30 PM Feb 24, 2021

 Finance Committee Meeting

February 24, 2021 - 6:30 PM 

(note time change)(was 6 PM)

 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. Approval of Minutes

a. January 13, 2021

4. Debt and Borrowing presentation

a. Kerri Bertone, Treasurer & Christopher Sandini, Finance Director/Comptroller

5. Fire Department Update

a. ALS/BLS and Mileage Rate Changes

b. Fire Truck Borrowing Resolution

6. Stabilization Funds Update & Comparabiles

7. Future Agenda Items

8. Adjourn

The full agenda and meeting documents (Note - doc was updated on Monday to show a change in start time from 6 to 6:30 PM)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-24-21_fincom_agenda_1.pdf

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/fincom_agenda_02-24-21_updated.pdf

In case you missed the Town Council discussion on the Finance presentation, you get another chance at this on Wednesday night. If you have a question that wasn't asked the first time around, now you have a chance of getting an answer.

Note the explanation on non-excluded debt vs. excluded debt and how both are funded.

Town of Franklin - Finance Presentation - 02/24/21 from Franklin Matters