St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group - May 1

St Mary's Women's Faith Formation is pleased to announce that Fr. Flavio from La Salette Shrine will be speaking at our May meeting about "Making Mary Part of Our Lives". 

Our meeting will  be held Saturday morning, May 1, starting at 9:30 AM on Zoom. There will be time for discussion.  This meeting is open to all women. 

If interested in attending this 45 minute meeting, please email Deacon Guy (deaconguy@stmarysfranklin.org) for Zoom link contact information.  

This will be our last session until we restart again in the fall.  

St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group - May 1

 

Recap: School Committee approved FY 2022 budget, Parmenter shares highlights, District Improvement Plan status updates

Quick Recap:

• School Committee approved their FY 2022 budget after receiving word on the amount the Town would fund (which was not discussed in the Joint Budget meeting on Monday)
• Parmenter Elementary presented their highlights using staff, students and children integrated in the presentation
• Re-opening fully in person underway, 700+ students remain remote in virtual academy, items being worked here and there; pool testing now Tue/Thu and will continue through end of school year
• Updates to the District improvement plan #2 ad #3 provided including
  "Marking the moment" of a microaggression as a teachable moment, either on the spot or to return to and address

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #schcom0413
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom0413&src=typeahead_click

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter c be found in one folder https://photos.app.goo.gl/XowahZLSvMbYnTA58

• Real time reporting about to begin for the #schcom0413 meeting
• Meeting opens with Chair Bergen reading the standard protocol message, #schcom0413  Executive session to follow public portion. Tim and Jen not yet present for this session via roll call
• Agenda doc and connection info can be found #schcom0413 https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-13-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

FHS student updates 

• FHS student updates; return to school went well, issues with lunch being worked, also with hallway and spacing, National Honor Society doing drive for Food Pantry #schcom0413 today's lunch better than Monday. Track tournament this week, theater beginning new production

Superintendent's report  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_april_13_2021.pdf

• Superintendent report, box at municipal bldg for food pantry also. Thanks to staff across district for reopening. #schcom0413 grant received for tilt skillet at FHS kitchen $18k, spring sports sign up underway. April vacation next week, stay safe.

Parmenter presentation

• Parmenter school presentation next #schcom0413 https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/parmenter  slides to follow along with
• Slides #schcom0413
• Approx 46+ via Zoom, additional via live stream, still others via Comcast/Verizon cable. Google transcripts working on the audio feed provides a nice accessible feature. #schcom0413
• Love the Maya Angelou quote shared: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."  #schcom0413
• Multiple short videos with student presentation and voices highlighting the work being done #schcom0413
• Poetry unit in 4th grade, civics in 5th grade,  examples of work being done #schcom0413
• Over 100 new titles added to the school library, good to see some of the titles shared #schcom0413 at school council level a key Ibram X Kendi text was used
• #schcom0413 looking for high school or college age mentors for student program, contact the principal if you know of one or more
• "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" Wayne Dyer - another timely quote  #schcom0413
• BTW as Committee gets into feedback and questions on the Parmenter presentation Keenan and D'Angelo are present #schcom0413
• Tiered support common across district albeit named or delivered slightly differently. Also working to align the tiering for content and the tiering for SEL #schcom0413

District improvement plan

• Moving on the district improvement plan items #2 and #3  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/sc_dip_2_and_3_updates_4_13_21.pdf #schcom0413
• Mixing metaphors talking of the compass rose as an anchor #schcom0413
• "Marking the moment" of a microaggression as a teachable moment, either on the spot or to return to and address #schcom0413
• #schcom0413 year 1 of 2 year plan  for new social studies framework implementation
• 8th grade tackling civics this year (interview with soc studies teachers on this shared earlier this school year)
• Homework monitoring leading into grading revisions. #schcom0413
• Request for presentation on civics action projects for future meeting "Envisions" not meeting needs, may shift to "Illustrative Math". all programs need supplements, no one program is perfect.
• Using benchmarks to compare the programs based upon the content taught, also will use MCAS as available. #schcom0413 Next update #3
• #schcom0413 remote IEP meetings became a reality due to the pandemic. Leveraged every thing that could be used
• After the Parmenter presentation, dropped down to 26+ via Zoom No questions after the #3 round. #schcom0413  Moving to discussion action and the budget

Discussion action items - FY 2022 budget

• Did get a 2.2m or 3.4% increase from Town since last time so the previous view of the budget can be reduced to meet the town amount by $700k  #schcom0413 Based upon Gov Baker's numbers, not the House/Senate agreement to provide more than the Governor provided
• Revised budget pages https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/budget_changes.pdf
• #schcom0413  How can we prepay from this year? Favorable amounts in budget this year; subs in particular. There are fewer positions in the budget already
• #schcom0413 the gap has been covered in part by COVID funds helping to offset some expense amount. Chair Bergen providing historical background on budget over the years. Two key reasons: 2.5% restriction placed 40+ years ago things cost more each year than that
• #schcom0413 1) apples to oranges comparison to compare schools to police/fire. We can only spend what we collect. 2) Special ed is too much. We need to provide for them until they are 22. 3) we are competing for teachers and not overpaying.
• Ready to vote on the recommendation; motion and second, vote via roll call passes 6-1 (Pfeiffer no) #schcom0413
• Motion and second on policy adoption https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/d-b-policy … #schcom0413 vote via roll call 7-0

Reopening update

• Reopening update  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/reopening_schools_status_update_april_9_2020-2021.pdf
• 738 virtual only across district per family choice, metrics in packet, pool testing Tues/Thur with students back #schcom0413 follow guidelines please, others schools have gone remote temp due to exposure  Will continue pool testing thru end of year, monitoring activity closely
• #schcom0413 keeping in mind recruiting; nurses, substitutes, etc. Appreciate flexibility in the community and staff, not all staff is vaccinated yet. 3rd round of stimulus expected in May
• #schcom0413 if some purifiers are extra can they be used elsewhere? Any parent concerns, should be addressed to the schools directly. No Community comments, questions.
• Joint budget subcomm yesterday. Community relations meeting Apr 28  Policy - mtg 4/29; SWAC update in newsletter this week, last meeting in May. Summer workshop on goals, evaluation anyone for an ad-hoc Committee for that
• #schcom0413 Calendar for next meeting, diversity awareness, Remington, draft SchCom calendar for next year

Consent Agenda

• Consent agenda - recommend approval, motion and second, passes  7-0 via roll call #schcom0413
• Motion to enter executive session and not to return to public, motion and second, passes via roll call 7-0
• That's all for tonight, catch you next time!

 

Recap: School Committee approved FY 2022 budget, Parmenter shares highlights, District Improvement Plan status updates

Drive Up Window Schedule at the Municipal Building - Apr 20

Drive Up Window Schedule at the Municipal Building

On Tuesday, April 20, the Drive-Up window at the Town Hall will be closed due to work on the bricks and glass, as part of the building window project. 

The Treasurer's office will be open and residents are welcome to come into the lobby for any in-person transactions. 

Thank you. 

Drive Up Window Schedule at the Municipal Building - Apr 20

Photography – Reflecting Through Lens and Pen (video)

Marjorie Sardella of Beaux Regards Photographic Art recently gave Zoom presentation to the Franklin Art Association titled "Reflecting Through Lens and Pen."

If you missed the presentation on Zoom, you can view it on YouTube!
https://t.co/5LRLnjc5Uu  or here https://youtu.be/e10hYd1yP00
#fdp
#photography

Please help us include non-english speaking residents on this project!

Dear Friend,

We want to thank you for your involvement in the Charles River Watershed Association's project: Building Resilience in the Charles River Watershed. After hosting our initial webinar and several smaller community meetings we are happy to announce that we have some multilingual materials available! Please help us share this survey with any groups that may not have been able to participate due to language barriers.

Building Resilience in the Charles River Watershed

The Charles River Watershed Association has created a flood monitoring tool that will show flooding scenarios in the Charles River Watershed depending on different time periods, rainfall increases, and potential green infrastructure solutions. Members of the Watershed area can use the tool to predict and implement the best ways to respond to flooding due to our changing climate. 

If you would like to learn more about the project, watch the video linked below, Or refer to the attached informational flyer. Please take time to fill out this survey and share it with fellow watershed residents. Data that will be used to determine what flooding scenarios and nature-based solutions will be tested with the tool.

 Closed captioning on the video, the attached document, and the survey can be found in LANGUAGES.

Feedback Survey 

• Learn more about the project by watching this video (https://youtu.be/VlaV2256bKg)

• CC available in multiple languages

Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW)or CREW, is a 501c3 non-profit devoted to building up grassroots resilience in communities by engaging networks of local leaders through education, service, and planning. We have teamed up with the Charles River Watershed Association to help spread the word about this important project.

Thanks so much for your time,

Hola,

Me llamo Anna, y soy una pasante por CREW (Communities Responding to Extreme Weather). Estamos trabajando con CRWA (Charles River Watershed Association) en un proyecto para monitor la inundación en la Cuenca de Río Charles. 

Para el proyecto, queremos respuestas e información de los residentes de la cuenca del Río Charles. Favor de tomar unos minutos para completar ESTA ENCUESTA. También, pedimos que comparta la encuesta y el volante de información con su comunidad. Su voz y opinión son muy importantes! 

Gracias por su tiempo,

Anna

Encuesta

Volante de Información

Olá,

Esperamos que este e-mail encontre você bem. Por favor, desculpe o google tradutor. Comunidades que respondem a condições climáticas extremas ou EQUIPE. está trabalhando com a CRWA (Charles River Watershed Association) em um projeto de monitoramento de enchentes na Bacia do Rio Charles.

Para o projeto, queremos respostas e informações dos moradores da bacia do rio Charles. Reserve alguns minutos para concluir ESTA PESQUISA. Além disso, pedimos que você compartilhe a pesquisa e o folheto informativo com sua comunidade. Sua voz e opinião são muito importantes!

Obrigado pelo seu tempo,

Inquérito português

 

Folheto Informativo

你好，

我们希望这封电子邮件对您有帮助。请原谅Google翻译。响应极端天气或CREW的社区。正在与查尔斯河流域协会（CRWA）一起在查尔斯河流域进行洪水监控项目。

对于该项目，我们需要查尔斯河流域居民的答案和信息。请花几分钟完成此调查。另外，我们要求您与社区共享调查和信息单张。您的声音和意见非常重要！

中文调查

 

信息传单

 

谢谢你的时间，

--

Ethan Parker McDonough

He/Him/His

Special Project Coordinator at C.R.E.W

University of New Hampshire

ethan@climatecrew.org

(207)475-2428

Video link = https://youtu.be/VlaV2256bKg

"lawmakers are taking a “cautiously optimistic approach” to Massachusetts’s fiscal picture"

"HAPPY DAYS are here again. That may not be the case for most Massachusetts residents, still in the grip of the COVID pandemic, but it appears to be the case for state budget writers – at least for now.

The House Ways and Means Committee budget proposal released Wednesday would spend $47.649 billion in fiscal 2022 – or $1.8 billion more than what Gov. Charlie Baker proposed, and a 2.6 percent increase over this year’s budget.

The House budget includes no new revenue initiatives and no significant spending cuts – and doesn’t rely on the enormous influx of federal dollars that are expected to flow into Massachusetts from the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed in March. "

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/house-budget-boosts-spending-keeps-fed-funds-in-reserve/

 

The House Ways and Means budget  https://malegislature.gov/Budget/HouseWaysMeansBudget

House Ways and Means Committee budget

James Montgomery Returns to THE BLACK BOX Outdoors Under the Tent - Apr 23

THE BLACK BOX will welcome back The James Montgomery Band on April 23rd at 7:30 pm as part of THE BLACK BOX Spring Arts Awakening for an outdoor, socially distanced evening of live music.  Tickets are available for the live show Under the Tent at the BLACK BOX and also to watch the live-stream from home. Masks and social distancing are required. 

In 1970, while attending Boston University, Montgomery formed The James Montgomery Band. His inimitable harmonica playing combined with his incredibly energetic live shows led to the band's quick ascension on the New England music scene. Within two years, The James Montgomery band was among the hottest acts in Boston along with J. Geils and Aerosmith, and they were quickly signed to a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records.

Since that time, James has recorded six albums. His first, "First Time Out" has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn. Other include "James Montgomery Band" on Island Records which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, "Duck Fever" with members of the David Letterman Band, "Live Trax," with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, "The Oven Is On."

Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, and others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax."

Over the years, Montgomery's band has been a springboard for many musicians. Members of his band have included Billy Squire, Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Jeff Golub (Rod Stewart), Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), Nunzio Signore (Bo Diddley), Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles Orchestra, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Bobby Chouinard (drummer with Ted Nugent, Squire and Robert Gordon), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), Aerosmith's Tom Gambel, and many others.

In-person and virtual tickets are available at  www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370. Follow THE BLACK BOX on social media to stay updated on the venue’s offerings. 

 

James Montgomery Returns to THE BLACK BOX Outdoors Under the Tent - Apr 23