Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24

Earth Day is celebrated across the country on Thursday, April 22 this year.  However, the Town of Franklin is sponsoring Franklin Earth Day on Saturday, April 24, 9:00-12:00 PM with a clean up of the entire Town. 

 
Employees of the Franklin Recreation Department and Franklin Public Works will be on site at Beaver Pond to distribute trash bags and gloves along with maps of the sites we recommend for clean up.  

Community service letters will be given to students that need hours for school. 

 
100 tee shirts to the first 100 volunteers.  DPW will have 100 dogwood saplings as well

Register online

https://franklinrecreation.activityreg.com/ss_t2.wcs?leaguesid=2385&teamsid=11205

Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the budget year over year from FY 2012.

Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_budget_breakdown.pdf

The chart depicts the split between the municipal portion of the budget (police, fire, etc...) (orange color) and the school portion (both K-12 and others) (blue color) as well as showing the growth of the budget year by year.

municipal and school split over the FY 2012-FY2022 period

Prior posts

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

 

MA news: Mass. board of education approves two major changes

#1 

"For the first time since the MCAS became a graduation requirement in 2003, high school juniors will be exempt from having to pass the exam to receive their diploma.

The state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously approved the waiver on Tuesday. State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said the massive academic disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic made it necessary to suspend the requirement.

If not for the pandemic, juniors would have taken their 10th grade math and English MCAS exams last year. But when the tests were canceled, it meant they would not have at least three chances to take the tests and, if needed, receive academic support before graduation."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/20/metro/mass-board-education-waives-mcas-graduation-requirement-class-2022/

DESE announcement of the proposal https://mailchi.mp/doe.mass.edu/press-release-dese-makes-changes-to-mcas-schedule-graduation-requirements-for-11th-graders

#2

"State education officials on Tuesday approved preliminary changes to the admissions process at vocational high schools aimed at giving disadvantaged students a better chance of attending.

The unanimous vote by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education came after members and advocates criticized the current criteria as unfair to students of color, low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities, depriving them of an important career pathway.

The draft regulations, which were recommended by education Commissioner Jeff Riley, would eliminate the current requirement that vocational schools consider grades, attendance, discipline records, and recommendations from guidance counselors. Instead, the schools would be able to set their own criteria for admissions as long as those policies follow state and federal laws, lead to student demographics that are “comparable” to their communities’ school districts, don’t disproportionately deny admission to students from marginalized groups, and “promote equitable access for all students.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/20/metro/under-pressure-state-education-officials-vote-change-admissions-requirements-vocational-schools/ 

The Board of Education recap (including links to the video)   https://mailchi.mp/doe.mass.edu/commissioners-weekly-update-4-20-21-board-recap-fafsa-completion-campaign-update-on-quarantine-guidance-for-close-contacts

FM #518-519-520 - Town Council Mtg - 04/14/21 - 3 part audio

FM #518-519-520 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 518-519-520 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: most members of the Town Council, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, at least one member of the Council was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the almost 3 hour minute meeting into three logical segments:

• First - covers the opening  Sheriff McDermott’s update and the OPEB update (~63 mins)
• Second - covers the GATRA discussion (~42 minutes)
• Third - covers the Downtown parking requirements discussion and the remainder of the meeting (~72 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this meeting. 

Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of Apr 14, 2021

Audio file P1 =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/04a7a0ac-fa31-4046-9393-621f2333bdcf

Audio file P2 = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/91c1b768-60e8-4bf6-890f-fe59d6f55789

Audio file P3 = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d3146fb0-0336-46c2-97ee-ba2e1ea63f4b

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Agenda document folder
https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/april-14-town-council-agenda

 
My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/recap-town-council-mtg-apr-14-2021.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit   Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

"USDA extends universal free lunch through next school year"

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) tweeted on Tue, Apr 20, 2021:

"As I think this is a time for good news, here's some from @USDANutrition this afternoon:  https://t.co/E5oBYj6KWG

"The United States Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday it would extend universal free lunch through the 2021-2022 school year, in an effort to reach more of the estimated 12 million youths experiencing food insecurity.

In March, the USDA said these waivers, which made school meals more flexible to administer, would be extended only to Sept. 30, leaving schools and families uncertain about what next school year might look like."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/20/usda-extends-universal-free-lunch/

 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1384596200876281856

Statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka on Chauvin Trial Verdict

April 20, 2021

Statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka on Chauvin Trial Verdict

The verdict reached in the Derek Chauvin trial has brought relief to many of us, and a glimpse of hope for more accountability, and ultimately, justice. This evening, I am thinking of George Floyd, the many friends and family who loved him, and the pain of their irreparable loss. I am also deeply grateful for the courage of the witnesses who testified against Chauvin, as well as the countless individuals who persisted in protesting for accountability over the past year.

Last year, we began the long process of answering calls for change by passing nation-leading legislation to improve equity, transparency, and accountability in policing in Massachusetts. I am proud of this accomplishment, but I am determined to do more. I will continue to call on the Massachusetts State Senate to be intentional in our policymaking, and view all legislation through the lens of racial justice in order to break down the systemic barriers that have unfairly burdened generations of Black and brown people. As Senate President, I am personally committed to the hard work that will be required of all of us to make our Commonwealth a more equitable and just place.

Town of Franklin, MA: drive up window closed on Wednesday, Apr 21 - come into the lobby

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted on Tue, Apr 20, 2021:

"The drive thru window at the Municipal Building will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday April 21st. Residents are welcome to come into the lobby for transactions. Thank you!"

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1384616961296961536

Note: The windows are being replaced in the Municipal Bldg and the work on the drive up windows was estimated to take one day. It appears to have taken more than that hence the extension of the closure from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Original notification on Thursday April 15, 2021

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/drive-up-window-schedule-at-municipal.html

Town of Franklin, MA: drive up window closed on Wednesday, Apr 21 - come into the lobby