Franklin To Elect Delegates To Democratic State Convention - July 17, 2021

Registered Democrats in Franklin will hold a caucus on July 17, 2021 at 2 PM to elect Delegates and Alternates to the 2021 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention.  The caucus will take place virtually on zoom. Democrats who wish to participate virtually may register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMocOurqjguHNWRtmkRlT4FNs6GohTkSuJx

This year’s state convention will be held on September 25th at the Tsongas Center, Lowell, MA, where Democrats from across the state will come together to adopt a Party platform, discuss Party business and celebrate our successes as we prepare for upcoming elections. The event will take place in-line with all federal, state and local health guidelines and will include a virtual option for participation.

The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Franklin. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by June 15, 2021 will be allowed to participate and run as a Delegate or Alternate.  Franklin can elect 14 Delegates and 4 Alternates to the Convention.  

Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals who are not elected as a Delegate or Alternate may apply to be an Add-on Delegate at the caucus or at www.massdems.org by August 6, 2021.  

Those interested in getting involved with the Franklin Democratic Town Committee should contact chair@franklindemocrats.org.  

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

Project envoy continues its work - "Survey finds significant food insecurity among Massachusetts families"

Project Envoy will be at the community table for the next 5 weeks sharing information about food insecurity and bringing awareness to the Franklin Food Pantry.  

Be sure to stop by and visit them.

#buyfrankfresh #farmersmarket #franklinma

Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/533086900084632/posts/4332672013459416/

Coincidentally, the Boston Globe has an article on a recent study by MassINC:

"Nearly half of Massachusetts parents in a recent survey said their families experienced food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic, but many who were eligible for federal assistance didn’t seek it because they weren’t fully informed about the program, according to The MassINC Polling Group.

About 47 percent of those surveyed reported experiencing food insecurity over the past year, but only about 40 percent of that group received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, according to a statement from MassINC.

Fewer than half of those making $25,000 a year or less, an income that would most likely allow them to qualify for SNAP, actually received benefits, according to the survey."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/24/metro/survey-finds-significant-food-insecurity-among-massachusetts-families/
 

The MassINC survey results:  https://www.massincpolling.com/the-topline/survey-p-ebt-helped-thousands-of-families-access-food-but-as-food-insecurity-remains-high-other-assistance-programs-are-underutilized

Produce at the South Street Congregational Church food pantry in Pittsfield, Mass.BEN GARVER/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Franklin Cultural Festival opens registration for artisan vendors

ARTISAN VENDORS WANTED. Franklin Cultural Festival

Sunday, September 12, 12-6 PM

The Juried Craft Fair will be one element of the Franklin Cultural Festival, an event that also includes food trucks, a beer garden, and live performances. The Craft Fair will be made up of adult work by professional and semi-professional artisans, as well as a youth section of booths for crafters 18 and under. The Franklin Cultural Festival is hosted by the Franklin Cultural Council.

Link to request a spot as vendor: http://bit.ly/craft_fair_entry

In case the short link doesn't work for you try this:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdB7ClNOwlMqzCZ1huDBJbMu_2ky4pKhjfzZla5CNT7BfANTQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3ThJup7yP1fs8eeEFkg_raK0-FQTgVhkCQNxRSZJua50zC-o6iaDiuksg&pli=1

Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/399575860396247/posts/1455577048129451/

Franklin Cultural Festival opens registration for artisan vendors

Recap - School Committee - good work and progress highlighted room for opportunity on communications remains as school year closes

Quick Recap:

• Update on the Virtual learning academy (VLA) provided. This 'virtual school' served the remote students for all the elementary schools and without explicitly saying so found disparity among the different schools by grade level and brought the students to a good place for this challenging year. Interesting stat - 270 students started the year, 220 finished (50 went into school with return of in person learning).
• Update on the District Improvement Plan for their diversity, inclusion and equity work highlights the need for additional communications as many in the community were unaware of this work being done with a cross section of stakeholder representation. For a recent example, the FHS incident report was shared only with the direct FHS community and not the broader Franklin community
• Davis Thayer transition moves to next phase as building materials, etc. get determined to move or whatever. Decision to turn building over to Town is still a future item, timeline TBD.
• Workshop planned for July session in place of regular meeting, discussion of an outside audit a possible topic to find out what we have, where we could be and plan accordingly. The 3rd party view would augment the info provided to the Committee

----

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

 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/F9uRGSN6ejSb3GkR8

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #schcom0608

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom0608&src=typeahead_click 

 

Agenda document - https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/agenda-6-22-21

 

Meeting packet folder - https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/june-22-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

 

• Real time reporting underway for the School Committee meeting, last one of this school year #schcom0622

Virtual Learning Academy update

• Presentation on the virtual learning academy https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/vla #schcom0622
• VLA started with 270 students and when in person returned they only dropped to about 220. #schcom0622
• Digital learning integrationists were invaluable to the academy. #schcom0622
• Overview of the VLA a testament to creativity, collaboration of the teachers, etc. #schcom0622
• More slides from presentation deck #schcom0622
• The VLA principal also did a guest role sharing experience from a prior role as a park ranger at the Badlands Natl Pk. #schcom0622
• What was a favorite part of school? A sample of the results #schcom0622
• 4th grade one word response to the school year #schcom0622

District Improvement Plan - goals update

• Next up district improvement goals update on SEL and related topics #schcom0622 (a cool practice to take a few collective breaths)
• Presentation deck for this update so you can follow along https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sel.
•  #schcom0622#schcom0622 SEL site reference with monthly focus points https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net
• Counseling is a growing need #schcom0622
• Staff support via professional Development #schcom0622
• Monitoring to ensure effective delivery, along with check-in #schcom0622
• Diversity update #schcom0622
• Diversity next steps #schcom0622
• SEL and school safety, some of the protocol will remain, #schcom0622
• Feedback from students received to enhance the handbook with relatable language and examples of what some of the violations would be. #schcom0622 make it in more of kid friendly language

Discussion action items

• Discussion action items, https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/d1-policy #schcom0622 motion to move to second reading, passes 7-0

Reopening status

• Next up, reopening status https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/status-update-6-18-21 #schcom0622 COVID pool testing ends with the closure of school. DESE updated requirements for summer school in regards to masks, encouraged for unvaccinated; clinic last week for middle schools, 120 first vaccines

Information matters

• Information matters, reminder in budget brochure to be shared; policy meeting July 28; workshop at July 27 meeting in lieu of regular meeting #schcom0622 Next meeting July 13, mostly routine things; raising possible outside audit for workshop discussion
• Dr Bergen comments on last day of school year. #schcom0622

Consent agenda

• Consent agenda motion to approve, seconded, desire to split them as D'Angelo was not part of the two meetings, she abstains from both of those separate votes; other three combined passes 6-0 (Spencer left) via roll call #schcom0622
• Motion to adjourn, passes 6-0 via roll call That's all for tonight, catch you next time!

  

Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

 

good work and progress highlighted room for opportunity on communications remains as school year closes

FRIENDLY FITNESS FUNDRAISER Timeless CrossFit and Fitness - June 26

FRIENDLY FITNESS FUNDRAISER Timeless CrossFit and Fitness

This Saturday June 26 - 9 AM-12 noon

TAKE A SNEAK-PEEK AT SOME OF OUR AWESOME RAFFLE ITEMS BELOW!

Partner workouts, there's something for everyone or just come hang out!

Raffle #1: $100 Downtown Sports Gift Card

Raffle #2: Free private gymnastics lesson, water bottle and kids T shirt @ Flipside Gymnastics

Raffle #3: Mac Makeup Gift Bag ($100 value), Traveling Beauty

Raffle #4: Free Spray Tan with Margaret Lampanosa **

Raffle #5: $100 Gift Card to California Nails

Raffle #6: Vitamin and Energy boost IV treatment from RevIVe Advanced Therapy.($150 value)

Raffle #7: Franklin Nutrition gift basket

Raffle #8: Franklin Nutrition gift basket

Raffle #9: The Rome Restaurant gift card

Raffle #10: Jack Daniels Cornhole Set

Raffle #11: Jack Daniels YETI Cooler

Raffle #12: Jack Daniels Tote with Tees/Tanks and BBQ essentials

Raffle #13: 4 Premium rocks glass with high end Bluetooth speaker

More raffle items on the way!

https://www.facebook.com/100001125155245/posts/4114034321977366/

For more on the purpose of this fund raiser:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/help-send-caroline-and-her-coach-to.html

send Caroline and her coach to the CrossFit Games

MA News Briefs: Governors race adding candidates ; Baker proposes to expand tax break holiday

Governors race adding candidates 

"Another day, another candidate in the race for Massachusetts governor not named Baker. Or Healey, for that matter. 

With today’s campaign launch by Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, three Democrats have now formally announced bids for the state’s top job. The Jamaica Plain lawmaker joins former Senate colleague Ben Downing and Harvard professor Danielle Allen in the race for the Democratic nomination."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/baker-healey-watch-as-field-for-governor-forms-2/ 

Gov Baker proposes to expand tax break holiday

"WITH MASSACHUSETTS on track to end the year with a multi-billion dollar surplus, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday proposed a two-month sales tax holiday that would give consumers a break from the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax in August and September in an effort to drive shoppers to local businesses. 

The major tax relief proposal would cost the state an estimated $900 million in forgone revenue, but the Republican governor said it would also be a way for the state to show appreciation to business owners and consumers who have contributed to the surplus by finding ways to support each other during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/baker-proposes-2-month-not-2-day-sales-tax-holiday/

 

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities in Marketing/Communications, Health nurse, Executive Asst, Custodians, etc.

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Marketing and Communications Specialist - Offices of the Town Administrator and Superintendent of Schools

  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/marketing-and-communications-specialist-jobposting-deadline-july92021.pdf

• Public Health Nurse - Health Department 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/public-health-nurse-posting-june2021.docx_0.pdf

• Regional Health Agent - Sanitary Inspections and Enforcement - Metacomet Public Health Alliance (apply through the Town of Wrentham) 

https://www.wrentham.ma.us/files/Wrentham%20Website%20Files/Human%20Resources/Employment%20Opportunities/Metacomet%20PHA_Regional%20Health%20Agent_Job%20Posting.pdf

• Executive Assistant - Town Administrator's Office 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/executive-assistant-posting-deadline-extended_1.pdf

• Part-time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/part-time.and-substitute-custodians-june2021.pdf

• Summer Jobs - Facilities Department - DPW summer positions are full - FACILITIES IS STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

Read more  -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities