Franklin Matters

Friday, August 27, 2021

MIAA statement on indoor mask wearing mandate

MIAA (@MIAA033) tweeted on Thu, Aug 26, 2021:

Read #MIAA statement from Executive Director Bob Baldwin regarding the recent indoor mask wearing mandate by @MASchoolsK12

#OneTeamOneMIAA

#maskupMIAA

😷 https://t.co/lB5Wr5onmp

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MIAA033/status/1430876874213924866?s=03

MIAA statement on indoor mask wearing mandate

"Climate change is fundamentally an issue of health equity and racial justice"

"AS THE WILDFIRES raged out west on July 26, we woke up to a hazy sky that was uncharacteristic of the Boston area. The usual clear and clean skies of living next to the ocean disappeared and our air quality hit a dangerous and “unhealthy” level. As healthcare workers looking at this thick smog, we knew to expect additional emergency department and office visits for respiratory complaints. People with asthma, including children, would have a harder time breathing because of the increased soot and particles in the air. This polluted air may also increase the transmission of COVID-19.
The fact that our air could be polluted from wildfires on the other side of the country is a stark reminder of our interconnectedness. It demonstrates that no one is safe from the ravages of climate change. Thousands of people in the Pacific Northwest visited emergency departments because of the extreme heatwave that swept through their communities this summer. Here in Boston, we experienced the hottest June on record, followed by the wettest July on record, and in August a tropical storm. As this is being published, we are in the midst of the fourth heat wave of 2021. For us, this translates into an unacceptable increase in the number of patients being treated in hospitals for heat exhaustion and asthma exacerbations."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/climate-change-is-fundamentally-a-health-issue/

Natalia Linos, a co-author of this article, is executive director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and a regular contributor to the wfpr.fm radio show "Toward a More Perfect Union"

We Are Convened - In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/we-are-convened-in-order-to-form-more.html

More Perfect Union can be found on Google Podcast (among others)

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tb3JlLXBlcmZlY3QtdW5pb24uY2FwdGl2YXRlLmZtL3Jzc2ZlZWQ

We Are Convened - In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

Mass.gov #COVID19MA vaccine update - Aug 26, 2021

Mass.gov (@MassGov) tweeted Thu, Aug 26, 2021:

Today's #COVID19MA vaccine update:

- 10,262,940 doses shipped to MA
- 9,146,498 total doses administered, 11,417 more than yesterday
- 4,472,630 people are fully vaccinated.

Read the full report: https://t.co/QFNcN55NVD

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassGov/status/1431003530849144840?s=03

Mass.gov #COVID19MA vaccine update

The Hill: "At least 90,000 students have had to quarantine because of COVID-19 so far this school year"

"Just weeks into the new school year, at least 90,000 children in 19 states have had to or are currently quarantining or isolating after contracting COVID-19 or coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the disease.
The disruptions have caused uncertainty for parents, students and school districts that had hoped to resume in-person instruction after a year marked by lockdowns and virtual learning.
The staggering number of K-12 students under quarantine is largely driven by the highly infectious delta variant that has taken hold as the dominant strain in the U.S.
....
Bans on school mask mandates and the fact that no vaccines have been approved for children under 12 are helping to drive cases."

Continue reading the article online

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/569565-at-least-90-thousand-students-have-had-to-quarantine-because-of-covid-19-so

Franklin Public Schools, MA: still looking to hire qualified candidates

FPS is hiring for a variety of positions districtwide.

We are seeking substitute teachers, school nurses, educational support professionals and more.

View the full list of employment opportunities here: https://t.co/jchQ1XRW0J

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1430643947274133506?s=03

The list of employment opportunities can also be found here

https://www.franklinps.net/district/human-resources/pages/employment-opportunities

Note: The School Committee and eventually the Town Council approved the budget to operate the school district. That authorization includes a set number of positions to fill, only a few of which were net new positions to the district. This continued hiring is to fill open slots created by retirements, resignations and personnel which the district determined not to renew the contracts of. "New" teachers may be new to the district, they are not (aside from the few mentioned) new positions.

Franklin Public Schools, MA: still looking to hire qualified candidates

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Recap: School Committee meeting - 8/24/21

Quick Recap:

The School Committee voted to adjust the agenda removing the mask policy from discussion for now as the DESE decision on masks was made earlier during the day and takes precedence. Comment time was provided and extended to accommodate the antivaccine folks
In regular business, the handbooks modified for this school year were approved unanimously. Health and Safety was split into a separate section to acknowledge the COVID-19 protocols, With the approval, the handbooks will be distributed to the families in advance of school opening this year.
Chair Bergen took a couple of minutes to thank those who have taken out papers to run for School Committee, letting them know this is an apolitical position, separate from the Town in many ways, there is an 8 hour course required to provide insights on how to operate successfully and legally within the guidelines. A good thing to make folks aware of. At least one successful candidate last time was even aware of the two meeting a month commitment until after they were elected. It is better to be prepared.

----

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 #schcom0824

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom0824&src=typeahead_click

Agenda doc (including connection info) -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-8-24-21

Agenda folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-24-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

Live reporting underway the School Committee meeting tonight. #schcom0824
Agenda item on masking for students taken off agenda given DESE action earlier today. #schcom0824
Citizen comment on the poor audio internal in the Chambers last week for the Policy subcommittee meeting was held #schcom0824
Superintendent's report, doc shared the day after the meeting; new faculty orientation this week, approx. 35 participating. Q prior on surplus text where to go? Places/orgs defined. #schcom0824
Thanks to the custodial and facility staff for their work to prep for opening, DPW for work on the grounds, Technology for their work preparing equipment for this year Motion and second to remove the policy items from agenda, passes 7-0 #schcom0824
Accept collaborative update, superintendent represents the district req to create a fund for capital accounts, students go out of district, about 10 students participate in accept training; Pfeffer has a host of questions; Q's answered motion passes 6-0-1 (stokes recuses)
Handbook updates provided by Giguere in coordination with the school vice principals (and legal review), health and safety in a separate section of handbooks, free lunch for all students this year. #schcom0824
Health and safety section: https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/health-info-memo. And presentation doc https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/health-pres #schcom0824
Highlights in the presentation cover changes from last year to this #schcom0824 Info from DESE expected on masks and social distancing - no minimum standard to go for this year. Lunch will be hard, K-8 easier than FHS
Testing options proposed #schcom0824 sub coverage for staff is a potential worry (as it was last year)
Visitors will be allowed this year and monitored carefully #schcom0824 clarification on a few points around the presentation and discussion Chair Bergen provides insights on background before the comment section (20 mins)
Parent comment on dissatisfaction with #schcom0824; parent of student with IEP and issues with mask and speech; parent says there is no room for mandate; parent upset with mask as incentive for vaccine and 80% as the requirement; parent (via zoom) (with poor connection)
#schcom0824 parent wants to get the info out on the testing are they authorized tests? Or emergency authorized?; Parent commending SchComm for their work; parent respectfully disagrees with other speakers who claimed they included her; difference between tests/ timing of exposure
Bridget Sweet, Board of Health Chair, acknowledges working with the School district to work with the guidelines from DESE. Asking to take heart that the BoH is doing what is best for everyone #schcom0824
Parent asking for school work for those who are out under quarantine; #schcom0824 parent says no evidence for folks with masks and learning effects, need real metrics for when it will end; Superintendent responds on 3 points, goal the same, measures may differ ...
1 things are fluid, there will be updates, 2 binex now (?) is an antigen test and a nasal swab. The committee vote on the handbook as discussed, moved and second, passes 7-0 #schcom0824
Back to school report https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/status-update-8-20-21 #schcom0824 Hockomock League still working on the sports protocol Still active in hiring, job fair had 15 candidates appeared last night, getting close to closing in on staff for this year
Info matters - Jumped back to new hiring list, clarification how and why, can they be supported by the budget! Yes, they are backfills for existing roles Policy to set meeting, with DESE guidance to be reviewed #schcom0824 thanks to those setting up to run for SchComm
8 hour course required for SchComm, apolitical role, separate from town, #schcom0824 Next meeting, district improvement plan, etc. Motion on 8/10 minutes, second, passes 6-0-1 (Jen abstains) Consent agenda, motion to accept, seconded, passes 7-0
Motion to adjourn , passes 7-0 That's all for tonight, catch you next time! #schcom0824

Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

Superintendent Ahern updating the SchComm without her mask at the request of one member who couldn't hear her with the mask