"The activity in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund during COVID was historic"

"THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION on Friday gave lawmakers its most detailed accounting yet of the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, and said it is preparing to issue bonds to put the fund on sound financial footing.

“We will have to bond. There is no doubt,” said Rosalin Acosta, the secretary of labor and workforce development, in a presentation to the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee.

Acosta didn’t provide a full accounting of the fund — she promised that by the end of the month — but she did provide more information than she has in months. The Baker administration stopped issuing a monthly report on the unemployment insurance trust fund’s financial status in June and pushed the Legislature to use $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to bolster the fund’s finances.

The Legislature in the spring also gave the governor the authority to issue up to $7 billion in bonds to deal with any shortfall in the fund. At the time, the expectation was that the fund was deep in the red and the assumption was that bond proceeds would make the fund whole while lessening the financial blow on businesses. Instead of having to pay off any fund deficit immediately, the bonds would allow businesses to pay the deficit off over the multi-decade life of the bonds."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/acosta-says-bond-money-needed-for-ui-trust-fund/

“We’re so influenced by what we see”

“We know from other areas of work around public health or the environment that tax incentives have been used to help nudge companies toward doing the right thing when outright bans or punishments through penalties weren’t going to be sufficient to get something done,” Austin said.

Austin said First Amendment rights protect commercial speech, which means lawmakers cannot outright ban digital alterations of advertising images.

“There’s emerging research showing us that when readers see a diversity of body sizes, a diversity of skin shades, diversity of ages, they respond much more positively, and it’s protective for them,” Austin said.

Austin said she thinks it’s the businesses’ responsibility to do right by teenagers.

“Ultimately, it’s companies that are creating the toxic media environment for young people, and it’s companies that are going to have to solve it,” Austin said. “We’re showing them a way that they can do that.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/08/metro/legislation-aims-promote-mental-health-through-realistic-advertising-images/?event=event25

STRIPED (@HarvardSTRIPED) tweeted on Fri, Dec 10, 2021:

Great piece by @BostonGlobe reporter @_ChikaOkoye on @RepKayKhan & @BeccaRauschMA's innovative, evidence-informed legislation promoting #mentalhealth #bodyimage via realistic advertising images @RECOVERwithMEDA @HarvardChanSPH @EDCoalition @MentalHealth_MA

Link to Boston Globe article -> https://t.co/Iy2r38jcpy

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarvardSTRIPED/status/1469452744176111620

The Massachusetts Statehouse. CHIKA OKOYE

FHS gymnasts open with win at Sharon on Friday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action. 

Gymnastics = Sharon, 121.8 @ Franklin, 145.35 – Final

"Great way to kick of the season with a 145.35 win over Sharon's 121.8.

We started off strong on Vault; top 4 scores freshman Molly Chandler tied Junior Emma Nelson with an 8.5;  senior captain Caroline Woelfel with a 9.15; senior Lizzie Brown with a 9.2 and senior captain Kate Rudolph topping out with a 9.65. 

Bars your top 4 were Caroline with an 8.0; senior captain Elizabeth Schirduan with an 8.75; Kate with a 9.75; and senior Emma White with a 9.75.

Beam,  your top 4 were Junior Olivia Reagan with an 8.55; Caroline with a 9.1; Emma with a 9.35 and Kate with a 9.5. 

Floor your top 4 were Olivia with an 8.8; Caroline with an 8.85; Kate with a 9.4 and Emma with a 9.65!  

Caroline Woelfel with a career high All Around (AA) of 35.1 and Kate Rudolph with a career high AA of 37.7. What a way to start the season. 

I'm so proud of this team!!  We have work to do and need to turn around and get ready to con1pete against North Attleboro next Friday at 8:30 PM. Don't miss out watching this amazing group of girls!!"  Coach Paula Lupien via Twitter

For other results around the Hockomock League on Friday

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-12-10-21/

FHS Gym twitter -> https://twitter.com/fhs_gymnastics/status/1469538096257589249

Kate Rudolph FHS floor exercise & fan

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda - Dec 14, 2021

School Committee Meeting

Municipal Building - Council Chambers 

(Virtual Link in Agenda)

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made…. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy  BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations
A. Recognition of recent School Committee Members – Dr. Ahern

B. Lifelong Learning Presentation – Pattie Gay, Interim Director of Lifelong Learning
Institute    https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/lli_presentation_december_2021.pdf

III. Discussion/Action Items 
A. Dissolve Transportation Sub Committee
I recommend dissolving the Transportation Sub Committee as discussed.
B. DECA Field Trip for State Competition
I recommend approval of the request of Miguel Carmo to take students to the
DECA State Competition in Boston, MA from March 10-12, 2022 as detailed.
C. New York City Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Paul Cadenhead and Miguel Carmo to
take NBHS (National Business Honor Society) students to NY City on April 9, 2022
to visit the Stock Exchange, Wall Street and the World Trade Center as detailed.

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. 2022-2023 School Committee Meeting Schedule - DRAFT   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/22-23_scschedule-draft.pdf

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Supt. Evaluation, Budget,
Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force,
School Wellness Advisory Council, SEPAC, DEI Committee)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 23, 2021 School
Committee meeting as detailed.
B. Athletics Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $33.00 from Campus Box Media for
Supplemental Supplies for the Athletics Department as detailed.
C. Districtwide Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $295.00 from BJ’s Wholesale Club for
in-house enrichment districtwide as detailed.
D. Jacqueline A Schaeffer Theatre Arts Scholarship
I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Sean Jobin for the
aforementioned FHS scholarship as detailed.
E. Vincent & Alma DeBaggis Scholarship
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from Roberta Trahan for the
aforementioned FHS scholarship as detailed.

VIII. Payment of Bills Ms. Spencer

IX. Payroll Ms. Stokes

X. Executive Session

a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A §21(a)(2) to conduct collective bargaining with nonunion personnel as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the Chair so declares.

XI. Adjournment 

Agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_12-14-21.pdf

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-14-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda -  Dec 14, 2021

Franklin, MA: School Committee Budget Workshop - Dec 14, 2021

School Committee Budget Workshop
6:00 PM Municipal Building, 

3rd Floor Training Room

Agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_budget_workshop_12-14-2021.pdf

Or embedded here:

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Tri-County Welcomes Guest Panel to Speak to Freshman

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School welcomed a panel of eight speakers, four of which are alum, who are in non-traditional careers on December 1, 2021. A non-traditional career is defined is by the US Department of Labor as an occupation in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25% of the individuals employed in such occupation. The panel included an early educator, firefighter/paramedic, plumber, police officer, cosmetologist, engineer, salon owner, and dental assistant. 

Guest Panel provides advice to Freshman

Each panelist had the opportunity to speak about what and who inspired them to pursue their careers, what a typical day at work looks like, the positive and negative aspects of having a non-traditional career, and offered advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in a non-traditional role. Salon owner, Ken Tracy, was encouraged by his high school guidance counselor to attend Malden School for Girls in the 1960s and during the visit his passion was ignited. He noted that in his early days as a hair stylist his friends would ask him why. After he became a salon owner and found success in the profession he loved, his friends apologized for the negative comments they had made. 

Many of the panelists noted the positives of being in a non-traditional career. For the early childhood educator he has found that male students flock to him as one of the only male teachers and seem to find it easier to make a connection with him. The mechanical engineer noted that she was frequently the only female on a team and was called upon to work on machines because her smaller hands were able to fit into spaces her male counterparts could not. The female police sergeant noted that her communication skills and compassion has allowed her to defuse tension during calls.

Tri-County Welcomes Guest Panel

After the discussion students were able to ask questions of the panel and the freshman had thoughtful queries to help them understand if they would like to pursue a non-traditional career.

Misinformation and democracy: How can we find truth in the age of misinformation?

"The past several years have seen a massive, sometimes malicious, assault on our sense of shared reality. The combination of social media and conspiracy theories has increased the reach and velocity of destructive lies. As a result, both the physical and political health of our country have been placed at risk.

On public health, the dissemination of misinformation about COVID-19 and the safety of vaccines has been responsible for thousands of avoidable deaths. Public benefit from the miraculous development of vaccines was partially squandered. Some politicians even echoed fraudulent information for political benefit – riding a wave of falsehoods with casualties when it crashes to the shore.

On America’s civic health, the tribalization of information is a serious threat to democracy. Many Americans live in ideological bubbles where their main sources of information gain profit by feeding fear and anger. In some cases, it has encouraged the self-radicalization that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection and other violence. "

Continue reading the article online 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/12/09/threat-democracy-misinformation-covid-age/6430888001/?s=03

The research report that drove the article can be found here ->

https://www.publicagenda.org/reports/partisan-animosity/

Direct link to report ->  https://www.publicagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Putting-Partisan-Animosity-in-Perspective-REPORT-Final-2.pdf

hidden common ground