School Committee Agenda for 2/12/08

Franklin School Committee Meeting

February 12, 2008

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

7:00 P.M.

AGENDA

Call to order Mr. Roy

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

· Citizen’s Comments

· Review of Agenda

· Minutes:

I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 22, 2008 School Committee Meeting.

· Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly

· Payroll Ms. Armenio

· FHS Student Representatives

· Correspondence:

1. Letter from Rose Solbo

2. Letter from NEASC regarding FHS Acceditation

3. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations:

a. Strategic Planning – Dr. George Ladd

b. Lockdown Drills – Franklin Police

3. Discussion Only Items

· Second Reading of Policy KCD – Donation of Non-Budgeted Funds

· Superintendent’s Goals – Draft

· Consolidation of Facilities Department with the Town

4. Action Items:

1. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $50.00 from Ms. Terry Stone for the Jefferson Artist-in-Residence Program.

2. I recommend acceptance of the annual donation of $50.00 from Lueder’s Environmental Inc. for the Franklin Public Schools.

3. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $4,570.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for upcoming events at Davis Thayer as detailed.

4. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $200.00 from the Wachovia Foundation Matching Gifts Program for the Keller Elementary School.

5. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $525.48 from various donors as detailed for the Jefferson Artists-in-Residence Program.

6. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $325.00 from ARTBEAT The Creativity Store for the Franklin Public Schools as detailed.

7. I recommend approval of the request for an out of state field trip to the Metropolitan Opera in NY City for FHS students as detailed on April 5, 2008.

8. I recommend acceptance of the check for $465.72 from Follett Educational Services for the Parmenter gift account from surplus books.

5. Information Matters:

· Superintendent’s Report

a. Consolidation of Facilities

b. Superintendent’s Goals – Draft

c. Strategic Plan

d. Lockdown Drills

e. FY 09 Budget

· School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

· School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business:

· To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Adjourn

in the new - Planning Board & senior housing

Protests begin anew over Senior Village

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Following objections from neighbors, the Planning Board last night continued a public remand hearing for a 10-unit senior housing development on Chestnut Street.

-------------------------

Digital Learning - Part 2

As a follow up to yesterday's video on digital learning, here is another brief video out of the same Kansas State program with a similar powerful message (less than 2 minutes):





Note: The one sign that appears toward the end "Some have suggested that technology alone can save us? Who do we mean by "us"?

What do we want for our Franklin students?


The "we" is deliberate. We are all in this together. Together we can discuss and decide.

Important definitions

Jeff Roy has a couple of important posts on the Franklin School Committee blog:

Continuing the dialog on policy KCD

By Jeffrey Roy on Policy

In the continuing debate over the proposed policy on the donation of non-budgeted funds, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with additional resources on the topic. We have assembled a list of articles which discuss the topic, which, at best, can be described as a delicate balancing act. You can [...]

--------------------------

Defining supplement not supplant

By Jeffrey Roy on Policy

Franklin’s proposed policy on donations of non-budgeted funds (policy KCD) is the subject of two prior posts (#1 and #2). In this post, we address the supplement not supplant language. The proposed policy would encourage and welcome future giving, but only to the extent that the donations supplement rather than supplant – take the place of [...]

----------------------------

Digital Learning - What do we want for Franklin?

As we gear up for another discussion on grim finances and the sections of the taxpayers appear to be pitted against one another in a case of the "haves" vs. the "have-nots", the "fors" vs. the "against", I suggest we step back and discuss our priorities.

How do we enable an appropriate education for our children's digital future?

Spend four minutes of your time to view this:



This is a more pointed, that is education focused, version of the Web 2.0 explained that I shared here earlier.


What do we want for our Franklin students?


The "we" is deliberate. We are all in this together. Together we can discuss and decide.

In the news - money for brick

$5K donated to help keep Red Brick School open

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Working to keep a town landmark open despite budget uncertainties and possible restrictions on future donations, the Brick School Association has secured a $5,000 grant to help keep the building open.

--------------------------

Where in Franklin? - #30

Where in Franklin? - #30, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Where will you find this building in Franklin?

Guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?' can be found here.

Enjoy!

Where in Franklin? - Answer #29

Where in Franklin? - Answer #29, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The pictures of the bell tower and entrance apparently were unable to help identify that this building was the Franklin Federated Church, serving the First Congregational Church and the First Baptist Church.

Stay tuned for the next picture for "Where in Franklin?"

In the news - medal of valor

Medal of valor bestowed on fallen soldiers' families

By Paul Crocetti/Daily News staff

The Franklin Lodge of Elks yesterday posthumously bestowed the medal of valor on three local soldiers killed in Iraq.

---------------------------

The lodge presented the awards to the families of Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Robert Pirelli, Marine Lance Cpl. Shayne Cabino and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Elia Fontecchio.

Fire station update

Fire station is ahead of schedule

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Construction of the new $9.3 million fire station is ahead of schedule and slightly under budget, with officials fairly confident that the town can scrape together enough money to open the building early.

-----------------------------

Note: Jeff Nutting's comments to the Town Council meeting January 9th

In the news - layoffs in forecast

Franklin officials told of tight finances

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Working off the assumption the town will not dip further into its savings account, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting warned councilors last night that layoffs could be in store as the budget season begins anew.

--------------------------

Town Council Meeting 2/6/08 (Audio)

The complete audio file for the brief Town Council meeting held 2/6/08.

Highlights:

* FY 2008 school budget will be balanced without further funding from the Town
* High School building committee to be proposed early in March
* First look at School budget for FY 2009 coming at the School Committee meeting 2/26/08
* 2 Town bylaw changes moved to second reading
* Town Council will be asked whether to fund unemployment expenses from stabilization or from the respective budgets.

Time: 15 minutes, 5 seconds



MP3 File

In the news - grim finances, book about Charlie, Michael tried vegan

Finances look grim in Franklin

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - Working with drawn-down reserves and expecting only an additional $1.8 million in revenue, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting warned the Finance Committee last night that the next budget could require layoffs.

---------------------------

Franklin woman pens book on son’s fight with cancer

By Kate Sullivan Foley/CORRESPONDENT

If you don’t believe in miracles, you might just change your mind after reading, "Hope, Faith and Charlie."

---------------------------

Reporter reflects on a month of being a vegan

Daily News reporter Michael Morton gave it the ol' college try, but after a month of experimenting with a vegan lifestyle, he has returned to his former omniverous self. Michael recaps his experiment on the Food for Thought blog. Give it a read and let him know what you think by clicking on "Leave a Comment."

Agenda for Town Council Meeting 2/6/08

The agenda for the Town Council meeting 2/6/08 is available on the Town web site (PDF).

In the news - downtown fire at Delux Tux

Patriots lose Super Bowl, but their wedding tux orders are salvaged

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

FRANKLIN - While a three-alarm fire destroyed much of his brother-in-law’s downtown business just as Super Bowl XLII got under way, John Ricci discovered yesterday that customers’ paperwork somehow made it through the blaze relatively intact.

--------------------------