Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Where in Franklin? Answer #33
Steve correctly identified picture #33 as part of the Franklin Commons on East Central St near Dunkin Dounts and Goodyear.
Thanks for playing Steve!
Stay tuned for the next in the series "Where in Franklin?"
Town Council Meeting agenda for 3/5/08
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Worthy of note in this agenda is the acceptance of Executive Session minutes from 1/23/08 (maybe a mistake as the copy is not actually included, and the copy that is included references the notes as of the meeting 1/9/08), October 27, 2007 and September 5, 2007.
What makes these note worthy?
The contract for the Town Administrator was approved with a 9-0 vote on 9/5/07. During the meeting 10/27/07, the contract still had not been signed so it could not be announced.
Were there other Executive Meeting minutes where this was discussed before the announcement finally became public?
Ah, maybe that is what is in the 1/23/08 minutes that weren't included?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Recap of School Budget situation
If you can't spend three hours listening to the meeting, you can skip to the appropriate section to get the original voices for the following items:
- Franklin is receiving $2.4 M from the Dept. of Education, effectively a 9% increase over FY08 for the schools
- The Town, however, is planning for the schools to only receive a 1.5% increase in funding over FY08 which results in the expected layoffs of 45 teachers, increased busing fees, and increased class sizes.
- Rep Vallee does a wonderful job obtaining money for Franklin but it won't last forever.
- The High School renovation options cost $90-100 million which is cheaper than building a new school which would cost $120-130 million.
- The FHS accreditation is on "warning" status now due to the inaction in addressing the high school facility shortcomings. This was expected.
- The Forensic Report has triggered a number of actions by the School Dept amongst them cost center based budgets (each school is now a cost center), improved accounting of funds in the budget, and interviews for a new finance director were scheduled for 2/27/08.
- The KCD Policy passed by a vote of 6-1 which now requires all donations to be applied to non-operating expenses and rejects funds previously targeted for specific operational efforts (i.e. the Brick classroom).
- The communications campaign about the real health issues amongst the Franklin school population as reported in the MetroWest Survey is about to begin with a gathering of representatives from the various groups and organizations in the town. The report will be reviewed in that forum. That group will then make plans for communicating and taking action to address the issues.
from the School Committee blog - FY09 Budget
FY09 budget presentation
By Jeffrey Roy on Budget
On February 26, 2008, Superintendent Wayne Ogden presented the proposed FY09 budget to the School Committee. During the presentation, Ogden explained that the school department needs a 6.7 percent budget increase to provide level service, but is slated to receive only 1.5 percent from the town. This includes the loss of about $400,000 in projected [...] |
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Completing the Superintendent's Report (audio)
The meeting goes into Executive Session with a roll call vote.
Time: 7 minutes, 12 seconds
MP3 File
FHS Accreditation Warning Received (audio)
If progress is not made, the next step would be "probation" and the final step could be removal of accreditation from the high school.
The School Committee is looking to form a building committee in the next several weeks.
Time: 12 minutes, 25 seconds
MP3 File
KCD Policy - Gifts (audio)
Deb Pellegri speaks on behalf of the Brick School Association.
Time: 23 minutes, 23 seconds
MP3 File
Some of the Actions items (audio)
Time: 1 minute, 11 seconds
MP3 File
FY 2007 2008 budget transfers (audio)
Time: 19 minutes, 11 seconds
MP3 File
FY09 Budget Q&A Part 2 (audio)
Time: 17 minutes, 27 seconds
MP3 File
FY09 Budget Q&A Part 1 (audio)
Time: 18 minutes, 48 seconds
MP3 File
In the Globe today
Schools set to cut 45 staff, teachers
By Rachel Lebeaux, Globe Correspondent
Franklin schools could lay off 45 teachers and other staff members next year in what's shaping up to be a particularly grim budget season. |
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Where in Franklin? #33
Can you identify where this porch and building is located in Franklin?
The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
Have fun!
Where in Franklin? Answer #32
Anonymous provided the correct answer to picture #32. Yes, it is Ficco's Bowladrome on East Central St (RT 140).
Stay tuned for the next challenge!
Thank you all for playing.
In the news - FHS could cost big bucks
Franklin High renovation could near $100 million
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
The School Committee was left in ``sticker shock'' last week after hearing the price of each option to repair or rebuild Franklin High School.Read the remainder of the article here.
Kaestle Boos Associates presented three design options for renovating and adding to the building, with costs ranging from $93 to $100 million, and a fourth scenario to build a completely new school for $120 to $130 million.
The School Committee began discussions on repairing the high school in 2005, when the New England Association of Schools and Colleges issued its evaluation of the building, which called for major structural improvements. The association said the school, built in 1971, was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the locker rooms were in disrepair, the floors needed to be fixed, and noted the lack of an auditorium, among other problems, said School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy.
You can also listen to the presentation and Q&A period from the School Committee meeting here.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Goodbye - Anonymous Comments
This is not turning away conversation.
This is ensuring that the conversation is based in honesty and real identity.
It also helps that Google has enabled additional accounts to be used to comment.
If you have any issues with anonymity, you can email me (as you won't be able to comment) after March 1. Email to shersteve at gmail dot com
Note: as part of an overall comment policy, all comments must be phrased in respectful words. If they are not, they will be summarily deleted just like all s*p*a*m comments.
FY 2009 - Franklin School Budget info
The budget presentation made 2/26/08 can be found here (PDF)
The audio for the Q&A from the 2/26/08 meeting will be available here
Due to technical difficulties, I missed recording most of the actual presentation
An update on the Forensic Audit can be found here.
You can also go directly to the Schools page to find these budget files.
Attention Franklin Train Commuters
... a fresh source of delays and hassles this spring and summer for riders taking Acela and other Amtrak trains to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and other Northeast corridor destinations. It could also mean trouble for MBTA commuter rail riders on the Attleboro/Providence, Franklin, Needham, and Stoughton branches, which use segments of the Amtrak Northeast Corridor.
Although some of the work is not directly related to the concrete tie problem, Amtrak has decided to shut down a T commuter rail track between Back Bay and Readville stations for maintenance June 14-17, T spokesman Joe Pesaturo said late yesterday. That four-day period coincides with when Amtrak plans to shut down all service between Boston and New Haven and run bus shuttles while crews complete a $76 million replacement of an 89-year-old bridge over the Thames River between New London and Groton, Conn.
Read the full Boston Globe article here.
June 14-17 may be a good time to plan to either work from home or plan an alternate route to Boston. Saturday, Sunday (6/14-15) will affect the weekend travelers. Monday, Tuesday (6/16-17) will affect the regular commuters.