Franklin Matters

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

School Committee Agenda - 11/18/08

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 DATE School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
Payroll Ms. Armenio
FHS Student Representatives

Correspondence

Budget to Actual
Memo from Miriam?

2. Guests/Presentations

Community Health Council Update

3. Discussion Only Items

Refreshed Statement of Interest
Capital Needs

Facilities
Instructional Services

4. Action Items

I recommend acceptance of a check for $83.03 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for Remington Middle School for classroom supplies.
I recommend acceptance of the gift of folding chairs and chair truck and 4 overhead projectors from Resh, Inc. valued at $3,276.00 for the Davis Thayer Elementary School.
I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling Team to Greenbush, NY for a meet from 12/26 to 12/27/08.
I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling Team to Salem, NH for a meet on 12/23/08.
I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for the FHS Wrestling team to Warwick, RI for a meet on 1/17/09.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

October 1 Report
Enrollment Comparison

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. Executive Session

Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Red Molly at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - 11/22/08

The next show
Saturday
November 22nd
8:00PM

RED MOLLY
with special guest
Anthony Da Costa, $15

For tickets and other information visit the Circle of Friends website here

Monday, November 17, 2008

The state will give facilities and landowners 10 years to comply

Image via Wikipedia

The US Environmental Protection Agency is set to announce today that it will, for the first time, require some big-box stores, malls, and other businesses to reduce the amount of rainwater that runs off their roofs and parking lots. Federal officials will test the new policy in the Massachusetts towns of Milford, Bellingham, and Franklin.

The EPA, using its authority under the Clean Water Act, will require large commercial and industrial landowners in these towns to steeply reduce the storm-water runoff that picks up pollutants and pours them into the Charles River, officials said last week in interviews. Storm-water runoff is rain and snowmelt that mixes with leaf litter, toxic metals, oil, and exhaust fume deposits as it washes over parking lots, rooftops, and roadways.

"Cities and towns are already investing a lot in storm water," said Ken Moraff, deputy director for ecosystem protection of the EPA's New England region. "These commercial facilities are missing pieces of the puzzle." The new regulations, he said, will help complete the cleanup effort.

In a parallel development, the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to release its own draft rules today that will expand the effort to reduce storm-water runoff throughout the 35 communities that make up the Charles River Watershed area.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

This is not a surprise, you may recall the Storm Water presentation at the Town Council Meeting July 23, 2008

"It's a community challenge"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Nov 15, 2008 @ 11:42 PM

FRANKLIN —

When Assistant Superintendent of Schools Maureen Sabolinski assumes her new post as superintendent next July, she'll inherit a high-performing school district that lost 44 teachers last year, faces more cuts due to the staggering economy, and still needs to rebuild its high school, which is facing accreditation issues.

There is no question what her top challenge will be, she said: the budget.

"The challenge of leadership is really making things work for the benefit of students with fewer resources. The community has to work together," said Sabolinski.

Despite the setbacks posed by the recession, Sabolinski, a self-described optimist, still sees opportunities for making improvements.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

Listen to her interview with the School Committee and the Q&A session that followed

"We have a unique social environment here"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Nov 16, 2008 @ 08:30 PM

FRANKLIN —

Raye Lynn Mercer is a pianist, director, producer and choreographer, but it is her vision that's taking the Franklin School for Performing Arts to new heights.

Mercer, who founded the regional school in 1985, is creating a "cultural destination" by combining the school with the Franklin Performing Arts Company to form the New England Center for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit organization.

The move should help the school, which is used by about 1,000 performing artists in 45 local communities, Mercer said.

Plans are in the works for a new building which will have three times the space as the existing building at 38 Main St., and which should triple the number of people involved, she said.

"It's ambitious, I know. My vision is to have the venues that we've always needed to showcase our talent," Mercer said.

Currently, the school holds all of its performances, except small recitals, at other locations, such as middle school auditoriums, said Mercer.

"The scheduling of the auditorium is extraordinarily difficult because of the demands for that space, and extremely difficult to put up professional productions. We look forward to having a state-of-the-art performance space," said Mercer.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here