Live reporting - School Committee

Attending: Cafasso, Kelly, Mullen, Roy, Rohrbach, Trahan
Missing: Armenio

AGENDA

Call to order Mr. Roy
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments

Review of Agenda - move academic awards up in front of Best Buddies

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting. Approved 6-0

Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly Moved to accept warrants, approved 6-0

Payroll Ms. Armenio

FHS Student Representatives

• Red Cross blood drive
• Progress reports week before Christmas
• Drama performance, 12/17-18

Correspondence:

• Budget to Actual
• E-mail from Mike D’Angelo regarding modular removal

in the news - Charter School applications, state warns of aid cuts

Ben Franklin Charter School accepting applications

By GateHouse Media, Inc.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is accepting applications for kindergarten to grade eight for the 2009-2010 school year until Feb. 13. Children must be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2009 for enrollment in kindergarten for the 2009-2010 school year. A lottery will be held Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m., in the school library. The school will hold information evenings for parents of prospective students on Tuesday, Jan. 6, and Thursday, Jan. 29, in the school auditorium. From 7 to 8:30 p.m., the head of school, board members and teachers will be available for discussions, questions and answers. A school tour will also be given.

Read the full article in the Gazette here

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House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi said yesterday that Massachusetts cities and towns should brace for cuts of up to 10 percent in state aid next year, an ominous sign that the pain of the nation's economic crisis is still just taking hold and could result in layoffs of police, firefighters, and teachers in local communities.

"Massachusetts will not be spared the pain," said DiMasi, after calling a group of reporters into his State House office. He predicted state aid would be reduced by 5 to 10 percent, saying it is "a matter of how much. It's not a matter of whether they will take a cut or not."

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

WASTED - available for replay

Did you miss the W.A.S.T."E".D. meeting?

No problem, the very powerful information session held at Franklin High on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 is still available for you to listen to.

Click here to find all six segments of the evening.

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The number of people who have listened since the session continues to grow.

Item	Content	Mins	# Replays
Wasted 1	Intro; FHS Students	23	28
Wasted 2	Bill Phillips	25	19
Wasted 3	Nick's story	24	34
Wasted 4	Josh's story	17	14
Wasted 5	Nick's parents view	10	17
Wasted 6	Q&A; next steps	26	41

I am a little surprised by the results thus far. As impressive as Nick's story was, Josh's story is short and to the point.

Likewise for Nick's parents point of view.

Don't miss interpret what my intention is, this is not a superficial popularity contest. These are real life stories. All the information was freely presented. It took courage and effort on the part of Bill, Nick, Josh, and Nick's parents to get up on the stage in front of 100 or so people.

You should be able to find 2 hours (especially with the segments broken up into approx 20-25 minutes apiece).

Skip a movie.
Have a listen.

Then have a good conversation with your son, daughter, neighbor, etc.

Franklin needs to be talking about this.
We (adults) need to show that our children matter to us.

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One quote that I love comes from Kirk Weisler and one of his T4D:

"Our example to our children, to our families, and to the world around us is constant. The question is not whether or not anyone is watching, the question is what are they learning as they watch."

Interested in wind or solar energy?

Thinking of installing a wind turbine
or solar array at your home or business? Come get all your questions answered!



Incentives for

• Residential & Commercial
• Solar and Wind Installations

Presenter:
Tyler Leeds, Project Manager, Green Building & Infrastructure
Mass Technology Collaborative

When:
Wednesday, December 10, 7:00 p.m.

Where:
Franklin Public Library Community Room
118 Main Street, Lower Level

Description:
Massachusetts has recently developed several incentives to spur the development of renewable energy, including Commonwealth Solar Rebates, Small Renewables Initiative, and Business Expansion Incentives.
Tyler Leeds will answer your questions and help you understand the basic economics of investing in renewable energy.

This Event is of Special Interest for:
Home Owners, Business Owners, Installers, Dealers, Contractors, Electricians and Architects

Sponsored by:
Franklin Area Climate Team (FACT)
Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Friends of the Franklin Library

Franklin School Committee Meeting - agenda - 12/9/08

Franklin School Committee Meeting
December 9, 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 November 25, 2008 School Committee Meeting.

Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly

Payroll Ms. Armenio

FHS Student Representatives

Correspondence:

• Budget to Actual
• E-mail from Mike D’Angelo regarding modular removal

2. Guests/Presentations

• Best Buddies

Academic Excellence Awards

• Philip MacClellan
• Arushi Singh

School Improvement Plans

• Davis Thayer
• Jefferson
• Keller
• Kennedy
• Parmenter

3. Discussion Only Items
none


4. Action Items

1. I recommend approval of the ASMS recurring trip to DC for the 8th Grade in May 2009 as detailed.
2. I recommend acceptance of a check for $290.17 from the Remington PCC for a 7th grade field trip to the Christa McAuliffe Center.
3. I recommend approval to declare books as surplus on the attached list for the JF Kennedy Elementary School.
4. Take action to remove the modular classrooms at Davis Thayer Elementary School at a total cost of $30,000 to $35,000, (includes removal of interior walls, replacement of grass and landscape in front of building and renovations to the sub standard sized rooms on the second and third floors into normal sized classrooms).
5. Take action to remove the modular classrooms at FHS at the cost of $25,000, (includes removal of interior walls and replacement of grass and landscape in front of building).
6. Take action to remove the modular classrooms at Jefferson Elementary School at the cost of $15,000 to $20,000, (includes removal of interior walls and replacement of grass and landscape in front of building).

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

• Academic Excellence Awards
• W.A.S.T.E.D.
• Banner Ads

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

Green light for decorations

The light snow that we received on Sunday dusted the evergreens and ribbons along the railroad bridge.

the "Dean Difference"

FRANKLIN - In a higher education world often fixated on prestige, Dean College cuts against the grain, carving its niche by catering largely to students with spotty academic records.

Marketing itself as a haven for students who struggled through high school, the primarily two-year college proudly embraces its reputation as a safety school and its commitment to students who need extra attention.

"What you see is what you get," said Paula M. Rooney, college president . "There are no pretenses. We know who we are, and we know where we fit. We aren't ashamed of it, and we don't try to hide it."

Read the full article on Dean College in the Sunday Boston Globe here

"Storm water carries remnants of chemicals"

Denise Zambrowski, environmental affairs coordinator for Franklin's Department of Public Works, said the requirements would take some pressure off municipalities trying to protect wetlands and waterways.

"Commercial developers should pay for their own storm-water management," she said. "The large commercial facilities falling under state and federal purview makes it easier for us to focus resources and energy on our own drainage systems."

....

In Franklin, DPW engineer Zambrowski said she is encouraged state and federal employees would enforce the regulations.

What regulations?

The regulations regarding the storm water runoff around the large commercial facilities and plazas. You can read the full article in the Boston Globe West section here.

An earlier post on this topic can be found here.

Hat's Off to Franklin (1st snow)

Hat's Off to Franklin (1st snow), originally uploaded by shersteve.

A light snow dusted the sculpture this morning.

WASTED 12/2/08 - Slideshow

A slide show of photos from the substance abuse information session put on by W.A.S.T."E".D at Franklin High School on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

"Everyone helps out, it's a team effort. "

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 05, 2008 @ 11:25 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Police officers, dispatchers, administrators, the deputy and the chief took their mission "to serve" to heart, and spent yesterday morning cooking a full turkey meal and serving more than 200 senior citizens, to their great delight.

The Franklin Police Association, which sponsors the holiday dinner every year for seniors, even hand-delivered meals to housebound elders who made the request.

"They are exceptionally wonderful to all of us - we love them all, and may God bless them always," said senior Vivian Brown, who has lived in Franklin for 47 years.

She and her friend, Franklin senior Priscilla Chesmore, were all smiles as they sat with the large Christmas centerpieces they won in the police association's raffle.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"an effort that could net roughly $30,000 per year"

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 05, 2008 @ 11:30 PM

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Several years ago, the School Committee in Hopkinton turned down a company offering a free softball scoreboard branded with its corporate logo, ruling that ads did not belong on school property.

This week, however, members reviewed a mailing that will let businesses know they can buy space on the indoor and outdoor scoreboards and on the concession stand, a move being watched by other area school committees.

"I think given what's happening with the state budget and local aid currently, people are thinking a little differently about that now," said Dave Stoldt, a Hopkinton School Committee member. "We're trying to do it in an orderly fashion and a tasteful fashion."

Part of a financial working group's larger effort to increase revenue and trim expenses, school ads won the School Committee's approval earlier this year.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Alina Ostrow wins Franklin Junior Miss title

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FRANKLIN -

Alina Kathryn Ostrow was awarded the title of Franklin’s Junior Miss 2009 at the Franklin program on Nov. 29, Along with her title, she received a $1,000 cash scholarship, the official Junior Miss Medallion, and a one-year full tuition scholarship to Dean College. Alina is a student at Franklin High School.

A panel of five judges selected her from a field of seventeen high school seniors competing in the 41st annual Franklin Junior Miss scholarship program.

In addition to being named Franklin’s Junior Miss, Ostrow also won a preliminary Scholastic award, for a total of $1,100 in cash scholarships.

Ostrow will go on to compete in the Massachusetts Junior Miss finals in Franklin, on Feb. 21 and 22, at the Thomas D. Mercer Auditorium.

Read the full article in the Gazette here.

Financial Planning Committee - meeting notes 12/4/08

Attending: Roche, Bartlett, Zollo, Cameron, Trahan, Hardesty, Nutting
Absent: Whalen, Wilschek, Kelley

Review of the planning scenarios
a – level service for 3 years
b – “the gap”; between maintaining status quo and the available revenues
c – restored services; add backs to staff, what would it cost

The notion of what “level service” means needs to get out there. Is level service what we see this year or what it was last year before the 40 teachers were cut? The school cuts were teachers this year. Some teachers and other personnel have been cuts since 2003, totaling 80+ positions. Police and Fire still under. DPW has not added personnel in 20 years compared to what changes there have been in the Town over these last 20 years.

How do you forecast salary increases? Contracts are mostly set through 2010 but would be open for negotiation after that. If economy is down, that will be a factor to hold down increases; if economy starts turning around, that would be a factor to go for more than the 2.5/3 percent increase that there have been. Pick a number that is historically accurate and justifiable. For the model do a sensitivity analysis to show the impact range.

Fair assumption to have a stable town and school population
Assumption for salaries to be competitive
Develop listing of all the assumptions that drive the model

Break out the step and level salary changes in the school budget from the salary rate (cost of living) increase
Identify the unfunded mandate costs, i.e. fixed cost – like special education (SPED), where the costs are determined by Dept of Education at the State level and not at the local level

For next meeting 12/18/08
Hardesty has surveyed the other cities and towns that have done a similar long term planning effort. He will send out that info for review. Pick out 3-5 things from what the others have used in their presentations to say that this is something we should consider using in our package for Franklin.

How do we address innovation? A lot is already being done in small ways. Each small way adds up. We need to tell the story that innovation and creative thinking is being done all the time. If we don’t, the folks in the street will never know.

Perhaps consider an “innovation advocate” or subcommittee. Anyone could present them with their cost savings idea. The subcommittee would work with whomever it was appropriate to do so to provide an answer back. In some cases, due to legal obligations (i.e. union contract) some things can’t be done. This would at least provide someone outside the Town Administration to do the vetting of the ideas and report back.

Looking for an open forum, hearing type presentation sometime late January, early February 2009. Committee would provide a summary of what has been done thus far, based upon the tentative model and the facts to date. Lay that information out and ask for input. Incorporate that into the “final” presentation, recommendation that would be brought back to the Town Council.

If there are cuts to be made, you can equate approx 20 jobs to each million dollar shortage in the budget. Where would the budget cuts come from? There really are only 5/6 places where cuts can be made; Schools, Police, Fire, DPW, Library. Most of the Town Administration functions are state requirements and we only have one or two people doing the work required.

The minutes for the 11/20/08 meeting were accepted via vote.
The minutes for the September meetings have been posted to the website but not yet voted on as accepted. Action for next meeting.

School budget cuts likely for Milford

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 05, 2008 @ 12:08 AM

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MILFORD —

The School Committee will soon start crunching numbers for next year's budget, and Chairwoman Lori Baranauskas last night told members not to get emotional about the prospect of cuts.

In October, Baranauskas warned the district's $36 million budget may be level-funded next year if the cash-strapped state hacks local aid as feared.

Contractual obligations and other uncontrollable expenses are expected to drive up the schools' fiscal '10 budget by about $1 million.

"I just want to caution, it could be a touchy year," Baranauskas said last night. "We're going to have to talk about cuts, I'm hoping to keep it as low-key and unemotional as we can."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Jimmy McCarthy - Hellen Keller School Forecast

(NECN: Matt Noyes) - Jimmy McCarthy of Helen Keller Elementary in Franklin, Massachusetts is given his own personal forecast by NECN meteorologist Matt Noyes.

Jimmy can expect to look out of his classroom window at sunshine, with temperatures reaching 47 degrees. A fall jacket is recommended for today.

As for the White Christmas track -- chances have been boosted in Western Massachusetts with a higher chance in Northern New England.






It may be a day late, but the forecast will remain forever via the internet.

Now, how does the school get to look like that?

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 2, 2008

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OCTOBER 2, 2008

A meeting of the Financial Planning Committee was held on October 2, 2008 at the Franklin Municipal Building. Members present were James Roche, Roberta Trahan, Doug Hardesty, Deborah Bartlett, Steve Whalen and Gwynne Wilschek. Absent were Shannon Zollo, Matt Kelly and Rebecca Cameron. Also present were Wayne Odgen, Jeffrey Nutting, Brutus Cantoreggi and Mike D'Angelo.

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.

Steve Whelan commented that the Committee needed to show the community the consequences of the Town's fiscal position for Fiscal Year 2010 as early as possible. Jim Roche stated that the information the Committee produces should be included in a forum on the Town's finances.

The Director of Public Works, Brutus Cantoreggi, presented some of the challenges faced by his Department. The major issues are snow removal costs, that are under-funded by over $500,000; the fuel budget, which is $100,000 short this year; the need for stormwater and other infrastructure improvements that are backlogged; new regulations that are in the pipeline; and the hope to contract out some services in lieu of hiring help. Finally, the Department of Public works is the only department that is expense driven and the general cost of operations (parts, supplies, etc.) continues to rise. The Town has grown over the twenty (20) years and the staff has not.

The Facilities Director, Mike D'Angelo, explained that they maintain well over a million square feet of buildings; supplies this year increased by 20%; and energy costs will stay in check until the electricity contract runs out next year. There were eight (8) custodians laid off last year, which will have a long-term negative effect on school facilities. The attached memo outlines the budget drivers and the request for replacement of some of the eliminated positions.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey D. Nutting



FinPlCom-Minutes 10-2-08

Financial Planning Committee Minutes

As single source for the official minutes of the Financial Planning Committee they can be found here (at least until such time as there is a place created on the Town website).

• Financial Planning Committee Charter - DRAFT
• Financial Planning Committee Minutes of August 7, ...
• Financial Planning Committee Minutes of July 10, 2...
• Financial Planning Committee Minutes of June 11, 2...

• FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE September 4, 2008
• FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE September 18, 2008

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OC... 10/2/08
FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES 10/16/08



Update - I did find the Town site for the "official" minutes here
to navigate to this, you need to go to the Town Council, then SubCommittees and then SubCommittee minutes

Note the minutes for 9/18 are misfiled under 8/18/08.

Town Council Mtg Summary 12/03/08

The collection of posts for the Town Council meeting held on 12/3/08 are as follows:

• Live reporting - Town Administrator
• Live reporting - zoning bylaw amendment
• Live reporting - action items
• Live reporting - 2009 license renewals
• Live reporting - Town Council 12/3/08

• Town Council - Agenda - 12/3/08

"we can't do business as usual and survive"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 04, 2008 @ 12:05 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Town Council last night unanimously voted to create a fund to pay for repairs to buildings and infrastructure, and put $50,000 in it.

At Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting's recommendation, the council voted to deposit the $50,000 - money that developer Toll Brothers donated for infrastructure improvements in exchange for accepting new streets and easements.

In other business, Nutting told the council he and leaders from other communities testified at the State House yesterday, advocating for municipal relief and reforms that would save Franklin time and money.

"We're asking the Legislature to look at a wide array of municipal relief," he said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here