Great video

I had the pleasure of being in the audience to hear Geoffrey Canada give this talk at the GEL Conference in 2006. It is now available in video, 23 minutes long and well worth watching.

Who is Geoffrey Canada?

In his 20-plus years with Harlem Children's Zone, Inc., Geoffrey Canada has become nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in Harlem and as a passionate advocate for education reform.

So what does Harlem have to do with Franklin?

The challenge that Geoffrey faces is very similar to one all students in MA face as well. The school budget is scrutinized relentlessly for every dollar because it costs too much, yet the prison budget is not given the same scrutiny nor are they given similar performance objectives.

1. Watch the video
2. Listen to Geoffrey
3. Listen to the argument he uses

There must be something in there we can use to change the approach to funding education in MA. Of course it won't be easy, but the time might be better now to try.

What do you think?

School Committee Meeting 12/09/08

The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting on 12/9/08, the last one for 2008.

• Live reporting - new business
• Live rreporting - Information matters
• Live reporting - action items
• Live reporting - Elementary schools improvement pl...
• Live reporting - Best Buddies
• Live reporting - academic awards
• Live reporting - School Committee

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

Live reporting - new business

Q - to use SurveyMonkey to try and determine how many 8th graders would be moving up to the high school.

Ogden - would want to extend it to all the parents as other choices are being made that we should know about. Forced choice responses are easily calculated, open answers are more difficult to calculate quickly.

Q - test some of their knowledge of the facts of the high school, like graduation rate some things that are more not known (but should be).

Sabolinski - begin with the end in mind, if the focus is to move additional resources to the high school, we need to be careful. Would the middle school faculty be concerned? If we get the data, we need to be responsive to it.

Can use this information to help focus the Panther Pride night.

Roy - develop some questions and let's review them together before they go out.

Rohrbach - endorsing consideration of EdLine or some electronic means of communication, can save paper.

Sabolinski - One day closed door, teachers, administrators, workshop next week to discuss technology needs for the district.

Live rreporting - Information matters

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

• Academic Excellence Awards - covered previously in meeting
  
• W.A.S.T.E.D. - presentation on 12/2/08 recording of this can be found here
  
• Banner Ads - 1st five ads are in the field house
  

Live reporting - action items

4. Action Items

1. I recommend approval of the ASMS recurring trip to DC for the 8th Grade in May 2009 as detailed. Approved 5 - 0, abstain 1
   
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. Approved 6 - 0
3. I recommend approval to declare books as surplus on the attached list for the JF Kennedy Elementary School. Approved 6 - 0
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). Approved 6 - 0
   
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). Approved 6 - 0
   
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). Rejected 6 - 0
   

Criteria for removal: (1) for condition, (2) space available within building, (3) community desire to restore building appearance.

Hence for the modulars at Davis Thayer, the removal criteria is met (#s 2 and 3).

Hence for the modulars at FHS, the removal criteria is met (#1 and 2).

Live reporting - Elementary schools improvement plans

School Improvement Plans:

• Davis Thayer - Shirley Babcock, Principal
• Jefferson - Jane Hyman, Principal
• Keller - Mary Jane Wiles, Principal
• Kennedy - Joan Downing Toye, Principal
• Parmenter - Judith Bassignani, Principal

Keller increased enrollment this year by 50 students with one less teacher.

Developing a student council at Kennedy for the first time, hopeful to have intro to students in January and hold elections shortly thereafter.

Parmenter increased enrollment by 29 this year with one less teacher. Built into the building schedule for teachers in one grade to meet, collaborate for 40 minutes.

Live reporting - Best Buddies

2. Guests/Presentations

• Best Buddies

Art Streeter, Sue Streeter, (Mark ?)

Annie Sullivan, Horace Mann and FHS have chapters for Best Buddies

Awarded 1st scholarship for a May 2008 graduate from FHS

Best Buddies International has money to grant to the local Franklin chapters due to the efforts of the groups over the past several years.

The grants would be used to extend friendships beyond the classroom.

The grants would be modeled upon the FEF grant process.

------

FHS Principal Pam Gould
Miriam Connolly
Erin Miller


Looking to have a Best Buddies prom within the local area.
Might just start with Franklin but would like to expand it as it can.
Looking for a "free hall" sometime in March, approx 150.


Dec 22 - Foxboro's and Eaton will be coming to FHS for a holiday party