Saturday, March 14, 2009

Sell out for Harlem Wizards!

The Tri-County gym sold all its seats for the fund raiser for Annie Sullivan School on Friday night.

The Sullivan Rockets gave a valiant effort in holding the Harlem Wizards to under 100 points.

A basketball game? Not really from the purest sense but there was great family entertainment!

The Sullivan PCC must be pleased with the turnout.

I should have some pictures up to show some of the action later this weekend!

"chickens are going to come home to roost"

GHS
Posted Mar 13, 2009 @ 11:14 PM

FRANKLIN —

After learning the town spends $2,700 less per pupil than the state average, Superintendent Wayne Ogden said he is growing increasingly worried Franklin will soon reach the state's minimum spending threshold.

The per-pupil statistics can be viewed as either "very positive or very depressing," depending on one's perspective, Ogden said.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Education Web site, Franklin spends $9,750 per pupil, and the state average is $12,497 per pupil.

Despite Franklin's comparatively low spending per pupil, the district performs at an above-average level in all categories, Ogden said.

"Your teachers and kids continue to do a great job with the resources available," he said.

Read the full story on the low cost per student and high performance in the Milford Daily News here

Andro's Pizza - worth stopping for

I stopped at Andro's Pizza for a late lunch Friday afternoon. Their small cheese calzone was decadently delicious. I'll need to stop back for their pizza sometime.

Stopped in for a bite at Andro's Pizza here in Franklin. Tummy calling for food!

Have you tried Andro's yet?

Sap running on Town Common

Out for a walk on Friday, it was a good day for pictures.

The maple sap is running here on the town common in Franklin  MA

Friday, March 13, 2009

Thank you!

To whomever picked this up downtown and took the time to return it to me. This is much appreciated.

I had dropped it when running last Thursday morning. I know I had it in my pocket at the corner of Summer and East Central. When I checked again on Wachusett it was gone. I completed my run, got into the car and retraced my route. As I went along Union, I was dismayed to find that the DPW crews were out street sweeping. Good for them and cleaning up the town but that also meant that if I had dropped it on Union, I had no chance of getting it back. It would have been gobbled up in the sweeper.

With it returned, it must have fallen out somewhere along East Central before I turned on Union.

Anyway, my thanks to the person who picked it up and was kind enough to return it. Franklin does have fine people living here. Don't let anyone say otherwise!

"its report would be totally transparent, objective and accurate"

GHS
Posted Mar 13, 2009 @ 12:22 AM

FRANKLIN —

The longterm fiscal planning committee is nearly ready to present its multi-year financial projections, and is aiming for an audience of hundreds at an April 27 presentation at Horace Mann Middle School.

"I feel a hugely important objective is education, to inform the public as to why we're under (financial) pressure on a yearly basis," said Councilor Stephen Whalen.

As part of its efforts to dispel some misconceptions, the group last night emphasized the importance of making the town's finances understandable.

For instance, while reviewing Franklin's relatively low per-pupil spending, which is $2,700 below the state average, members commented that many residents don't realize the value they get for their educational dollar.

"There are so many people in town who think this town wastes money and is poorly run, but there is no evidence" to support that, Whalen said.

Read the full article from the Financial Planning Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here


"merit pay that is based on student performance"

GHS
Posted Mar 12, 2009 @ 10:21 PM

Following President Obama's support of linking teacher pay to student performance and his promotion of charter schools, area educators say they are willing to listen. But, they say, they want to hear more specifics from him first.

"He's got a lot of good ideas for education," said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Anne Wass, though she noted that the state association disagrees with Obama on teacher pay and charter schools.

Teachers unions, a key force in Democratic party politics, have in the past vehemently opposed both of those ideas. Obama acknowledged that conflict.

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Chandler Creedon, president of the Franklin Education Association, said school districts vary widely on per-student funding, and any talk of merit pay also needs a discussion of how districts would fund it.

Franklin's expense per student is roughly $9,500, about $3,000 less than the state average, he said, and the schools might lay off 60 teachers and raise class sizes.

"We certainly don't have a level playing field to make these comparisons," said Creedon.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here