Rohrbach - let's have a subcommittee look at establishing principles
Cafasso - yes, let's look at that
motion to enter Executive Session
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Live reporting - subcommittee reports
Cafasso - There are ten banners, you'd recognize many of them, they are all loyal supporters of the school district. This program started just as the economy started. Some logistical issues were dealt with early on, those have been resolved. Coach Sidwell, would like the program to continue. We'll meet on a possible expansion to our athletic fields. We are reducing our budget, increasing fees, it would be good to continue.
The subcommittee would like to move it from pilot to a formal program.
Roy - Go with it.
The subcommittee would like to move it from pilot to a formal program.
Roy - Go with it.
Live reporting - superintendent report
Sabolinksi - two options for school calendar based upon the prior survey, one starting before Labor Day, one starting after Labor Day. The parents wanted to start after Labor Day, the faculty wanted the start before Labor Day. No recommendation yet. Instructionally starting before Labor Day is better, being in our buildings in June is no fun, the buildings are toasty hot.
Armenio - I am not comfortable with the June closing, if we have terrible weather, we can't go into July, we would have to take those days off the April vacation.
Cafasso - can we put these online to view given the survey results?
Sabolinski - We are poised to do so, just didn't want to post them before this discussion.
Mullen - it is a consideration to bring the kids in early when they are already dealing with the heat, as opposed to in June when it is an adjustment.
Rohrbach - consider a PDD day on Election Day?
Roy - I would go for the safety factor
Susan Collins - started a petition to do the calendar after Labor Day then saw the survey so held off, consider the day before Thanksgiving, no one else has it.
Teachers on the second floor especially it is brutal in the heat. The PCC bought us fans.
Steve Luckovitch (?) two children at ECDC, a concern about the consistency of attending (the kids attend twice a week)
There are three full professional days across the district.
Did we revisit the Feb vacation?
Sabolinski - One of the best values in town is the ECDC. Let's set up some time to go into this further.
Armenio - I am not comfortable with the June closing, if we have terrible weather, we can't go into July, we would have to take those days off the April vacation.
Cafasso - can we put these online to view given the survey results?
Sabolinski - We are poised to do so, just didn't want to post them before this discussion.
Mullen - it is a consideration to bring the kids in early when they are already dealing with the heat, as opposed to in June when it is an adjustment.
Rohrbach - consider a PDD day on Election Day?
Roy - I would go for the safety factor
Susan Collins - started a petition to do the calendar after Labor Day then saw the survey so held off, consider the day before Thanksgiving, no one else has it.
Teachers on the second floor especially it is brutal in the heat. The PCC bought us fans.
Steve Luckovitch (?) two children at ECDC, a concern about the consistency of attending (the kids attend twice a week)
There are three full professional days across the district.
Did we revisit the Feb vacation?
Sabolinski - One of the best values in town is the ECDC. Let's set up some time to go into this further.
Live reporting - Action items
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of $3127.00 from the DT PCC for the following field trips: Motion to accept, passed 6-0
Grade 5 - Boston “Lessons on Liberty” & “Bostonian Society”
Grade 2 - Stony Brook
Grade K - Southwick Zoo
Grade 5 - Bus fee for visit to ASMS
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of 20 Bose 3-2-1 GS Home Entertainment Systems (valued at $999.00 each) for the Franklin Public Schools. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of office supplies from the 3M Company as listed for the Franklin Public Schools. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $412.80 from Lifetouch for the ECDC future enrichment programs. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,900.00 from the Keller PCC for the following field trips: Motion to accept, passed 6-0
Grade K - Southwick Zoo plus buses
Grade 2 - Stony Brook plus buses
Grade 4 - Museum of Science plus buses
Grade 5 - Roger Williams Zoo plus buses
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $75.00 from the Keller PCC for an additional bus for the K field trip to Southwick Zoo. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of 12 cases of copy paper for the Oak Street Elementary School from Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Johnson. tabled to be revisited
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of several gently used trade books from Kristen Ramel, a 5th grade student, for the Oak Street teachers. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Parmenter PCC for a bus for a field trip to the Mass Hospital School in Canton, MA. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend the request of Peter Light to declare the attached list of books as surplus. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend approval of the FHS request for Judi O’Neil to take 8 students to Los Angeles, CA to compete in the DECA 2009 International Conference as detailed. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of the check for $200.00 from C.A.N.E. (Classical Association of New England – grant) for expenses related to HMMS field trip to the Worcester Art Museum. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of the check for $1,488.56 from the Oak St. PCC for reading materials for all students/classrooms to access. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend acceptance of the donation of space at the Hampton Inn for Open Circle training in 2008-09 valued at $1200.00 (4 days @ $300/per day). Motion to accept, passed 6-0
- I recommend that you declare the modular classrooms at Davis Thayer Elementary School as surplus and return them to the Town. Motion to accept, passed 6-0
Live reporting - FY 2010 Budget
Wayne added some background to the presentation on the "To Kill a Mockingbird". It arose from a debate between the FHS and middle school teachers, the middle schools won out and this was the result of the first year study.
To a student, they all thought (despite the complexity) it was warmly received, challenging, and rewarding. The final chapters are available to be read.
----
Chandler Creedon, President Franklin Teachers and Nurses
Teachers did ratify the proposal to save 1 million dollars and 20 teachers
Is reluctant to discuss the details of the proposal in the public. Wants a negotiation session to meet as soon as possible.
Jeff Roy, the School Committee will take this under advisement, there is an executive session this evening
Cafasso - Can you tell us about the meeting?
Creedon - There was a meeting Monday (4/13/09) lasted 3 hours, final voting was done by secret ballot.
Cafasso - Are there conditions associated with the proposal?
Creedon - I am not sure I'd call it conditions, there are subjects that should be discussed that go along with it.
Armenio - There were multiple opportunities to discuss the budget
Creedon - There were multiple queries about negotiating and the appetite was that there was none beyond the 2.5 percent
--------
Rohrbach - update from the budget subcommittee
compiled a listing of reductions over the year, holding clipping from 2003 "Franklin begins cutting from schools".
program reductions have been significant since 2003
over the course of six or so years, tried to reduce the budget by protecting class size
last year, was the first year where class size increased
next year, if the deficit is not resolved, staff reductions will continue and class sizes will increase again
what has been cut has not come back, they are pretty permanent
it is a good exercise to go through every year.
Pat Slight - everybody is fighting for the same goal, the best education for the students
Mullen - we have cut everywhere, this is a one year deal with the teachers, we know that. It is a good chance to review what has been going on and on. The high school is still facing their accredition issues
Rohrbach - fees via advertising, pilot program at FHS, the PCC's and booster clubs raise approx $100,000 every year.
Ogden - House announces their budget Weds afternoon, significant changes predicted.
The school website has presentations that show various scenarios depending upon the budget level and what it would do to class size.
The Financial Planning Committee presents to the Town Council on Weds evening and again to a Town-wide forum on April 27th. Recommends everyone to get to the meeting or at least watch it. A lot of work has been done, it is good work, people should pay attention.
Armenio - one time revenue, it is not a school issue, it is town issue, everybody needs to step up and be part of the community. Teachers have been incredible stretching dollars to educate our children. PCC's will be providing funds for field trips and that used to be part of the budget.
Roy - Where do we go from here? Tonight was planned to be our public hearing but based upon the news we are hearing, the next meeting (Apr 28th) is also not likely for the numbers to be ready. I am happy to see that people are stepping forward to come up with creative solutions. Keep in touch, visit the website to see what the updates are.
To a student, they all thought (despite the complexity) it was warmly received, challenging, and rewarding. The final chapters are available to be read.
----
Chandler Creedon, President Franklin Teachers and Nurses
Teachers did ratify the proposal to save 1 million dollars and 20 teachers
Is reluctant to discuss the details of the proposal in the public. Wants a negotiation session to meet as soon as possible.
Jeff Roy, the School Committee will take this under advisement, there is an executive session this evening
Cafasso - Can you tell us about the meeting?
Creedon - There was a meeting Monday (4/13/09) lasted 3 hours, final voting was done by secret ballot.
Cafasso - Are there conditions associated with the proposal?
Creedon - I am not sure I'd call it conditions, there are subjects that should be discussed that go along with it.
Armenio - There were multiple opportunities to discuss the budget
Creedon - There were multiple queries about negotiating and the appetite was that there was none beyond the 2.5 percent
--------
Rohrbach - update from the budget subcommittee
compiled a listing of reductions over the year, holding clipping from 2003 "Franklin begins cutting from schools".
program reductions have been significant since 2003
over the course of six or so years, tried to reduce the budget by protecting class size
last year, was the first year where class size increased
next year, if the deficit is not resolved, staff reductions will continue and class sizes will increase again
what has been cut has not come back, they are pretty permanent
it is a good exercise to go through every year.
Pat Slight - everybody is fighting for the same goal, the best education for the students
Mullen - we have cut everywhere, this is a one year deal with the teachers, we know that. It is a good chance to review what has been going on and on. The high school is still facing their accredition issues
Rohrbach - fees via advertising, pilot program at FHS, the PCC's and booster clubs raise approx $100,000 every year.
Ogden - House announces their budget Weds afternoon, significant changes predicted.
The school website has presentations that show various scenarios depending upon the budget level and what it would do to class size.
The Financial Planning Committee presents to the Town Council on Weds evening and again to a Town-wide forum on April 27th. Recommends everyone to get to the meeting or at least watch it. A lot of work has been done, it is good work, people should pay attention.
Armenio - one time revenue, it is not a school issue, it is town issue, everybody needs to step up and be part of the community. Teachers have been incredible stretching dollars to educate our children. PCC's will be providing funds for field trips and that used to be part of the budget.
Roy - Where do we go from here? Tonight was planned to be our public hearing but based upon the news we are hearing, the next meeting (Apr 28th) is also not likely for the numbers to be ready. I am happy to see that people are stepping forward to come up with creative solutions. Keep in touch, visit the website to see what the updates are.
Live reporting - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
ASMS “To Kill A Mockingbird” Presentation
Some students wrote a last chapter, or epilogue (twenty years into the future)
some students created an artistic representation of an aspect of the book
learned more about the book this way, their attitudes and beliefs
thought this was a great project, learned a lot from it
tested their ability to understand the text even more than the classroom study
Kevin Philipps"Could make a visual from the chapter book, to take it to the next level"
Emma Campbell
Ricky Hildebrand
Matt Golding
Zoher Ghadyali
Andrew Ayotte
Matthew Peterson
Michaela Lonati
Some students wrote a last chapter, or epilogue (twenty years into the future)
some students created an artistic representation of an aspect of the book
learned more about the book this way, their attitudes and beliefs
thought this was a great project, learned a lot from it
tested their ability to understand the text even more than the classroom study
Live reporting - High School Experience
FHS Experience – Info for Summer 2009
Intended for incoming 9th graders, a social experience, to meet and connect with other students, to learn strategies for succeeding in high school
Allows students from the four feeding middle schools and others to come together at the high school
Goal to get the students ready for navigating the high school, meeting the teachers before Sept.
Adding History teacher, teachers from four disciplines will participate this summer
Scholarships available
Register: www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select Lifelong, then select Summer Program
Questions: 508-553-4814
Pandora Carlucci
Kristy Yankee
Kristin Letendre Cerce
Intended for incoming 9th graders, a social experience, to meet and connect with other students, to learn strategies for succeeding in high school
Allows students from the four feeding middle schools and others to come together at the high school
Goal to get the students ready for navigating the high school, meeting the teachers before Sept.
Adding History teacher, teachers from four disciplines will participate this summer
Scholarships available
Register: www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select Lifelong, then select Summer Program
Questions: 508-553-4814
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