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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Live reporting - FY 2010 budget Q and A
Left to Right: Miriam Goodman, Wayne Ogden, Maureen Sabolinski, Peter Light
50% of the stimulus can be used to retain teachers, 50% for facilities
applications not available yet
will need to be approved by the State
School Choice funds were always put aside
budgeted at about 250,000 revenue has been about 350,000
recommending use of the 150,000 to save positions for FY 2010
Cafasso
let's bring this down to a user level
what does this do to class sizes, what happens to the libraries when they aren't staffed?
Ogden
some of that is already out there see the March presentations on this link
Cafasso
we are cobbling this together to do level service with a bunch of one time funds
Light
schedule would need to be done, haven't really started with the students yet
do need to get the schedule resolved before the school year ends
Ogden
need consensus to begin the planning, action would come next time to formally approve
Sabolinski
this is really a two year problem, this offers consistency and stability
Mullen
can't support going to half day kindergarten, telling folks in May that they need to find a place next year is not good
Rohrbach
there is no late bus in this budget
Is the Freshman collaborative intact with this?
Light
When teachers meet for the collaborative, this is done
Teachers did have a prep and a work session, prep is required
with the six periods, the work period is gone
Slight
what does that do to the actual schedule
Light
with the 7 day schedule, one class dropped
we are looking to see how this would maintain the 6 classes within the six periods
Trahan
Once you leave you can never return again
none of these changes are good
we want to move the system from good to great and none of this is good
we have looked at these items
some of the items are not workable
going to a half day at this late date but this is not something I can support
I don't know where we are going to get the money but I can't support it
Kelly
I can't support half-day
Ogden
if we went half day with a full day pay option, we could keep the grant
Sabolinski
the add backs could go into the kindergarten area due to the changes being being proposed by the high school
Roy
the gap is a million and a half
we've talked about 50,000 per position
that is 30 positions
we will be able to add positions back with the wage concessions
Ogden
if the stars align perfectly, being frugal, salary freezes, no other changes in unemployment
we could get to loosing 10 or fewer
Live reporting - joint statement SchCom and FEA
SchCom:
Fruitful talks are underway
significant progress is being made
respectful tone and discussion
Teachers:
We thank the school committee for being receptive to our concerns
A vote will be required to approve, hopeful to have this completed before the 5/26/09 meeting
Fruitful talks are underway
significant progress is being made
respectful tone and discussion
Teachers:
We thank the school committee for being receptive to our concerns
A vote will be required to approve, hopeful to have this completed before the 5/26/09 meeting
Live reporting - budget FY 2010
3. Discussion Only Items
Per pupil allotments
Elem $210
Middle $225
High $355
Total dollars remained constant from FY 2009
District wide, potentially 42 positions to reduce (originally in Jan 09 was referenced as >60)
Classroom teachers
Specialists
Librarians
Asst Principal
Secretary
Central Office Data processing
Extracurricular Activities
Notices went out to more than 60 teachers due to the bumping rights, etc. the actual positions lost will only be around 42
The number can be reduced with additional revenue or additional savings
The salary freeze could account for 16 positions within this number of 42 if resolution is reached
FHS
4 teachers
Librarian
Asst Princpal
Office Secretary
6 periods (current schedule has 7 periods)
PE/Health becomes an elective (policy)
Class sizes remain manageable
Middle Schools
2 grade 6
4 grade 7
4 grade 8
2 music
Elementary
18.5 classroom teachers
Full day kindergarten reduced to half day kindergarten
2.5 librarians
1.2 specialists
Implementing a growth in fees over three years would bring the fees to a 50/50 position; the budget would support 50 of the program, the fees would support the remaining 50 percent of the program
Fees
Athletic fees
FY 10 - 200
FY 11 - 225
FY 12 - 250
Extracurricular
FY 10 - 50
FY 11 - 75
FY 12 - 100
Pay-to-ride
FY 10 - 350
FY 11 - 375
FY 12 - 400
Circuit breaker 110,00
State fiscal stabilization 448,381
Federal stimulus 375,000
Extraordinary relief 426,339
School choice 150,000
------------------------------------
Total revenue increase 1,504,720
Remaining differential between level service budget 53,807,773 to level funded 50,297,820
is $1,489,233
- User Fees
- Staff Reduction in Force (RIF)
- Adoption of FY10 Budget for public hearing (May 26, 2009)
Per pupil allotments
Elem $210
Middle $225
High $355
Total dollars remained constant from FY 2009
District wide, potentially 42 positions to reduce (originally in Jan 09 was referenced as >60)
Classroom teachers
Specialists
Librarians
Asst Principal
Secretary
Central Office Data processing
Extracurricular Activities
Notices went out to more than 60 teachers due to the bumping rights, etc. the actual positions lost will only be around 42
The number can be reduced with additional revenue or additional savings
The salary freeze could account for 16 positions within this number of 42 if resolution is reached
FHS
4 teachers
Librarian
Asst Princpal
Office Secretary
6 periods (current schedule has 7 periods)
PE/Health becomes an elective (policy)
Class sizes remain manageable
Middle Schools
2 grade 6
4 grade 7
4 grade 8
2 music
Elementary
18.5 classroom teachers
Full day kindergarten reduced to half day kindergarten
2.5 librarians
1.2 specialists
Implementing a growth in fees over three years would bring the fees to a 50/50 position; the budget would support 50 of the program, the fees would support the remaining 50 percent of the program
Fees
Athletic fees
FY 10 - 200
FY 11 - 225
FY 12 - 250
Extracurricular
FY 10 - 50
FY 11 - 75
FY 12 - 100
Pay-to-ride
FY 10 - 350
FY 11 - 375
FY 12 - 400
Circuit breaker 110,00
State fiscal stabilization 448,381
Federal stimulus 375,000
Extraordinary relief 426,339
School choice 150,000
------------------------------------
Total revenue increase 1,504,720
Remaining differential between level service budget 53,807,773 to level funded 50,297,820
is $1,489,233
Live reproting - FHS MSBA Draft report
3. Discussion Only Items
Cafasso - initial reaction, some interesting solutions proposed
notes that the building is well maintained, very functional
offers ideas for potential solutions to accessibility to the boys locker room, accessibility in general
Mullen - didn't talk about the big system issues, nor did it talk about the funding for the building
Sabolinski - ithis report moves us closer, the cafeteria suggestions were not really in line with our needs; for example, building new cooking space and use the existing space for dining areas
Armenio - listening to the architects when they walked into the garage and said this could be the boys locker room and only would need access to the field house but the accessabilty is otherwise resolved.
Mullen - this report took a smaller approach to fixing some of the problems
Cafasso - two costs to the project, one for the cost of the materials and whatever is done, the second cost is due to the disruption of the school year. Some of what they came back with could be done without an impact to the building operation
Ogden - the building has been so well maintained that we are not high in the listing, if we want to get State help, these are some things that could be done that would be less expensive and perhaps could be done with State help sooner
- Draft MSBA Report on FHS
Cafasso - initial reaction, some interesting solutions proposed
notes that the building is well maintained, very functional
offers ideas for potential solutions to accessibility to the boys locker room, accessibility in general
Mullen - didn't talk about the big system issues, nor did it talk about the funding for the building
Sabolinski - ithis report moves us closer, the cafeteria suggestions were not really in line with our needs; for example, building new cooking space and use the existing space for dining areas
Armenio - listening to the architects when they walked into the garage and said this could be the boys locker room and only would need access to the field house but the accessabilty is otherwise resolved.
Mullen - this report took a smaller approach to fixing some of the problems
Cafasso - two costs to the project, one for the cost of the materials and whatever is done, the second cost is due to the disruption of the school year. Some of what they came back with could be done without an impact to the building operation
Ogden - the building has been so well maintained that we are not high in the listing, if we want to get State help, these are some things that could be done that would be less expensive and perhaps could be done with State help sooner
Live reporting - Moodle Facilitated Courses
2. Guests/Presentations
Moodle Facilitated Courses
Pandora witnessed the collaboration and learning between Adam and Eileen in working to bring the Moodle system to life for Franklin.
http://cms.franklin.k12.ma.us/
Moodle - "modular object oriented learning environment"
Open source software, 27 million users
Switched from Blackboard to Moodle to save money
only the in-house server and in-house expertise is required to support it
Eileen - did use Blackboard, wasn't very flexible, went to a conference and heard about it
a virtual high school accredited by the State of Florida is operational
Attended summit at Olin College, people were impressed with what Franklin has already accomplished with Moodle
Eileen did a training session with 8 teachers today
It takes a lot of work for teachers to do, all on their own time
Forensic science class being set up
provides the required text, uses blogs for communication back and forth
Internet sites are pre-cleared by the teacher before set up for the students to link out to within Moodle
Schedule posted in advance for Forensic science to provide some flexibility for the students to complete their work
Up to 30 expected to be able to handle the course with this teacher, did have 10 last year
Moodle does a lot of the work electronically
feedback to the students automated by the system
A couple of students did take a course from Las Vegas last year.
Only issue was with working the timing for when work is due to accommodate multiple time zones
Students need the opportunity to experience on-line learning before they go to college
Principal Light - course on transcript, no weighting for College or Honors scoring yet, on honors pre-calc course counts for the grade point average
"We may not have a Smartboard in every classroom but we are doing so much more" Eileen
Life Long Learning has been providing the start up costs, as the courses really get rolling, then it would come into the full and normal school program. Teachers in the future may divide their time between classroom face-time and classroom online-time.
Forensics uses "Forensics for Dummies" is used as the text, available for about $18 from various on-line booksellers. The course is built to extend the material prepared in the text.
Tim Raposa points out the collaboration on technology between the town and school.
Moodle Facilitated Courses
Pandora Carlucci10 courses now available online
Eileen Belastock
Adam Wawrow
Pandora witnessed the collaboration and learning between Adam and Eileen in working to bring the Moodle system to life for Franklin.
http://cms.franklin.k12.ma.us/
Moodle - "modular object oriented learning environment"
Open source software, 27 million users
Switched from Blackboard to Moodle to save money
only the in-house server and in-house expertise is required to support it
Eileen - did use Blackboard, wasn't very flexible, went to a conference and heard about it
a virtual high school accredited by the State of Florida is operational
Attended summit at Olin College, people were impressed with what Franklin has already accomplished with Moodle
Eileen did a training session with 8 teachers today
It takes a lot of work for teachers to do, all on their own time
Forensic science class being set up
provides the required text, uses blogs for communication back and forth
Internet sites are pre-cleared by the teacher before set up for the students to link out to within Moodle
Schedule posted in advance for Forensic science to provide some flexibility for the students to complete their work
Up to 30 expected to be able to handle the course with this teacher, did have 10 last year
Moodle does a lot of the work electronically
feedback to the students automated by the system
A couple of students did take a course from Las Vegas last year.
Only issue was with working the timing for when work is due to accommodate multiple time zones
Students need the opportunity to experience on-line learning before they go to college
Principal Light - course on transcript, no weighting for College or Honors scoring yet, on honors pre-calc course counts for the grade point average
"We may not have a Smartboard in every classroom but we are doing so much more" Eileen
Life Long Learning has been providing the start up costs, as the courses really get rolling, then it would come into the full and normal school program. Teachers in the future may divide their time between classroom face-time and classroom online-time.
Forensics uses "Forensics for Dummies" is used as the text, available for about $18 from various on-line booksellers. The course is built to extend the material prepared in the text.
Tim Raposa points out the collaboration on technology between the town and school.
Live reporting - School Committee 5/12/09
Attending: Armenio, Cafasso, Kelly, Mullen, Roy, Rohrbach, Trahan
Missing: none
1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 14th and April 28th 2009 School Committee Meetings. Motion to approve, passed unanimously (except for 1 - abstain for the 14th)
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly Motion to approve, passed unanimously
Payroll Ms. Armenio
FHS Student Representatives
Missing: none
1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 14th and April 28th 2009 School Committee Meetings. Motion to approve, passed unanimously (except for 1 - abstain for the 14th)
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly Motion to approve, passed unanimously
Payroll Ms. Armenio
FHS Student Representatives
Governor comes to Franklin 5/17/09
Governor Deval Patrick will hold a "Town Hall Meeting" on Sunday May 17 at 4pm-5pm at the Franklin Senior Center 10 Daniel McCahill Street.
For additional information on Governor Patrick's forums visit www.mass.gov/governor/forum
For additional information on Governor Patrick's forums visit www.mass.gov/governor/forum
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