The video published on Saturday was effective but overall disappointing to me as the quality of the students work did not translate well to the video format.
Since the quality of the students work is the reason to share it, let me try again with this slide show.
If you were satisfied with the video, then you can skip this and I apologize for the duplication.
If you were not satisfied with the video, then hopefully this will come closer to the mark.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
When can a level funded budget increase?
The School Committee meeting on June 23 left me with doom and gloom. The budget deficit had yet to be resolved. The budget was to be level funded. There was no hope of "found money". The numbers were still not balancing and yet tipping in the wrong direction.
How many teachers would end up going out the door?
It seemed likely that a minimum of 40 would. How many more would go was the question that remained. However, I returned from travel to find that of the 60 school personnel notified only 12 would not be returning.
How had this come about?
This was a question several readers here asked me to help explain. I did not have the answer initially. A recent newspaper article did not explain. Even the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 21, left me with questions unanswered.
What was the answer?
A conversation with Jeff Roy resulted in the answer. The level funded budget from the Town didn't change. What did change was that all the stimulus funds from either the Federal or State sources were added to the level funded Town budget. That made a big difference. To the tune of $1.1 million. (actually $1,133,953 according to the School Committee)
How did that help?
Instead of ending up with a level funded budget, we ended up with a level funded plus budget. So all the talk of a level funded budget is from the Town Council perspective. The Town did not provide the Schools with anything more than they School got for the prior fiscal year. The Schools benefited by adding the various Federal and State stimulus funds in to the mix to end up with level funded plus.
Is that wrong?
No. At least, I don't believe so. I just wish the discussion around this subject had been more clear. If I spend as much time as I do attending and participating in the various meetings and I get lost, then I can not fault the 'average' Franklin voter for getting lost.
How do we address this?
Better communication is not just a trite answer. The communications and discussions need to be focused with the end user in mind; in this case, the school parents and taxpayers. What will affect them?
What will parents see when they return to school in September?
The school class sizes will be available for one of the August School Committee meetings. Principals are working on the final details for their staffing now (in amongst their summer time off).
What will tax payers see when the next tax bill comes in?
No increase this year due to the level funding. Next year, the fiscal year 2011 will be a different story. Most, if not all of the additional stimulus items used to fund the budget this year are one time dollars. They will not be available next year.
What additional programs were cut?
I am not aware of additional programs that were cut.
Were any of the fees raised?
The fees for after school activities, sports and pay-to-ride remain at last year level.
How can the School Committee improve the discussion?
There is a general reluctance to share the spreadsheets. I understand that the numbers can change. They should be made available. Ensure that they are time stamped and clearly marked that as of this point in time, these are the dollars and this is the effect (i.e. number of positions lost). This would at least help us understand how we go from point A to point B. This will at least ensure that when numbers are bantered back and forth at the meeting, we all can attempt to follow the discussion.
What is the final level funded budget plus number?
You can click over to the School Committee blog to find the numbers there.
A couple of notes to help understand the spreadsheet on the School Committee page:
How many teachers would end up going out the door?
It seemed likely that a minimum of 40 would. How many more would go was the question that remained. However, I returned from travel to find that of the 60 school personnel notified only 12 would not be returning.
How had this come about?
This was a question several readers here asked me to help explain. I did not have the answer initially. A recent newspaper article did not explain. Even the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 21, left me with questions unanswered.
What was the answer?
A conversation with Jeff Roy resulted in the answer. The level funded budget from the Town didn't change. What did change was that all the stimulus funds from either the Federal or State sources were added to the level funded Town budget. That made a big difference. To the tune of $1.1 million. (actually $1,133,953 according to the School Committee)
How did that help?
Instead of ending up with a level funded budget, we ended up with a level funded plus budget. So all the talk of a level funded budget is from the Town Council perspective. The Town did not provide the Schools with anything more than they School got for the prior fiscal year. The Schools benefited by adding the various Federal and State stimulus funds in to the mix to end up with level funded plus.
Is that wrong?
No. At least, I don't believe so. I just wish the discussion around this subject had been more clear. If I spend as much time as I do attending and participating in the various meetings and I get lost, then I can not fault the 'average' Franklin voter for getting lost.
How do we address this?
Better communication is not just a trite answer. The communications and discussions need to be focused with the end user in mind; in this case, the school parents and taxpayers. What will affect them?
What will parents see when they return to school in September?
The school class sizes will be available for one of the August School Committee meetings. Principals are working on the final details for their staffing now (in amongst their summer time off).
What will tax payers see when the next tax bill comes in?
No increase this year due to the level funding. Next year, the fiscal year 2011 will be a different story. Most, if not all of the additional stimulus items used to fund the budget this year are one time dollars. They will not be available next year.
What additional programs were cut?
I am not aware of additional programs that were cut.
Were any of the fees raised?
The fees for after school activities, sports and pay-to-ride remain at last year level.
How can the School Committee improve the discussion?
There is a general reluctance to share the spreadsheets. I understand that the numbers can change. They should be made available. Ensure that they are time stamped and clearly marked that as of this point in time, these are the dollars and this is the effect (i.e. number of positions lost). This would at least help us understand how we go from point A to point B. This will at least ensure that when numbers are bantered back and forth at the meeting, we all can attempt to follow the discussion.
What is the final level funded budget plus number?
You can click over to the School Committee blog to find the numbers there.
A couple of notes to help understand the spreadsheet on the School Committee page:
- Attrition is the difference between what the 9 retirees were paid and what the replacement teachers will be paid. Hence a savings of $210,000.
- While the number always talked of that each position reduced costs about $50,000, with 12 positions cut the 500,000 shown by this math should be 600,000.
- All the dollars on the right column added to the budget are one time dollars.
In the News - Patricia Ridge, beating the increase, better health
1 - There is an article about Patricia Ridge, one of the custodians at the Kennedy School who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:
2 - There is an article about local efforts to generate business in advance of the tax increase effective Aug 1.
3 - While dodgeball is not the answer to better health, running might be.
"She was an integral part of the Kennedy school community, and her sickness is sad and unfortunate," said Franklin Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski. "She's beloved by both the kids and the school."Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
2 - There is an article about local efforts to generate business in advance of the tax increase effective Aug 1.
At Planet Chrysler Jeep on Rte. 140 in Franklin, July has been a "very busy" month, given the government program and rush to beat the tax increase, said salesman Mike Shruhan.United Regional Chamber of Commerce President Jack Lank is also quoted in the full article in the Milford Daily News here
3 - While dodgeball is not the answer to better health, running might be.
Cohen's foundation has been battling the issue for five years, with an earlier series of eye-catching billboards and continued grants. In Franklin, the Hockomock Area YMCA is using foundation money to develop a response that involves the whole community, not just its schools.Oddly, they don't discuss running as an option. I guess that is too much of a stretch. Better to get someone walking regularly first. Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Breaking the downward cycle
"In Franklin, you basically have a one-in-four chance of not making it through high school. That's a pretty scary statistic," said Light.Read the remainder of this important point from FHS Principal Peter Light's presentation to the School Committee on Tuesday, July 21 in the Milford Daily News here
If you ever wondered why disciplinary action was taking school time away from the students who were in need of it, there is hope. Peter Light and the FHS faculty are looking closing at breaking the cycle where a student gets into trouble, is given detention, suspended, misses school, can't make up as they fall behind and eventually leaves school. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Now the cycle is about to get changed.
You can wait until several days after the School Committee meeting to read about what happened or subscribe to Franklin Matters and obtain the information as it is published during the meeting.
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Summer Art Institute
The Summer Art Institute conducted by Lifelong Learning held a brief open house to showcase the student works. Quite impressive!
The pictures do not do the works justice especially with the transition to the video format but hopefully this will provide some insight into the work produced this summer.
My thanks to all involved are listed in the credits of the movie.
If I missed some one, please let me know so I can make the appropriate correction.
The pictures do not do the works justice especially with the transition to the video format but hopefully this will provide some insight into the work produced this summer.
My thanks to all involved are listed in the credits of the movie.
If I missed some one, please let me know so I can make the appropriate correction.
Computer Recycling Event in Warwick, RI
If you have an old computer, monitor or keyboard that you'd like to recycle, you can drive down to Warwick, RI and watch the recyclers in action.
FreeGeekProvidence is holding this event at New England Institute of Technology today. The text of their email provides additional information:
FreeGeekProvidence is holding this event at New England Institute of Technology today. The text of their email provides additional information:
Today we're having the Providence Bruins Mascot "Samboni" come in just for our recycling event, and HOT 106 will be giving away prizes and doing live cut in's all day. We'll have tee-shirts for sale and lots of recycling to do.
The Free for all Recycling Extravaganza is from 9-1 today at New England Tech. See www.freegeekpvd.org for more info.
That's 95 (either direction) to exit 13, the airport connector, to the end to Post Road. Take a Right on Post Road (or head South) and it's half mile on the right.
You can see on our News Room, we have lots of media coverage and that's not including the TV spots either.
So even if you only have an old keyboard, or a half ton-truck of computer waste, or you just want to meet all the geeks responsible for all the great things going on at Free Geek, join us at New England Tech.
Friday, July 24, 2009
NE Real Estate Journal features Franklin
As mentioned during the Town Council meeting of 7/15/09, the Planning and Community Development Dept worked to get a nice spread on Franklin in an issue of the New England Real Estate Journal. You can find the information about Franklin online at NEREJ or here in the PDF extract:
Great work Brian, Beth and team!
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Great work Brian, Beth and team!
Farmers Market - Noon to 6:00 PM
The Farmers Market will be open today from noon to 6:00 PM on the Town Common.
This is your weekly opportunity to help the local economy and to get quality food items.
"dropped in rank, from 22nd lowest, to 28th lowest"
In 2008, Franklin's rank jumped to seventh highest, with the average Franklin teacher's salary at $66,361, compared with the total average of $63,520.
The group generally agreed that Franklin teacher salaries only appeared to outpace those of their peers because the district has laid off or lost a great percentage of its younger, lower-paid teachers.
Read the full article on the work of the Financial Planning Committee in the Milford Daily News here
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Trail meeting in Blackstone
Someday, wouldn't it be nice be able to bike from Franklin to Providence, or Worcester or to Western Mass without having to deal with the traffic on a road?
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"It would be great if every community had a trails committee and would give it some support," said Lisa Mosczynski, president of the Metacomet Land Trust, a nonprofit conservation group dedicated to protecting open space and natural resources in south central Massachusetts.Help make this dream a reality!The trust and the Grand Trunk Trail Blazers trail group are inviting the public to the gathering at Blackstone Public Library, at 86 Main St., at 7 p.m., to collaborate on establishing a non-motorized, 80-mile, east-to-west trail linking Franklin and Blackstone with the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Cafe Dolce's coffee source spotlighted
The multiplier in this case is a federal stimulus loan recently provided to Red Barn Coffee Rosters of Upton. Red Barn is the coffee supplier for Cafe Dolce in Franklin.“It’s all about the multiplier,’’ he said. “If people are spending money on a new roaster, say, that starts flowing through the economy of whoever produced that, and then more people can be serviced out of the coffee shop, and that means more money coming in.’’The idea behind stimulating one small business is that the company will then buy more things wholesale and help other companies and their employees, said Ted Welte, president and chief executive officer of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, based in Framingham.
I have tried several of the blends during my visits to Cafe Dolce and found them to be good and tasteful.
Have you visited Cafe Dolce recently? Try their Red Barn coffee and keep the multiplier effect going!
Read the full article from the Boston Globe West edition on the Red Barn stimulus loan here
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Downtown Partnership and Chamber of Commerce on LinkedIn
I have mentioned previously that I have joined the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce in an effort to expand my knowledge about businesses here in Franklin.
Both of these organizations have groups on LinkedIn.
You can request to join the Franklin Downtown Partnership on LinkedIn here
You can request to join the United Regional Chamber of Commerce on LinkedIn here
If the links don't work for you, you can
The group owner will approve your membership. You can adjust your group profile settings (how many emails, etc.) at any time after your membership is approved.
Once a member of a group, connecting directly to others within the group becomes easier.
My LinkedIn profile can be found here
Both of these organizations have groups on LinkedIn.
You can request to join the Franklin Downtown Partnership on LinkedIn here
You can request to join the United Regional Chamber of Commerce on LinkedIn here
If the links don't work for you, you can
- Sign in to LinkedIn with your account
- Go to Groups
- Search for each by name
- Request to join the group
The group owner will approve your membership. You can adjust your group profile settings (how many emails, etc.) at any time after your membership is approved.
Once a member of a group, connecting directly to others within the group becomes easier.
My LinkedIn profile can be found here
School Committee Mtg 07/21/09
The collection of live reporting from the School Committee meeting held on July 21, 2009 are found here:
- Live reporting - closing items
- Live reporting - Superintendents report
- Live reporting - Action Items
- Live reporting - FHS facility review submitted
- Live reporting - FY 2010 update
- Live reporting - FHS update - part 5
- Live reporting - FHS update - Part 4
- Live reporting - FHS update - Part 3
- Live reporting - FHS update - part 2
- Live reporting - FHS update - part 1
- Live reporting - School Committee 7/21/09
Franklin School Position Reductions
The total number of position reductions for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 from the Franklin School Dept through layoffs is 12 per the School Committee meeting on July 21, 2009. The total position reductions since FY 2003 is now 139.
If teachers retired and weren't replaced, would that count as a lost position also?
If teachers retired and weren't replaced, would that count as a lost position also?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Live reporting - closing items
Cafasso - can we have an update on enrollment in August?
Sabolinski - the principals will be back, we'll look to do that for the meeting the 11th.
School Committee entering in Executive Session not to return.
Sabolinski - the principals will be back, we'll look to do that for the meeting the 11th.
School Committee entering in Executive Session not to return.
Live reporting - Superintendents report
Sabolinski - It has been rather busy since the students have left. It feels like school hasn't really ended. There will be a whole new face to Franklin High School when it opens this September.
The summer programs are running, enrollment is off the chart.
The FHS Experience starts on Monday. Enrollment last year was 25 students, thus far it is about 75.
Pay-to-ride our enrollments are down slightly. We sent letters out three weeks late due to the potential of fee increases. Applications are still being accepted.
Fees - athletic, activity and pay-to-ride have not increased this year.
Cafasso - What would happen to extracurricular activities was hard to determine?
Sabolinski - We will have some, there is no late bus. We can do an update later on the offerings. There may be changes in offerings, we will work to offer as much as the students are willing to get engaged in.
The summer programs are running, enrollment is off the chart.
The FHS Experience starts on Monday. Enrollment last year was 25 students, thus far it is about 75.
Pay-to-ride our enrollments are down slightly. We sent letters out three weeks late due to the potential of fee increases. Applications are still being accepted.
Fees - athletic, activity and pay-to-ride have not increased this year.
Cafasso - What would happen to extracurricular activities was hard to determine?
Sabolinski - We will have some, there is no late bus. We can do an update later on the offerings. There may be changes in offerings, we will work to offer as much as the students are willing to get engaged in.
Live reporting - Action Items
4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $102.88 from the Franklin Music Boosters for a nurse for a field trip for the Middle Schools. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from the Franklin Country Club for the FHS Hall of Fame Award Scholarship. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a flowering magnolia tree, valued at $300.00 raised from donations, planted in the bus loop at the Oak Street Elementary School. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,000.00 from the Horace Mann PCC for In-House Enrichment at HMMS. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $90.33 from the Remington PCC for a nurse for their 8th grade celebration. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,800.00 from the Parmenter PCC for supplies. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $102.88 from the Franklin Music Boosters for a nurse for a field trip for the Middle Schools. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from the Franklin Country Club for the FHS Hall of Fame Award Scholarship. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a flowering magnolia tree, valued at $300.00 raised from donations, planted in the bus loop at the Oak Street Elementary School. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,000.00 from the Horace Mann PCC for In-House Enrichment at HMMS. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $90.33 from the Remington PCC for a nurse for their 8th grade celebration. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,800.00 from the Parmenter PCC for supplies. Motion to accept, approved 6-0
Live reporting - FHS facility review submitted
The Town submitted the documents today to the MSBA.
The next step is to get the feasibility study signed off on by the MSBA. Then hiring and obtaining the project manager. The MSBA will tell and determine what we can do each step along the way. It will likely be more different than previous building projects.
Cafasso - The project manager is important, he/she takes over the communications with the MSBA.
The next step is to get the feasibility study signed off on by the MSBA. Then hiring and obtaining the project manager. The MSBA will tell and determine what we can do each step along the way. It will likely be more different than previous building projects.
Cafasso - The project manager is important, he/she takes over the communications with the MSBA.
Live reporting - FY 2010 update
53 million was needed as level service, that number never changed.
The other number that never changed was the number we could expect from the Town Council. 50 million never changed.
Approx 3.5 million dollar gap. How we were bridging that gap? What savings or revenues were coming in were changing.
We couldn't predict how many were retiring, etc.
Sabolinski - some of the ways we bridged the gap also did not change. The teachers taking the wage freeze helped to save 23 positions. Some prepayment of special education tuitions ($200,000). Stabilization was cut significantly by the Governor, we got our final number last week ($219,000). Circuit breaker extraordinary relief.
We were able to bring 29 on July 2
We can bring back 21 more now but have not determined the final positions until we meet with the principals.
10 teaching positions, (5 PE/health and 5 librarians) are the total lost this year.
We did lose the one data analyst and the asst principal were lost as well.
The other number that never changed was the number we could expect from the Town Council. 50 million never changed.
Approx 3.5 million dollar gap. How we were bridging that gap? What savings or revenues were coming in were changing.
We couldn't predict how many were retiring, etc.
Sabolinski - some of the ways we bridged the gap also did not change. The teachers taking the wage freeze helped to save 23 positions. Some prepayment of special education tuitions ($200,000). Stabilization was cut significantly by the Governor, we got our final number last week ($219,000). Circuit breaker extraordinary relief.
We were able to bring 29 on July 2
We can bring back 21 more now but have not determined the final positions until we meet with the principals.
10 teaching positions, (5 PE/health and 5 librarians) are the total lost this year.
We did lose the one data analyst and the asst principal were lost as well.
Live reporting - FHS update - part 5
Communications
I have tried to be open about why decisions are made. I have an online newsletter that people can access regularly. You can find it -> http://franklinhighschool.wordpress.com/
One of the things I am experimenting with next year with Twitter.The messages can be received via cell phones (i.e text messages). We need to experiment before we try to go full bore.
Next year our avg class sizes will be 20-25 for the core academics. This is about as good as your going to see. We have also increased the instructional time for the core courses. The teachers should be able to go deeper into a topic, cover enrichment items, etc. In terms of supporting individual students, we will support them at a significantly higher level than we have done in the last several years.
We are going to look at how we do Panther Pride night. When you have a public school where 93% of the students take SAT's (here at FHS) and compare favorably to the areas privates schools, we need to advertise that better.
The 8th Grade Open House we revised this year and received positive feedback. We paid some of our teachers come in on a Saturday. The parents got a better sense of what Freshman year work would be like.
We will study the parent conference format. There are some positive elements to it but it is hard to have an honest conversation when you are in such a public forum. One of the things to cover is scheduling. A parent may not want to get up from a teacher, it affects the overall scheduling.
Those are some of the activities that we have planned for next year. Success at FHS is tied to how much income the parents have. The graduation rate of the lower income students is only 78% and that is shocking. We have to look at that and address it.
They did try some special tutoring programs with requested attendance. It was well recieved, some students thought it was the best thing that they have done for them.
The detention threat (2.5 hours) is an effect for some of the population but not for all. We are structuring an alternative, this tutoring program. There is a connection between discipline and academic performance. We need to give them more time in an academic environment to ensure that they don't fall behind and drop out.
Armenio - The parent conferences were a little like speed dating. If this is the first time yur finding out you have a problem, there is a communication problem. Maybe with Edline there will be a chance to get the information before hand.
Light - we were expecting teacher to do a lot. Teachers went from having 100-110 student to a 140-150 students and expecting the same level of information is a problem. What can we reasonably expect teachers to do? The teachers couldn't do the job in the time alloted. We need to rethink the process and provide the support.
Mullen - up until last year, I really didn't mind too much. They weren't a place to have a real conversation and you knew that. The freshman collaborative with the additional lines it was really long to get through.
Rohrbach - Not to sound like a broken record, it is amazing what you ahve accomplished in a short period of time. Do you have a sense of the freshman class?
Light - we don't have a real good number just yet. It is significant shift, possibly about 100 heading from the 8th grade to private schools. The enrollment in the other classes are steady. We should still gain overall about 60 students. We do survey those we find out are going to private school. We find that the number one concern is class size.
Rohrbach - what about helping the parents with the technology changes?
Light - we have used email primarily. The world has fundamentaly changed in terms of the speed of communication. We can fight it, or find ways to utilize technology to improve out ways.
Rohrbach - it should save on supplies
Light - moving to the digital format, we are saving big bucks avoiding printing.
Cafasso - to respond on the shed rate from 8th grade to Freshman year. The average the last several years was 8-10%. The number Peter is talking about is probably triple. Your changing that tonight and a lot of that is perception. People have been concerned about the school budget.
Light - there are some folks returning back from private school who had been there. It will be interesting to see what the numbers in and out balance out to when we do the numbers in August.
Roy - thank you for addressing the issues on a point by point basis. You are addressing the circumstances without drowning in sorrow. You have some losses yes, but there are improvements. You are so inspiring, I am going to have to ask you to come more frequently.
I have tried to be open about why decisions are made. I have an online newsletter that people can access regularly. You can find it -> http://franklinhighschool.wordpress.com/
One of the things I am experimenting with next year with Twitter.The messages can be received via cell phones (i.e text messages). We need to experiment before we try to go full bore.
Next year our avg class sizes will be 20-25 for the core academics. This is about as good as your going to see. We have also increased the instructional time for the core courses. The teachers should be able to go deeper into a topic, cover enrichment items, etc. In terms of supporting individual students, we will support them at a significantly higher level than we have done in the last several years.
We are going to look at how we do Panther Pride night. When you have a public school where 93% of the students take SAT's (here at FHS) and compare favorably to the areas privates schools, we need to advertise that better.
The 8th Grade Open House we revised this year and received positive feedback. We paid some of our teachers come in on a Saturday. The parents got a better sense of what Freshman year work would be like.
We will study the parent conference format. There are some positive elements to it but it is hard to have an honest conversation when you are in such a public forum. One of the things to cover is scheduling. A parent may not want to get up from a teacher, it affects the overall scheduling.
Those are some of the activities that we have planned for next year. Success at FHS is tied to how much income the parents have. The graduation rate of the lower income students is only 78% and that is shocking. We have to look at that and address it.
They did try some special tutoring programs with requested attendance. It was well recieved, some students thought it was the best thing that they have done for them.
The detention threat (2.5 hours) is an effect for some of the population but not for all. We are structuring an alternative, this tutoring program. There is a connection between discipline and academic performance. We need to give them more time in an academic environment to ensure that they don't fall behind and drop out.
Armenio - The parent conferences were a little like speed dating. If this is the first time yur finding out you have a problem, there is a communication problem. Maybe with Edline there will be a chance to get the information before hand.
Light - we were expecting teacher to do a lot. Teachers went from having 100-110 student to a 140-150 students and expecting the same level of information is a problem. What can we reasonably expect teachers to do? The teachers couldn't do the job in the time alloted. We need to rethink the process and provide the support.
Mullen - up until last year, I really didn't mind too much. They weren't a place to have a real conversation and you knew that. The freshman collaborative with the additional lines it was really long to get through.
Rohrbach - Not to sound like a broken record, it is amazing what you ahve accomplished in a short period of time. Do you have a sense of the freshman class?
Light - we don't have a real good number just yet. It is significant shift, possibly about 100 heading from the 8th grade to private schools. The enrollment in the other classes are steady. We should still gain overall about 60 students. We do survey those we find out are going to private school. We find that the number one concern is class size.
Rohrbach - what about helping the parents with the technology changes?
Light - we have used email primarily. The world has fundamentaly changed in terms of the speed of communication. We can fight it, or find ways to utilize technology to improve out ways.
Rohrbach - it should save on supplies
Light - moving to the digital format, we are saving big bucks avoiding printing.
Cafasso - to respond on the shed rate from 8th grade to Freshman year. The average the last several years was 8-10%. The number Peter is talking about is probably triple. Your changing that tonight and a lot of that is perception. People have been concerned about the school budget.
Light - there are some folks returning back from private school who had been there. It will be interesting to see what the numbers in and out balance out to when we do the numbers in August.
Roy - thank you for addressing the issues on a point by point basis. You are addressing the circumstances without drowning in sorrow. You have some losses yes, but there are improvements. You are so inspiring, I am going to have to ask you to come more frequently.
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