Only 5 Minutes to Influence - What Do You Say?

In reference to the recent School Committee discussion on the policy surrounding the use of electronic tools (i.e. texting) I found this article interesting.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Only 5 Minutes to Influence - What Do You Say?

via Free Technology for Teachers by noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Byrne) on 9/4/09

Earlier today I posted on Twitter, the question "If you had only 5 minutes to convince a school administrator to ease Internet filtering, what would you say?" I got a bunch of good replies and as someone on Twitter requested, I've included those replies a little later in this post. But first, I'll explain my motivation for the question. Most teachers are back in school now or will be in school next week. Once school starts everyone involved in schools becomes busy and we have less time to discuss ideas and even less time to discuss ideas that involve systemic change. Therefore, if you're working in a school environment that doesn't offer a least restrictive Internet environment and you want to get that changed, chances are you'll have to make your case succinct and influential at the same time.

Last year when my school district was considering enacting a filtering policy that would ban all websites containing a social networking component, I did not have much time to make the case against the policy. To get my district's administrators to reconsider, I simply pointed out that this blog and many like it would be inaccessible to teachers because they include the Google Friend Connect widget. In my case I had some leverage because of the 2008 Edublog Award and, at that time, 6000+ subscribers. Additionally, I was given the opportunity to talk with my district's superintendent and my district's technology administrator who were both quite willing to listen although those conversations were only a few minutes in length.

If you're in a position where you're trying to change your district's filtering policy, but you only have a few minutes to influence people, consider some of the advice offered by these great folks on Twitter. You should also read Jeff Utecht's latest post which offers great evidence against using the "walled garden" approach to filtering.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

In the News - standoff, Milford rail trail, guest conductor

One arrested after armed standoff in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Phil Sweeney/Daily News staff

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Obstacles delay Milford rail trail extension construction

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

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Franklin music teacher gets a chance to shine

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Angel Roy/Daily News staff

Presidential address to students

President Obama speaks to students Tuesday on the first day of school for many across America. Of course, Franklin opened their doors last week and Boston opens their doors on the 10th so there is some variation in opening days.

President Reagan spoke to students in 1988. You can view the video of his 36 minute talk and then Q&A period with some students at the White House here

President George H Bush spoke to students at Alice Deal Junior High School in 1991. You can read the text of his address here

The text of President Obama's remarks is available on the White House website here. It will be broadcast via the web or C-Span at noon on Tuesday (Eastern time).

The video promo by NASCAR drivers is included:

School Committee - Agenda - 9/08/09

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the August 25, 2009 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
Payroll Ms. Armenio

FHS Student Representatives – Welcome to the new student representatives: Zach Price (President of Senior Class) and Christie Gianetti (Student Government President)

Correspondence

1. Budget to Actual
2. Letter from Kristen Redpath (donation)

2. Guests/Presentations


a. School Improvement Plans

• Horace Mann Middle School – Dr. Anne Bergen
• Remington Middle School – Paul Peri
• Annie Sullivan Middle School – Beth Wittcoff
• Franklin High School – Peter Light

3. Discussion Only Items

• Facilities Update
• Transportation Update
• H1N1 Update
• Superintendent’s Goals

4. Action Items

1. I recommend adoption of Horace Mann Middle School’s School Improvement Plan
2. I recommend adoption of Remington Middle School’s School Improvement Plan
3. I recommend adoption of Annie Sullivan Middle School’s School Improvement Plan
4. I recommend adoption of Franklin High School’s School Improvement Plan
5. I recommend acceptance of a check for $554.22 from the Tri County Partnership as credit for Life Fair for the FHS gift account
6. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from Kristen Redpath in memory of her late husband, Donald Redpath, for the FHS Science Department.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

1.  News You Can Use
2. Back to School Update
3. Enrollment Comparison
4. Preliminary AYP Update

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Chamber Job Fair 9/13-14

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce:

Job Search Sunday, September 13th 12:30pm – 5:00pm 
Career Fair Monday, September 14th 10am - 4pm

Where:
At Living Waters Church, 15 John L. Dietsche Blvd, North Attleboro MA.


Do you or someone you know need help finding a job?  Then you are welcome to these FREE EVENTS.

Job Search Sunday will offer career development courses like:

• Resume Writing
• Interviewing Skills 
• Using Social Media to Network (by Tricia White of the Mass Small Business Development Center at 1:30pm)

Career Fair Monday will include companies who are actively hiring and seminars on "Staying Motivated While Unemployed."

Keynote speakers Include:

• Ann Crawford , Life Coach 11:30am
• Bill Napolitano, Institute for Business Excellence 1:00pm

To register for this click here


For additional information contact

Jen Osojnicki at the United Chamber, 508.695.6011, jen@unitedregionalchamber.com

Where do you put open space on the budget priority listing?

Currently, the Department of Public Works is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all town parks, recreation areas and School grounds. The Recreation Department is responsible for scheduling the use of the Town of Franklin athletic fields and facilities. Recreation Department Director, Ryan Jette indicated that it is a difficult challenge to maintain all the open space and recreation areas in Town and there is not adequate staffing for the upkeep.

The Conservation Department maintains a list of open space and conservation sites in Franklin. The current level of staffing for the management and maintenance of open space is not satisfactory, there is insufficient staff and resources to complete routine property inspections and maintenance. Issues such as hiring a forester to oversee the cutting of the Town Forest have proven challenging for the Conservation Commission due to a lack of funding.

If the Town continues to obtain additional open space and recreation areas, there will likely be issues providing sufficient upkeep due to a lack of funds and staffing available to provide upkeep of the sites.

As the Town Council candidates declare themselves for election this November, this would be a good topic on which to find out where they stand.

While the Town has a number of budget needs (the school department is the single biggest item of our Town budget), where open space management sits amongst the priority list would be important to understand.

For additional information on the Open Space and Recreation Plan, read the full report on the Town web site here (PDF)

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/2008plan

In the News - FHS GPA,

Franklin High School tosses old GPA system

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Angel Roy, Daily News staff

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The GPA changes covered in this article were discussed at length in the School Committee meeting on 7/21/09. You can review the live reporting from that meeting here.