Franklin Matters

Thursday, June 24, 2010

"Morris stood out from the crowd"

By Ashley Studley, Daily News staff

Posted Jun 24, 2010 @ 01:22 AM

FRANKLIN —

The School Committee Tuesday welcomed a new addition to the district's administration team, incoming Parmenter Elementary School Principal Tom Morris.

On July 1, Morris will replace Judi Bassignani, who is retiring.

A music teacher for Newton public schools, Morris is looking forward to his new position.

"I'm thrilled to be coming to the Franklin public school district," he said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x2071994758/Franklin-welcomes-new-Parmenter-principal

This was reported in real-time from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday evening here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/live-reporting-tom-morris-parmenter.html

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Present: Hardesty, Roche, Cameron, Bartlett, Whalen, Rohrbach, Zollo
Absent: Morrison, Trahan, Mason, Nutting, Sabolinski

What is the next thing we can do to have an incremental effect?

Update forecast, provide an estimate on next years shortage
How do we control costs going forward, esp with 80% of our costs in employee compensation

How many towns have passed overrides around us?

need to re-do the report to make it more easily understandable, i.e. what impact does it have on me!

(Roche left)

Town of Wakefield Chap 70 inequity example
http://www.wakefield.ma.us/Public_Documents/WakefieldMA_EmerNews/02A596B0-000F8513

Norfolk, MA failed their override 6/22/10
The override did not pass. 1,806 votes, which is 29% of registered voters. Yes 571, No 1,235
http://www.norfolknet.com/norfolk/

what are the spending priorities over the next several years?
solicit input on the level of services and what services should be kept
what is the spending priority list?

Franklin, MA

Brainstorming Rules

Rules for brainstorming? Are you sure?
Yes, most definitely. Every game has rules even if they are made up along the way.

Is brainstorming a game?
If we treat it as such, with rules, then the best ideas will win. Note: the ideas win! Not the people who play, the ideas!

The Rules

Generate as Many Ideas as Possible
Encourage Wild and Exaggerated Ideas, No Matter How Crazy, Ridiculous, or Farfetched the Idea Might Be
There will be No Detailed Discussions about an Idea, Except to Provide Clarification
Assign Someone as the Scribe. The Scribe Should Write Down Every Idea – No Screening
Keep a Copy of the Rules in Plain View (That's called transparency!)
The Brainstorming List Must Be Visible to Everyone (also transparency!)
Snowballing on Other Ideas is Encouraged
Postpone and Withhold Judgment of Any Idea (Yes, this will be a tough one)
Leave Your Titles at the Door (and likely the hardest!)
The Optimum Number of People is Between 8 And 12, with One-Third of the Group Being Outsiders

Would you like to play?

Note: the rules come from Mark L Fox and his book DaVinci and the 40 Answers

Franklin, MA

School Committee - 06/22/10

The posts live reported from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 can be found here

Franklin, MA

"Finding interested and qualified candidates has been difficult"

Franklin school decisions explained

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

"the EPA should come up with the money"

Officials estimate businesses could spend $6,000 to $120,000 per acre on systems used to redirect stormwater.

"The benefits (of cleaning the river) are grossly overstated and do not justify the expense," said Franklin Director of Public Works Robert Cantoreggi.

Cantoreggi argued that legislation should be sought to control sources of the phosphorous, such as lawn fertilizer. He also said "social research" should be conducted to see if there is support within the communities to fund phosphorous control systems.

"Let the people decide where their money goes," Cantoreggi said.

Read the full article on the EPA Stormwater regulations here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x2071994370/Residents-speak-out-against-EPA-mandate

Franklin, MA

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Live reporting - Closing

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

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

Trahan - best of luck to all the students for the summer

Glynn - Mendon, Upton, Attleboro and others have adopted the resolution we put forward thus far

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

motion to go to executive session, not to return

8. Adjourn

Franklin, MA