Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
If you are interested please complete a committee appointment request form which can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s office located on the first floor of the Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street or downloaded from the Town Clerk’s web page.
1. Routine Business Citizen’s Comments - none Review of Agenda - no adjustments Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open and Executive Session minutes from the June 22, 2010 School Committee Meetings. - motion to accept, passed 6-0 Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn - motion to accept, passed 6-0Payroll Mrs. Douglas FHS Student Representatives - none Correspondence: FSC letter to the FEA
This is in regard to the shortened school day. There will NOT be a shortened day. Parents will be notified on teacher assignments in August. Class size will increase. Additional info can be found here: http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/07/franklin-ma-no-shortened-day-for.html
2. Guests/Presentations
Summer Update
Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski provides the update There were several small Federal grant reductions, programs were adjusted downward accordingly
Title 2A (teacher quality) - reduced by $2,000
Safe and drug free - reduced by $5,000
IDEA Special ed - reduced by $14,000
Title 1 - $17,000
All the grant reductions amount to $38,000.
Additional grants have been obtained from Stop & Shop / Hockomock Area Y Grant for Jefferson Elementary School - funds to help with health education.
ELL Grant / Curriculum Development - awarded $5,000 by State. This resulted from DESE coordinated program review discussed earlier this year. Christmas in June! Working with the state to develop curriculum to meet this need.
Verizon Affinity Grant - grant submitted to obtain netbooks for English Language Learners.
Staff heavily engaged in professional development:
24 teachers participated in mentor training during the summer.
A course conducted by two teachers for 30 others on closing the achievement gap was held last week. Becky Mardy (?), Brian Wilderman (?)
Two teachers were published this year. Both articles were published in the Choice Literacy Journal. Ann Williams (Kennedy), Brian Kelly (Keller). Ann has a reading blog on literacy.
An active summer of hiring/staff changes.
Hired a young English teacher from Brown for Horace Mann.
Deb Goss retired recently.
Physic teacher for the high school. He really is a rocket scientist for the physics dept to replace a retirement.
Three teachers moving to administration positions in other districts (Wareham, Westwood, and Shrewsbury). A tribute to the training and opportunities offered here, sorry not to have an opportunity to keep them here.
Bully task force about to begin, middle school principals working on a bullying handbook to be shared at a future meeting. Innovative and user friendly.
On the facilities side:
Relocating alternative learning program from Emmons St to the High School in H wing.
Richard Gaskin's office on the loading doc will be relocated to the DPW and that space will be used for teachers work space.
Some machine/maintenance shop will be used for Art space for the Arts Academy at the High School.
Installation of security is underway at Keller Sullivan
Remington security getting additional cameras
A couple of sound proofing projects due to needs of students is underway
Carpeting and paving at Parmenter are scheduled to be completed before school starts.
The architect selected to proceed with the Franklin High School renovation is continuing . Four finalists will present on July 27th to select the finalist. Contact the School Administration office for details. It will be held at the MSBA office in Boston at 8:30 AM. They are public meetings anyone interested is invited to attend. One of the questions concerns their partnership in selling the project to the community.
Pay-to-ride : The deadline ended July 9th, 1420 are enrolled. On target with last year, final number from last year was 1520. 75 families are on the wait list, they did not submit in time. The dept is starting the routing/re-routing the last week of July. Re-routing and changing the bus stops due to the three buses cut is underway.
MASBO is offering a transportation study. They will examine all aspects of transportation. Some of the data would help to build in efficiencies and help reduce costs. Likely to come out in August or September. Miriam Goodman will be leading this effort. There is no free lunch, the service itself is not free but there should be some beneficial offset to consider.
Q - Does Holmes offer this service? A - We have never asked them to see if they provide it.
Q - Will we get some updates on enrollment and bus routes? A - There is a lot of fluctation. We will get an update on numbers in August. There have been moves in/out, 10 in alone at Davis Thayer.
Technology Wireless at Kennedy is installed. Smart boards are being installed. Further updates are scheduled for the fall.
Food service Miriam is moving some cheese. A survey of students, parents and staff will be held in the fall A salad bar at Annie Sullivan will be piloted. A wrap bar will be at the High School. If it works at Sullivan (where there already is space and equipment) then it will be expanded to the other schools. We need to make sure it is profitable before expanding.
Miriam has been attending the Tuft Community Leadership for Childhood Obesity Institute in conjunction with the YMCA. It is a community effort. Need to partner with other organizations within the community. Speaker today was Mark Fenton on transportation via foot, bike or vehicle. A study in Somerville schools in transforming the program preparing more fresh fruits and vegetables. Returning Weds to continue.
Summer School is underway. FHS Experience registration is still open. It starts August 9th. School lunch will be provided for a couple of days to pilot some new things. 175 enrolled to date. A very good number.
Football camp has good enrollment.
School Dept will have a table at the Harvest Fest on Sept 26th. to help meet the community and help market the schools.
3. Discussion Only Items None
4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $2,655.00 from the Annie Sullivan PCC to pay for buses as detailed. motion to accept, passed 6-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $721.39 from Stop and Shop for FHS Scholarships. motion to accept, passed 6-0 c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,200.00 from SEPAC for the supplemental curriculum materials. motion to accept, passed 6-0 d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo for FHS In House Enrichment. motion to accept, passed 6-0 e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $200.00 from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Doyle for in house enrichment at the FHS. motion to accept, passed 6-0
A public acknowledgement to the Doyle's. They were disappointed in the override vote and decided to contribute the difference in their taxes to help the schools. f. I recommend acceptance of two checks ($1377.00 & $3031.00) totaling $4408.00 from Parmenter PCC for field trips and supplies. motion to accept, passed 6-0
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report (all covered in the summer update above)
a. Stop & Shop / Hockomock Area Y Grant for Jefferson Elementary School
b. ELL Grant / Curriculum Development
c. Verizon Affinity Grant
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
From Ed Cafasso - Advertising subcommittee; memo from Brad Sidwell, pursuing advertising interested for the football field. There is now interest in advertising on the scoreboards. There is space available on the existing scoreboard and some businesses may help purchase scoreboards for other fields where they don't exist. Trying to keep it simple. The fence along the field by the flag pole is off limits. More to come on this item.
School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Bill Glynn - resolution moving forward for discussion, very similar to the one that Franklin had endorsed. A small difference in the monetary number but it is moving forward.
7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations
Motion to move into executive session, not to return to open forum. Passed 6-0 (assuming this was so, the video actually ends as the roll call is conducted.)
MBTA General Manager Richard Davey visited the West Natick Commuter Rail Station today to demonstrate the new and easy way to pay for parking at T lots. The visit is also the latest stop on his "Join the GM" series of sessions along with his senior staff to listen to customers' questions and concerns.
Beginning Friday, July 23, a simpler system for parking lot payments will allow daily commuters and visitors to use their mobile phones and an online account to pay for parking at MBTA lots.
Customers parking in MBTA-owned and operated lots with existing cash honor boxes will be able to pay for parking online or via phone while in their cars or once they board a train, bus, or commuter boat.
As part of a new partnership with Parkmobile USA, customers can visit www.parkmobile.com and enroll in the new program for free, and have access to their on-line accounts 24 hours a day/7 days a week. T riders can also download a mobile app.
Once registered, customers can use the mobile app, the internet, a text message or a phone call to pay for parking. TTY service is also available. The phone number will be displayed on signs at MBTA parking facilities.
The new service will be available for 23,733 parking spaces at nearly 70 MBTA-owned lots with existing cash honor boxes. In the weeks ahead the T will work to expand the new system to lots that are not operated by the MBTA. Only two U.S. transit systems offer more parking spaces than the MBTA.
According to the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening, there will not be a shortened school day for the elementary schools. The seven elementary teachers already cut from the budget as announced during the override will be joined by three more due to the lack of response from the teachers union on this proposal. The teachers involved had already been notified per contractual requirements in June.
If the teachers union had responded positively to this proposal, the teacher positions could have been restored.
Notification to parents of teacher assignments will not be until August. There are still enrollment adjustments happening and the final teacher assignments are pending these changes. The enrollment adjustments are families moving from one school to another. The churn is still be worked on the principals.
As clarified in this video segment, the total teachers cut due to the failed override is now 18; 8 from the middle schools and 10 from the elementary schools. Larger class sizes will result.
In the public service notice category, I have this email text from Joanne Basile:
Small Wonders Licensed Family Child Care has Part Time Openings 2010/2011 for the 2010/2011 School Year:
Hope you're all having a great summer, and I just wanted to post a quick note for those of you that are beginning to think about Back to School Planning...
- Have older kids in school and a little one at home?
- Do you have a little one that misses the preschool cut off?
- Do you need an opportunity for your little one help manage on separation anxiety, or play and share with peers?
- Would you like a few hours a week to do some errands on your own, take a class, or even just clean up?
Small Wonders Family Child care is a fully licensed family child care - I have been in business since 2003, and have many sweet little friends here in Franklin that have come to play. The children enjoy puzzles, board games, dance parties, baking, coloring, sing a longs, walks around the block, story time and more.
I am CPR and First Aid certified and as a mother of two young boys with severe food allergies, trained in the use of an Epi Pen. As a licensed provider the state has performed a background check and safety inspection.
I have many happy references available from both current and former clients.
Only three spaces remain for my 2010/2011 school year, spaces available Tuesday and Thursday from 9-12 or 9-2 depending on your needs.
The United Regional Chamber of Commerce has organized a Business After Hours at Hawthorn Suites, 835 Upper Union St., Franklin, on Aug. 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $5 for members (3 members for $10) or $10 for non-members. Register by calling 508-222-0801, 508-695-6011 or 508-528-2800.
The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, business support organization with offices in Attleboro, North Attleborough and Franklin serving the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham.
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS Pfeffer - thanks to Mark Cerel and Debbie Pellegri for putting together training on the new Open Meeting law. It was well done and a lot of committee and Town folks attended.
Jones - thanks to the Town for getting the circular table wired up to turn the lights back on at the Library.
Mason - happy birthday to Councilor Powderly, she's 29 today O. EXECUTIVE SESSION Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required not tonight
P. ADJOURN
Vallee - motion to adjourn, passed 9-0
meeting closed at 7:20 PM (with a 5 minute recess, this is the shortest meeting I have ever attended.)
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 1. Resolution 10-40: Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Action Plan motion to move to Aug 4th meeting agenda, passed 9-0
3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 10-645: Site Plan Review & Design Review – 1st Reading motion to wave reading, passed 9-0 motion to move to 2nd reading, passed 9-0
F. HEARINGS First Zoning Bylaw Amend. 10-645: Site Plan Review & Design Review- 7:10 PM Bryan Taberner, Beth Dahlstrom
Planning Board has voted to approve the zoning bylaw change Remove language to hold a bond incomplete objects would be agreed upon by the developer and the Town Engineer certification of completion, or a fine of $300/day until completion
Pfeffer - the notary clauses are incorrect for MA law
Dahlstrom - I'm sorry I thought those were corrected Cerel - Those will be corrected before the second reading
open for citizen comment, none made
motion to close the hearing, passed 9-0 Second Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Action Plan – Public Hearing
Bryan and Beth continue
Town Councilors had not had time to read the 34 page document
compared by one to a 'Harry Potter' book, by another to a summons
M. NEW BUSINESS
Pfeffer - regarding the new barrels, when they are put back the covers are open and if it is raining or snowing, the barrels could accumulate, can they be put back with the covers on
Nutting - It is a matter of the drivers touch, if they handle it just right, the cover should come back on. We are putting items like this together to have a monthly meeting with the vendor.
Pfeffer - I have also noticed they have been lenient in picking up the overflowing barrels
Nutting - It is still the new process, we want to get it off right. We will soon not pick up the snow cones, those barrels with an overflow on the top.
We are also expecting the smaller barrels in a couple of weeks. If you do want to switch make sure you contact the DPW.
Continuing to skip about the agenda to use time wisely before the hearings are scheduled to start at 7:10 PM
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Jeff - Thanks to all the citizens in their help with the water ban, the water levels have improved. If we get some good rain, we'll go back to once a week.
The State passed their final budget, we are set, we don't need to make any more amendments.
I want to recognize David Seal, got his heavy duty truck certificate, his personal development and other of our employees are appreciated.
