"need to think before they react"

McAfee is running a five part series on Cyberbullying and begins with a definition:

Cyberbullying: “a situation when a child, tween or teen is repeatedly ‘tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted’ by another child or teenager using text messaging, email, instant messaging or any other type of digital technology.” (source: StopCyberbullying.org)

You can find all of part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here.

You can bookmark, favorite or subscribe to the McAfee page to get the remainder of the series.



Franklin, MA

In the News - bullying policy, accident

Vote expected on Franklin school bullying policy

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin accident sends man to the hospital

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

FM #80 - Week Ending 12/12/10

Let's take about 10 minutes to review what matters here in Franklin, MA as the week comes to a close Sunday Dec 12, 2010.

Time : 8 minutes, 43 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes

This internet radio show or podcast is number 80 in the series for Franklin Matters.

In this session, you give me about ten minutes and I'll fill you in on what matters in Franklin as this week comes to a close on Sunday Dec 12th.

This past week, the Town Council approved the smallest capital budget in recent years. While we have 2.1 M in 'free cash' the joint decision (administration and Town Council) was to keep $500,000 for snow/ice and $800,000 for unemployment insurance expense. The snow and ice budget has been growing closer to a realistic number over the years but given the variability in NE weather, and the tightness of the budget recent years, it is better to under forecast it and cover with free cash than to over forecast it. The unemployment insurance pool is being created in case an override fails come May/Jun 2011 and there are a large number of Town and School employees laid off.

The segment of the Town Council meeting covering this capital budget:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=5qFm%2baJMGjV57Fyb%2f6R%2fsg%3d%3d

As much as some folks still think that the Administration is incompetent, the actions and their results have some quite the opposite. Their performance has shown a high level of stability in the overall budget with lots of alternative planning.

Just flash back to the chart in the appendix for last week's slide cast, the one slide I think makes this point. Look at the variation in free cash over the years. The variability has narrowed in the last several years. The revenue forecasts have been closer to reality, the budget expenses have been managed very closely. Both of these combine to result in 'free cash', which is not 'free' nor really cash. Free cash should be created each year, in a tight and acceptable range, especially given the size of the operation Franklin is running.

http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/12/fm-79-slidecast-tax-hearing-info-for-fy.html

Back to the Council meeting, the tax rate was set at 12.95 as calculated and expected. It also continued the single tax rate that I believe rightly should be used here in Franklin. You can disagree if you choose, but the numbers speak for themselves.

The segment of the Town Council meeting covering the Tax Hearing:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=3dwRSxWPYuVy9u0sTBN5kA%3d%3d


As another sign of good financial management, Franklin is going to fund some $2 M for school repairs with a bond issue. The bond issue will fit within the operating budget and not result in an override consideration. The Council has been operating with a policy of using up to 3.5% of the total operational budget for debt service and has been building some capacity in this area in the last year or so with more expect in the next year as debt retires. This is a good financial maneuver and you can hear more of the rational behind it during the Council discussion

The segment of the Town Council meeting covering the school bond issue:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=RcYKs%2b0J6JuGZPLL%2fsGOyg%3d%3d


Looking ahead:
School Committee meeting on Tuesday and the next Town Council meeting Wednesday

School Committee agenda is published, the Town Council is not yet available.

School Committee has the anti-bullying plan is the major item on the agenda. The plan was released a couple of weeks ago for feedback and will be voted on during the meeting Tuesday.

While the TC agenda is not available, I did receive an advance copy of the revised approach to the downtown commercial zoning changes. If you were confused by the initial plan, you were not alone. The plan has now been split into three parts, the first part will be discussed Weds. The cover memo and supporting documents were published on Franklin Matters Sunday and the link is included here.

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/12/approach-revised-for-downtown.html

---- ---- ----

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can use your help.

How can you help?

If you have an interest in covering the Planning Board, Conservation Commission and or the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, please let me know.

As always:

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please tell me

Thank you for listening.

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to listen to this podcast

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee Meeting - Agenda - 12/14/10

Proposed Agenda for Dec 14, 2010

Location: Franklin YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road

Start Time: 7:30PM

I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Introduction of new attendees
Can new attendees begin on committee immediately?
B. Review & approve minutes of previous meeting
C. Ask for volunteer to keep minutes of meeting

II. Presentation by Tad Staley Guest Speaker from the Needham Rail Trail Group

III. Report from our representative from DCR
Gates & Grading
Brochure box has been added to Kiosk
Volunteer is researching history of railroad
Contact made at WPI

IV. Membership Committee Report
Committee to report on membership activity

V. Report from Finance Committee
Report from Treasurer

VI. Report of Fund Raising Committee
Report on fund raising activities
Report Road Race Committee
Need Sponsors by next meeting – need to start hustling

VII. Report from Grant Writing Committee

VIII. Report on addition of Network Solutions web site
E-mail
Remote monitoring

IX. Unfinished Business:
Business plan in the making
Distribute revised brochures
Recommendation to write to Town Administrator

X. New Business
A.

XI. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn



Franklin, MA

Approach Revised for the Downtown Commercial Zoning Proposal

If you thought the proposal to revise the downtown commercial zoning district was confusing, you were not alone. The Dept. of Planning and Community Development has incorporated the feedback and revised their proposal to split it up into three parts. The first part will be scheduled for discussion at the Town Council meeting on Weds, Dec 15. The cover memo outlining the changes is addressed to Jeff Nutting and reads in part:

After a recent staff meeting with you (Jeff Nutting)  on November 23rd a three step approach was developed which we wish to pursue that will simplify the zoning bylaw amendment process and hopefully eliminate confusion:

1. Amend the Town’s Zoning Bylaw to include a new Downtown Commercial Zoning District;

2. Amend the Zoning Bylaw as it relates to the remainder of the Commercial I Zoning District; and

3. Amend the Town’s Sign Bylaw (185-20. Signs).

For your reading pleasure, the full memo and supporting documents are attached:

Town Council - Downtown Commercial Zoning Proposal - 20101215


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to read the document.

Franklin, MA

"feel like there's a sense of connectivity"

Foxborough architectural firm Kaestle Boos Associates is expected to present three plans to school and town officials in the spring that incorporate items from the recent three-day visioning meeting, Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said.

"We spent a lot of time talking about what goes on in the classrooms and what is the best learning environment in a Franklin High of the future," Sabolinski said. "We understand that the scope of the project is not going to be a new high school. We were really looking at a renovation of the current space."

The group concluded that education would be more collaborative and project-based if there were many common areas for students and teachers to work together on projects, as is typically done in college settings, Sabolinski said.

Architects get to work on vision for renovated Franklin High School

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 12/14/10

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement

The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the open session of the November 16, 2010 School Committee Meeting and August 31, 2010 special meeting, and the following Executive Session minutes:

• August 24, 2010
• September 14, 2010
• September 28, 2010
• October 12, 2010
• October 26, 2010
• November 9, 2010
• November 16, 2010

Payment of Bills (11/9 & 12/14) Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

Correspondence
1. Budget to Actual
2. Anti-Bullying Plan Feedback

2. Guests/Presentations
a. MASS Academic Excellence Awards

1. Samantha White
2. Daniel Nulton

b. Signing of Cafeteria Contract July 2010 – June 2013

3. Discussion Only Items

Policy – Second Reading
o GBEBA/JIA Staff Research Policy

Anti-Bullying Plan
Child Nutrition Bill Task Force

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Policy GBEBA/JIA Staff Research Policy as discussed.
b. I recommend adoption of the Anti-Bullying Plan as discussed.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,800.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment at the Franklin High School.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,500.00 from Big Lots for in-house enrichment at Parmenter Elementary School.
e. I recommend approval of the trip for the FHS Cheerleaders to Indianapolis, IN for a competition on January 14-17, 2011 as detailed.
f. I recommend approval of the trip for the FHS Boy’s Ice Hockey Team to North Smithfield, RI for a competition on December 28-29, 2010 as detailed.
g. I recommend approval of the trip for the FHS Lacrosse team to Guilford, CT for a competition on April 2-3, 2011 as detailed.
h. I recommend approval of the trip for the FHS Boy’s Wrestling Team to West Babylon, NY for a competition on January 21-23, 2011 as detailed.
i. I recommend approval of the trip for the FHS Boy’s Wrestling Team to Pleasant Valley, PA for a competition on January 14-16, 2011 as detailed.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check for $294.00 from the Wells Fargo Foundation for FHS enrichment.
k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $35.51 from Olympia Sports for in-house enrichment for the Franklin High School.
l. I recommend acceptance of two checks for $10.00 each (Total: $20.00) from Barbara Peatie for RMS in-house enrichment.
m. I recommend approval of the FHS trip to New York City to see Wicked on March 12, 2011 as detailed.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

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



Franklin, MA