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Tuesday, November 8, 2011
eBooks and eReaders
In the News - redistricting, Goguen letter
Local towns see big shift with new congressional districts
US Representative Jim McGovern currently has Franklin, under this proposal we would get Barney Frank.
Goguen: Town Council thwarting teacher, parent efforts
YMCA - Youth Basketball League
The Youth Basketball League (YBL) is the YMCA’s most popular youth sports league. The coed league focuses primarily on skill development, sportsmanship and fun. Emphasis will be placed on dribbling, shooting, passing, teamwork, and having fun. The first three weeks of practices are developed to meet the needs of each age group and to best advance their skills in a healthy and fun way. For the following five weeks, children will compete in games (times are TBA).
Each player in YBL will receive a team t-shirt and a trophy at the end of the season banquet.
The cost for the program is $66 for members and $99 for non-members. Hurry and sign up today because after November 25th winter league prices will increase.
To register, please stop by the Bernon Family YMCA located at 45 Forge Hill Road in Franklin, contact the front desk at (508) 528-8708 or visit us online at www.hockymca.org (only members can register online). For further information please contact Association Youth Programming Director, Jeff Laliberte at (774) 235-2746 or JeffreyL@hockymca.org.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Email from Sean Donahue
Tomorrow, November 8th, is finally Election Day! Throughout the past several months as I've been campaigning for Franklin School Committee I've had the pleasure of making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, including some fellow Franklin High School Class of 2007 grads that still care as much as I do about making sure current and future students have the same opportunities we did. I've talked and listened to parents, students, teachers, concerned citizens, current School Committee and Town Council members and Franklin's Superintendent and look forward to continuing to do so, if elected.
I've been humbled by the support I've gotten from so many residents I'd never previously met who believe the unique views I can bring to the School Committee as someone not so far removed from Franklin Public Schools would benefit the town. My job experience and educational background in communication, political science and business, which can be read about at Franklin Matters or DonahueForFranklin.com, seem of particular importance at a time when communication and "playing politics" have become such an issue in our town government.
I am proud of the education I received in Franklin Public Schools and I'm ready to give back. You can read about my goals and reasons for running at my website, which I will continue to update with important information if elected.
Our town faces many critical decisions in the coming year and it is vital we have the right people both making those decisions and disseminating important information to assure an informed voting public. On November 8th, I ask not only for your support, but also that you take the time to learn about candidates for all town positions before voting. I would like to remind everyone that voting only for those candidates you support, rather than voting for seven or nine people just because you can, is the best way to assure the candidates you really want to have a seat are elected.
This election is too important to have another embarrassing turnout of 16% like we had two years ago. Let's encourage everyone we can to vote and do our part to increase turnout! The Franklin High School Field House will be open from 6AM-8PM Tuesday for voting and it's expected to be a beautiful day, so there are few valid excuses not to vote!
I'd be happy to talk with anyone still undecided about who to vote for tomorrow for any position. Please feel free to contact me and I'll see you tomorrow on Election Day!
Sincerely,
Sean Donahue
Email from Tina Powderly
I am writing to ask for your vote for reelection to Town Council tomorrow. You are receiving this email either because you know me, have contacted me, or because I have interacted with you and other supporters of the schools in the past.
I am proud of the work that's been done during my first term on Council, including expanding tax credits for seniors and instituting a new trash system that has reduced waste and decreased costs, but there is much more work to be done. I also commend the many accomplishments of our school district and support the incumbents of the School Committee who have worked for our children over the years. Second only to our structural deficit and the strain it puts on education and public safety, the renovation of Franklin High School is the single biggest issue before the residents of this town. I ask for your vote so that I can champion for this critical project.
PLEASE VOTE. Encourage your friends to vote and forward this email to other Franklin residents if you believe in my message.
Election Day is TOMORROW, TUESDAY, NOV 8th
Franklin High School
6am-8pm
6am-8pm
LEARN MORE ABOUT ME. There are a number of places where you can learn more about my positions, experience and accomplishments:
My web page and at www.tinapowderly.com
My Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/TinaPowderly
Franklin Matters Interview http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/11/tina-powderly-answers-3-questions.html
Milford Daily News Profile http://www.milforddailynews.com/highlight/x804699774/Meet-the-Franklin-Candidate-Tina-Powderly-Town-Council
Hope to see everyone at the polls tomorrow.
Thank you so much for your support.
Tina
"defusing situations with mental health patients"
"It is important because more and more our departments are being relied on to help out in these mental health situations," Franklin Police Chief Stephen Williams said. "With shrinking budgets, we need all the help we can get."
Williams said his department has always dealt with mental health situations by itself, but said they welcome assistance from a clinician for situations such as when a person did not take his medications and may be a threat to himself or others.
"The criminal system is not the place where a person with these types of issues should be in the first place," Williams said. "They should get help from clinicians and in hospital settings, not from inside a jail cell. We're not going to do them any help by placing them under arrest."
Williams and Upton Police Chief Michael Bradley said their departments do not have money available to hire clinicians without the grant.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x916009106/Milford-police-receive-grant-to-extend-mental-health-services-to-Bellingham-Franklin-Upton#ixzz1d11KIB6A
Email from Jeff Roy
As you know, I am seeking a seat on the Franklin Town Council on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. I am seeking your support, assistance and vote. As demonstrated at the candidate forum two weeks ago, there are some clear choices in this election which will have an impact on the future of Franklin. I have a number of ideas and priorities for moving Franklin forward, but I need your support and vote in order to be successful.
I spent the last 10 years with the Franklin School Committee and enjoyed the challenges of working in municipal government. I am proud of the accomplishments made by the Franklin Public Schools team and will bring that spirit of hard work and commitment to the Council.
To help you make your decision, I have set up a website at http://jeffreyroy.com/ which provides with details on why I am running, my priorities, and information on my background and qualifications. If elected, I will continue to utilize that site to keep you up-to-date on Council matters. I hope you will take some time to check it out. And please pass it along to your friends to get the word out on my candidacy and Tuesday's election. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be at the polls from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow, so we can chat there as well.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve the citizens of Franklin on the School Committee, and look forward to the prospect of serving you as a member of the Town Council.
Sincerely,
Jeff Roy
Note: this is a sharing exercise, this is not an endorsement of this candidate.
Email from Ed Cafasso
When I was first considered running for election to the Franklin School Committee six years ago, a veteran member of the Town Council told me: "You should run for Council. That's where the action is."
I chose to run for School Committee and never regretted it. It's been an honor to serve the community as a volunteer in such an important and challenging role.
Today, I ask for your vote this Tuesday as I seek a fourth term. All of the incumbents on the Committee have earned your vote. I also urge you to support school advocates, including School Committee Chairman Jeff Roy, who are seeking election to the Town Council.
A quick summary of three key issues facing the Franklin schools underlines why your vote Tuesday is so critical.
BUDGET: The School Committee's proposed budget for the current fiscal year was $52.48 million. This amount would have allowed us to maintain service levels. The Town Council reduced it in June by $1 million to $51.4 million and then last month cut an additional $350,000 because they disagreed with the School Committee's decision to approve a 1 percent wage increase to teachers.
As of 2010, the Franklin schools spent $2,700 less per student than the state average. We are well below average in every category except special education, which is a mandated cost. You can see our data at: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/finance.aspx?orgcode=01010000&orgtypecode=5&leftNavId=501&.
However, thanks to our teaching and administrative staff and the commitment of parents, Franklin remains a very high-performing district academically based on standardized test results, graduation rates, college acceptances, awards, athletic rankings, etc. You can view recent MCAS results at: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/mcas/performance_level.aspx?linkid=32&orgcode=01010000&orgtypecode=5&
During the past two years, emergency economic aid from the state and federal governments has allowed us to maintain teaching positions that otherwise would have been eliminated. It also has helped take some pressure off the municipal budget. But that subsidy is scheduled to end as of June 30, 2012.
The budget discussions coming up in the spring of 2012 will mark a watershed moment for the direction of education funding in Franklin. I will continue to work hard to see that our schools are treated fairly and are appropriately recognized for their efficiency and for their contribution to the community's property values and quality of life.
TEACHERS: Today, we have the same number of teachers that we had in the 2011-02 school year, but they are trying to teach 500 more students. Our teachers and administrators are under extreme pressure to keep pace with student needs amid undesirable class sizes.
In the months ahead, teachers are committed to working collaboratively with the School Committee to negotiate a new contract designed to reward achievement in the classroom while saving the taxpayers of Franklin substantial money.
If we are successful, we will replace the antiquated steps and lanes wage structure with one that recognizes teaching skills and student performance. And we will begin to move away from the automatic wage increases that force annual budget deficits and lay-offs in Franklin.
Our move toward a performance-based mindset is an outgrowth of School Supt. Maureen Sabolinski's unheralded effort in the past few years to install a more rigorous teacher evaluation system. In fact, Franklin's reputation has led state official to select our district to pilot a new performance evaluation process that may eventually be rolled out statewide.
It is a tribute to the integrity and commitment of our teachers that they have responded enthusiastically to this evolution. These contract negotiations and the implementation of a new model for teaching standards are critical to Franklin's academic and financial future. They will be a top priority for me if I am re-elected.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL: In the next four weeks, the details of the proposed new model school will be discussed and finalized – the design, the specifications, the drawings and the cost estimate for the new building are scheduled for submission to state officials by December 9.
If all goes well, the Massachusetts School Building Authority will vote on our submission in January. Their approval will set the stage for town-wide vote in March 2012 on a debt exclusion to finance the project so that Franklin can qualify for a 57.9% reimbursement of the total approved cost.
Assuming the community agrees to seize this opportunity and barring unforeseen issues, a new high school to serve Franklin will open its doors to students in September 2014. You can find more information at: http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/017C335B-000F8513. More will be unveiled as details are finalized.
I have been proud to serve on the High School Building Committee since its inception and look forward to continuing to focus on keeping this exciting project moving forward to serve current and future students and the community.
As you can see, the Franklin schools hold their fair share of "the action" in our community. That's why it is so important that you and others take a few minutes this Tuesday to vote. The weather forecast is perfect, so I look forward to seeing you at the Field House.
You can learn more about my candidacy through two links – a Milford Daily News profile at http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x609832895/Meet-the-Franklin-Candidates-Edward-Cafasso-School-Committee; and a Franklin Matters interview at http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/11/ed-cafasso-answers-3-questions.html.
I would appreciate anything you can do to share this email with your friends in Franklin and to urge them to vote on Tuesday. This e-mail reflects my opinion alone and is provided as a constituent service. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.
Thank you for your support!
Ed Cafasso, Member
Franklin School Committee
Note: this is a sharing exercise, this is not an endorsement of this candidate.
Email from Deb Bartlett
Hi All
Just a reminder – the Franklin election is Tuesday - polls open 6 am until 8 pm at FHS field house.
Please go out and cast your ballot and please
ENCOURAGE YOUR E-MAIL LIST AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS to cast their ballots.
If anyone has any last minute questions please feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks and I can assure you I will do my very best for you as
Franklin Town Clerk
Deb Bartlett
Note: this is a sharing exercise, this is not an endorsement of this candidate.
Email from Sue Rohrbach
Hello,
My name is Sue Rohrbach and I am a member of the Franklin School Committee. I have been a member of the School Committee for the last 6 years and I am running for re-election. Please take a look at the attached addendum for more information and details about the various contributions and committees/sub-committees I have been apart of over the years.
Now though I would like to delve into the most common question asked of me. Why am I running again during these very challenging times? Have I not had enough over the last 6 years of challenges and struggle, Well the answer is no. Yes there have been times where it was difficult. But equally as much if not more there were also many positive and proud moments, where I saw amazing efforts put forth by school administration and teachers to make a difference in the lives of our students. These efforts are ongoing and will continue to maintain the educational opportunities for our students. It is not easy by any stretch.
So as you can imagine working on the School Committee takes time and commitment. So why run? Simply put I love working on the Committee. I find it fulfilling to give back to the town of Franklin, where we have lived for the last 13 years. I feel that I have made a difference in the student's lives and educational opportunities. Simply put we do the most with the least funding. This is of course a testament to many hard working folk throughout the entire school system, the School Committee included. I want to continue to make a difference as we go forward. The experience I have gained in the last 6 years will prove crucial in making the tough decisions and setting policy which drive our schools.
Your local elected officials have more impact on your daily lives and the lives of your family, than anyone in state or federal government. The most important thing you can do is to vote on Tuesday, November 8th (the polls will be open from 6am – 8pm). I would be honored if you would vote for me, but more importantly exercise your democratic right and vote.
Thank you for your time and support.
Sue Rohrbach
Note: this is a sharing exercise, this is not an endorsement of this candidate.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
You don't need to help, but the kids would like you to!
The JF Kennedy playground campaign is summarized in this video.
You don't need to help, but the kids would like you to!
You can vote for this idea here http://www.refresheverything.com/kennedyplayground
The Playground website http://www.kennedyplayground.com/
The Playground on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002123222791
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video
You don't need to help, but the kids would like you to!
You can vote for this idea here http://www.refresheverything.com/kennedyplayground
The Playground website http://www.kennedyplayground.com/
The Playground on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002123222791
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video
Saturday, November 5, 2011
There is no turning back the clock on face time
Tonight is the annual 'fall back' to regain the hour of time that Daily Savings Time provides. The earth moves in a cycle around the sun with the amount of daylight shortening from June to December and lengthening from December to June. The 'spring ahead' and 'fall back' effort adjusts the clocks by one hour. We all know this and accept it as the way it is.
However, there is no such adjustment for the loss of face time when a classroom grows from 20 students to 30. Franklin has seen a growth in class size as budget cuts force personnel reductions. Some in the community claim the increased size is not a problem as they went to school with similar class size (or larger) and made it. Making it with the instructional methods in those days versus making it today are two different things. There could be (and should be) a long and constructive debate on the pros and cons of instructional changes in those days, what is being done today and what really should be done to prepare the students for the global economy they will face. We'll hold that topic for another day.
Today, I simply would like to show how much face time is lost when class size increases.
Starting with a class of 20, assuming all students would obtain an equal amount of the teacher's direct attention during an hour of a school day, would calculate out to be 3 minutes. 60 minutes in an hour divided by 20 students equals 3 minutes. Simple math. While a lot of classes are 27/28 students to keep the math simple, we'll assume 30 students and the same assumption on equal face time from the teacher. 60 minutes is now divided by 30 and yields 2 minutes per student.
So Johnny or Susie would go from having 3 minutes of direct face time with his/her teacher to having just 2 minutes. There goes one minute. 1 minute times 5 hours in the school day equals 5 minutes. Times 180 school days equals 900 minutes. To bring the minutes back to hours, we divide the 900 by 60 and get 15. Simple math. So when your child participates in a class size of 30, they loose 15 hours of face time in the school year (compared to the class size of 20).
If that class size increase occurs when the student enters kindergarten and remains for their school time through high school, the student will have lost 195 hours of face time. Just over 8 days. If it occurs at a different grade, you can do the math; 15 hours of lost face time/per year.
When your student needs some extra help, where do you think it will come from? We have already taken away the 'normal' face time they would get. There are only so many hours in a day. I guess you would need to spend money on a tutor. Or consider funding the school budget to support a proper education! Your choice. There is no turning back the clock on face time.
However, there is no such adjustment for the loss of face time when a classroom grows from 20 students to 30. Franklin has seen a growth in class size as budget cuts force personnel reductions. Some in the community claim the increased size is not a problem as they went to school with similar class size (or larger) and made it. Making it with the instructional methods in those days versus making it today are two different things. There could be (and should be) a long and constructive debate on the pros and cons of instructional changes in those days, what is being done today and what really should be done to prepare the students for the global economy they will face. We'll hold that topic for another day.
Today, I simply would like to show how much face time is lost when class size increases.
Starting with a class of 20, assuming all students would obtain an equal amount of the teacher's direct attention during an hour of a school day, would calculate out to be 3 minutes. 60 minutes in an hour divided by 20 students equals 3 minutes. Simple math. While a lot of classes are 27/28 students to keep the math simple, we'll assume 30 students and the same assumption on equal face time from the teacher. 60 minutes is now divided by 30 and yields 2 minutes per student.
So Johnny or Susie would go from having 3 minutes of direct face time with his/her teacher to having just 2 minutes. There goes one minute. 1 minute times 5 hours in the school day equals 5 minutes. Times 180 school days equals 900 minutes. To bring the minutes back to hours, we divide the 900 by 60 and get 15. Simple math. So when your child participates in a class size of 30, they loose 15 hours of face time in the school year (compared to the class size of 20).
If that class size increase occurs when the student enters kindergarten and remains for their school time through high school, the student will have lost 195 hours of face time. Just over 8 days. If it occurs at a different grade, you can do the math; 15 hours of lost face time/per year.
When your student needs some extra help, where do you think it will come from? We have already taken away the 'normal' face time they would get. There are only so many hours in a day. I guess you would need to spend money on a tutor. Or consider funding the school budget to support a proper education! Your choice. There is no turning back the clock on face time.
"troublesome intersection"
A study conducted by MassDOT, however, said there isn't enough traffic to warrant more than the two stop signs.
"(The study) shows that this intersection doesn't meet any of the federal requirements to have a signal there, which is why we're not putting one back there," said Michael Verseckes, a MassDOT spokesman. "The traffic study that was done showed that this was the proper treatment for this intersection."
Conlyn Avenue resident Lauren Chousa drew up a petition signed by 176 neighbors and sent it to MassDOT in late October, requesting a deeper look at the intersection.
Several residents will be on hand at Monday's Planning Board meeting, where the board is expected to make a decision on BJ's request for longer hours.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x251090787/Traffic-light-decision-leaves-Franklin-residents-in-a-lurch#ixzz1cp42cqYp
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