Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 24, 2012

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 January 10, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. FHS Students re: trip to New Hampshire Primary
b. Rep. Jim Vallee and Sen. Karen Spilka
c. Best Buddies Grants
d. ELL Update (presentation doc here)

3. Discussion Only Items
School Choice 2012-2013 (summary doc here)

4. Action Items
a. I recommend not approving any new school choice students for the 2012-2013 school year.
b.I recommend acceptance of the donation of a speaker docking system (valued at $60.00) from Steve and Sara Frielich for ECDC.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,500.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for 282.66 from Wells Fargo for FHS scholarships.
e. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands through the World Challenge program in the Summer of 2013 for FHS students as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Singleton Family Foundation for the FHS Special Education Department.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for 1751.46 from Lifetouch for the Keller student activity account.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for 1460.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for competition fees and transportation of Franklin students.
i. I recommend approval of budget transfers 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

FPS: School Choice History 2003 - 2012

School Choice is a program whereby students from outside the Franklin Public Schools can apply and with a payment facilitated by the state (from their town/community to ours), the student can attend here.

As this summary shows, school choice stopped taking applications for the 2008-2009 school year and those students already in the program have continued to move through the system and as they leave, the numbers have declined.

This is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012. It is a preliminary part of the budget discussion. While Franklin can gain some additional income via these students, the concern has been with the available space for these students. As the class size has continued to increase, it doesn't make sense to continue to add students to further create pressures on class size.

FPS School Choice History - 2003-2012

FPS: English Language Learners

Scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012. This is an overview of the English Language Learners (ELL) program in the school district.

FPS ELL Program Update 20120124

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 22, 1892

Very pleasant & cold. Loaded & carried 1200 lbs. hay to J. Morrell, & 1015 lbs. hay to M. M. Daniels, that he settled for. J.C. Hull out here to day. E. Simonds came to night, stops at G.W. Foster’s.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 21, 1892

Pleasant, cold & windy. loaded a load of 1220 lbs. hay & carried to S.H. Band & chored about.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 

New Report: Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts

Be sure to check out the interactive portion of this report. You can input one of the MA communities and find out how much has changed from 2008 to 2012. For Franklin the report shows:

In Fiscal Year 2012, Franklin received $2,089,973 in general local aid from the state. Four years earlier, in FY2008—prior to the onset of the state fiscal crisis—it received $3,284,276(adjusted for inflation). 

That's a cut of 36%, which amounts to $37 per person.

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Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts  The money that the state provides to cities and towns for police and fire protection, parks, and other core local services is called General Local Aid.  This morning, Lt. Governor Tim Murray announced the administration's plans to continue funding general local aid at the current level--the level to which it has been reduced after four years of deep cuts. Our new factsheet, Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts, describes: The history of general local aid and options for reform. The various formulas that have determined how general local aid is distributed. The dramatic cuts--roughly 1/3 of all funds--which have been made to general local aid since the onset of the Great Recession. We have also included an online tool which allows you to track the amount of general local aid going to each municipality in the Commonwealth--as well as the amount that has been cut. Read Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts  Search by Municipality   MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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MBTA Fare, Service Hearings Continue

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

MBTA Fare, Service Hearings Continue

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 1/19/12

The MBTA recently proposed fare and service changes to help close the MBTA's $161 budget deficit for FY2013.  The MBTA is holding more than 20 public meetings to allow T riders to be heard about the proposed changes and thanks all those who participated in the first four meetings.
The public discussion continues next week with the following public meetings:

Monday January 23, Boston- 1:00-3:00 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza
Monday, January 23, Boston- 4:30-6:30 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza

Tuesday, January 24, Attleboro- 4:30-8:00 PM, Attleboro High School, 100 Rathbun Willard Drive
Wednesday, January 25, Salem - 6:00-8:00 PM, City Hall Annex 3rd Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.

Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.

The MBTA's public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma  02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146.

A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA's Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.

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