Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Absentee ballots available in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/23/12

Absentee ballots for the March 6 Presidential primary are now available at the Town Clerk's office at 355 East Central St.

Things you can do from here:

Monday, January 23, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 23, 1892


Pleasant & warmer, but windy. Thawed a little. Loaded a load of 1060 lbs. of hay & carried to E. Taft & came back & got the load that I left him at N. Arnold’s place.


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  

In the News: library, mock trial



Medway to consider hiring full-time library director

“We have teams (in this region) that are always strong,” Michael Walsh, Franklin’s mock trial team coach said. “Hopedale, Bellingham, Milford. They’re always really, really strong so that makes it challenging.”


Sunday, January 22, 2012

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