Tidbits

• During the Councilor Comments section of the last week's Town Council meeting, some folks were wishing a speedy recovery to Bob Dean. He has been heavily involved with the broadcast and video operations for Franklin meetings. I wonder if that is why all of a sudden meetings since Feb 15th have not been posted to the video archive section?

• The Planning Board is scheduled for a meeting on Monday night. There may be a meeting agenda posted on the window at the Town Clerk's office but there is nothing on the Franklin website (yet).

• Bloomburg Businessweek was another one to line up and say Franklin is a good place to raise kids. http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/20111115/the-best-places-to-raise-your-kids-2012/slides/22. 

• There won't be a weekly summary this week. Two family funerals over the last three weeks has taken the 'free time on the weekend' away I would have had to prepare such. The family is doing well through this period. The support has been great. Time is reinforced as all that more precious.

Ensuring Food Stamp Integrity

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Ensuring Food Stamp Integrity

via USDA Blog by Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA on 3/8/12

Cross posted from Politico:
As agriculture undersecretary and a former director of state Health and Human Services departments in Maine, Oregon and Iowa, I know the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. In today's difficult economic times, this vital program helps families across the nation put food on the table.

Despite a rash of recent stories about food stamp fraud, the facts are that the Agriculture Department has a zero tolerance policy on this. We aggressively pursue those trying to take advantage of America's compassion for people in need.

First-quarter results of our anti-fraud efforts demonstrate this commitment. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011, we penalized — with fines or temporary disqualifications — more than 225 stores that violated program rules and permanently disqualified more than 350 stores caught trafficking food stamp benefits.

We're now stepping up our efforts. I announced in December new anti-fraud initiatives. We awarded a 10-year contract to SRA International to develop the next generation of fraud-detection systems.

We plan even stronger penalties for retailers that misuse the program. We recently updated our policies to clarify that advertising the sale of benefits through social media is a violation and can result in disqualification from the food stamp program.

In addition, we're finalizing rules to deter the practice of buying and discarding food to get money-back deposits; or reselling and exchanging products bought with food stamp benefits to obtain cash or other noneligible items.

The Agriculture Department's efforts to combat SNAP trafficking have been particularly successful. Trafficking — the sale or purchase of benefits for cash — is an illegal activity punishable by criminal prosecution. Over the past 15 years, department and state agencies administering the program have sharply reduced such trafficking — from 4 percent to 1 percent.

But we cannot be content with that success — the people taking unfair advantage constantly change their tactics. We remain vigilant, working to stay ahead of these new forms of program abuse. We have stepped up documentation requirements and background checks on retailers who participate, or seek to participate, in food stamps. Stores that falsify information will be denied or disqualified and may face a $10,000 fine or imprisonment for as long as five years, or both.

The Agriculture Department recently launched a website (www.fns.usda.gov/fightingsnapfraud) to get the word out about our efforts to deter fraudulent food stamp activity and enlist the public's help in fighting it. We will continue to use all tools available, including the latest technology, to combat fraud.

Some perspective on this is crucial. There are 46 million eligible Americans who depend on food stamps, largely because of income, age, disability or job circumstances. Nearly half are children, 8 percent are elderly and 20 percent of food stamp households include a person who is disabled. The great majority abide by program rules.

The fact is fraud is a limited problem in SNAP — though no amount is acceptable. Stores violating the program represent less than one-half of 1 percent of the more than 230,000 food stores authorized to redeem benefits. And the recent fraud stories indicate enforcement efforts are working — as those who would abuse the program are being caught and prosecuted.

This is good news for all U.S. taxpayers and good news for those who use the program — including millions of children and older Americans — who depend on food stamps. Which, in turn, is why the Agriculture Department is committed to assuring the integrity of this vital program.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to USDA Blog using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 3/13/12

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 February 28, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Parmenter Update
b. Health / PE Update
c. Senior Project

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading
JJ – Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Activities

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips.
b. I recommend approval of the Field Trip request of the FHS Classics Club to attend the MA Junior Classics League State Convention in Hyannis from April 27 to 29, 2012 as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a digital piano from Doug Newton for the Annie Sullivan Middle School.
d. I recommend approval of the Field Trip request of the FHS Drama Club to see Godspell in New York City on March 24, 2012 as detailed.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $239.45 from Super Valu, Inc. (Shaw’s) for the Franklin Public Schools.

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. Adjourn

Senior Project and Health/PE Updates

These two presentation documents are scheduled for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mar 13, 2012

The Senior Project update

FPS_SeniorProject_20120313

The Health/PE update

FPS_Health-PE_20120313


The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda.html

Grease is the word!

FHS production of Grease. March 23 & 24, 2012 at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin starting at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.

New High School Project: Frequently Asked Questions

You can find these on the newfhs.com/ website

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Why are we considering a High School project?
• Why did the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) put Franklin High School on warning status?
• What options did the Building Committee explore?
• Why would it cost so much to renovate the High School?
• Why would such a high portion of renovation costs be spent on structural and mechanical improvements?
• Why did the Building Committee pursue and choose the 'Model School' Option?
• What does the cost of the new school include?
• What is the impact on students between a renovation and new model school (new construction) project?
• What happens to the high school project if voters fail to pass the debt exclusion?
• Where will the New School be built?
• How big is the existing school and how big will the new one be?
• What about the Field House?
• Why don’t we wait a few years until the economy is better?
• What is the cost to the average taxpayer?
• What is the difference between a debt exclusion and a Proposition 2 ½ override?
• What impact will the new model school have on operating costs for the high school?
• What has been done to maintain the current high school building?
• What would happen to the accreditation of Franklin High if the debt exclusion fails?
• Will Franklin High School be renovated if the debt exclusion vote fails?
• 
  

In the news - assault, auction, high school

Teen charged with assaulting Franklin cop

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Auction in Franklin to benefit students

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Lonati: Support new high school for Franklin

by GateHouse Media, Inc.