Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 4/10/12

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 March 27, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Music Department Update – Nancy Schoen (presentation)
b. Budget Overview

3. Discussion Only Items
Kindergarten Registration (Current status - PDF)
Pay to Ride Update

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $125.00 from JF Kennedy PCC for field trips and nurses fees for JF Kennedy Elementary School.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $750.00 from JF Kennedy PCC for field trips and buses for JF Kennedy Elementary School.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $150.00 from Cop Ex, Inc for Davis Thayer Elementary School.

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
Review of Executive Session Minutes
a. 1-24-12
b. 2-28-12

8. Adjourn

Franklin, MA: Music Program

Nancy Schoen is scheduled to present this document to the School Committee on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2012 to provide an update on the Music Program.

Franklin Public Schools MUSIC presentation 4/10/12

Both my daughters participated in the Music program throughout their years in the Franklin schools (Parmenter, Remington and FHS). I think some of their success can be attributed to the musical program as a component of their overall development and growth.

Franklin, MA: Kindergarten Enrollment

The Kindergarten enrollment as of 4/2/12. This is a line item for discussion at the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Apr 10, 2012.

Franklin Public Schools K-registration as of 4-2-12

Note: the actual enrollment for K exceeds the projection provided last January. The details of that projection can be found here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/01/school-enrollment-projections.html

Looking at the current K classroom staffing and the enrollment to date, it looks like there should be some re-alignment of K teachers to better balance the class size across the district. Parmenter for example has 4 K classes this year and may only need 2 next Sep. Current K classes and class size can be found in the following Enrollment document.

The enrollment comparison of March 2011 to March 2012:

Franklin Public Schools: Enrollment Compare March 2011 2012


Disclosure: yes, my wonderful wife teaches kindergarten at Oak Street Elementary School.

"These are not new challenges for Massachusetts"

As we get into the annual budget season, one factor driving up the cost of education is the cost of delivering services for the special education students. The Milford Daily News devotes a long article to a recap of this issue and the state's underfunding of the costs back to the local school districts.

The state funding of special education was raised in a MassBudget report posted here recently
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/03/new-massbudget-video-discusses.html

The Marlborough School Department Finance Director Adam Olivere said that because special education costs have risen so dramatically, there is an underfunding in the foundation budget, which is calculated using the average cost-per-pupil, enrollment, and inflation. Costs are rising at a much greater rate than funding each year. 

“The state uses a percentage around 5 perfect to determine what the increase in costs should be, when in actuality, special education costs are increasing as much as 15 or 20 percent each year,” Olivere said. “The foundation budget underfunds special education costs by about $1 billion, and that affects net school funding.” 

Meanwhile, the federal government has never lived up to a promise 40 years ago to cover 40 percent of the excess cost of educating students with special needs. 

“The brunt of it still is falling on the local schools to fund out of their own resources,” said Rich Robison, executive director of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and a member of the Sudbury School Committee.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x826306718/More-students-complex-needs-higher-costs-in-special-education#ixzz1rRVln8jj


The 2011-2012 School Budget for Franklin highlights special education as one of the factors increasing the cost of education.  Additional information on the FY 2012 Budget for Franklin is collected here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/01/fiscal-year-2012-budget-information.html

Karen Spilka: A decade at the State House

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Karen Spilka: A decade at the State House

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff on 4/7/12

Karen Spilka takes pride in her relentless approach to her job representing the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District in the state Senate. "Patience and perseverance" are two important qualities one needs to have to be a legislator, Spilka said.

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Franklin at night

I stopped at the triangle downtown to snap this photo when walking back from the Food Pantry after a Board Meeting the other night.

It was quiet. The buds have changed to blossoms this week.



If you would like to share a photo of spring around Franklin you can send it via email to shersteve.fmnews@blogger.com or post it to the Franklin Matters Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/franklinmatters

Water Restrictions begin Apr 17

The lack of precipitation during the winter (was there a winter?) and lack of rain this spring is not helping the situation. In either case, the annual water restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth of MA being ot take effect on Tuesday April 17.

Details are contained in this notice originally published on the Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0188C918-000F8513



Franklin Water Restrictions 2012

FYI: Route 140 Construction

Hello this is Brutus Cantoreggi, your DPW director calling with an important message about road work on West Central Street. This Monday, April 9th, the replacement of a waterline and roadway improvements will commence on West Central St in the vicinity of the Franklin Municipal building and near the McDonald's restaurant. This work will last around 6 weeks. During this time traffic will be reduced to one lane. The work will not begin until 9AM after rush hour and will stop by 4PM. There maybe some nighttime work. This work will cause traffic delays, so please allow extra time and drive carefully when in the construction area. We apologize for any inconvenience to residents and business located in the area. More information can be found on the Town's website or feel free to contact the Franklin DPW at 508-520-4910 Once again, thank you for your patience while we make improvements to your water and roadway systems. To listen to the above message, you will need audio software and speakers on your computer. This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 520-4938. THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS IS NOT MONITORED. Please do not reply to this e-mail as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.

To subscribe to receive this type of news alert directly visit this page on the Franklin website

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/subscriber-news

"information we’re going to use”

“Franklin gets it,” state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said. “It knows what it’s doing and it knows what businesses need.”

She and state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, spoke at the 2 ½ hour session.

The summit was held at Tegra Medical in Forge Park, one of Franklin’s three touted industrial parks, meant to accommodate businesses while balancing residential needs.

Jones said that high technology and biotechnology businesses, like those Franklin has begun to attract, have job openings, but that most applicants are not qualified to do the jobs.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x121059633/Leaders-praise-second-economic-summit#ixzz1rFf4kQ2p


Prior economic development summit info
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/economic-development-summit-schedule.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/10/franklin-economic-development-summit.html


Franklin wants your business!
Franklin Wants Your Business - 2012

In the News - library, minibus

Franklin Library is recertified

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

 

 

Five children hurt in Franklin minibus crash

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

 

 

 

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

The bikers among us!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/5/12

MassDOT invites you to join the 3rd annual Bay State Bike Week set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.  The MassDOT and MassBike partnership makes Bay State Bike Week a statewide celebration that is unique in the nation. 

Building on the previous two statewide Bike Weeks, MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, our statewide travel options program, are again collaborating to raise awareness and to encourage bicycling transportation.  Biking is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun!

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar and can join as a partner to be eligible to receive materials to support your event, including t-shirts, bike bells, reflectors and posters while supplies last.   Last year, Bay State Bike Week included more than 180 events statewide with participation from Orleans to Pittsfield.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now and mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week.  Check out the Bay State Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

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Summer Art Institute

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Summer Art Institute

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/5/12

Franklin Public Schools' Summer Art Institute is designed for students entering grades 6 through 12.
The following classes are for students entering grades 6 though 9
1. Drawing and Painting
2. Digital Photography
3. Ceramics and Sculpture
4. Paste Paper Workshop

Students entering grades 10 and 11 may be interested in Visual Literacy. Drawing, painting and mixed media/collage will be the focus of this class.

Students entering grades 11 and 12 are eligible to enroll in Portfolio Preparation/Open Studio. This course is designed to provide additional art instruction, skill building, and portfolio preparation for students who are considering studying art at the college level or who enjoy being challenged to stretch their skills to more advanced levels.

These courses are open to students in Franklin and the surrounding communities. Please visit our website for registration information.
www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select lifelong, select summer programs

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Parmenter 5K - Jun 10

This year's 4th Annual Parmenter Fun Run for All Ages will be held on Sunday, June 10th at 10am.

You can register online here

http://www.active.com/running/franklin-ma/4th-annual-parmenter-run-for-all-ages-2012

For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com

March revenue better than last year but less than forecast

What has this got to do with Franklin? 
About 30% of our overall revenue comes from the Commonwealth of MA. Their income stream is up over last year but slightly less than they had forecast. The Governor released his budget in January and the House and Senate versions are being reviewed. What they provide for us helps to determine what services we'll be able to fund.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

March revenue better than last year but less than forecast

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 4/5/12

 

Posted by:
Robert Bliss, Director of Communication, Department of Revenue


DOR released its March revenue report yesterday in which there were two story lines.
The monthly revenue report includes both a review of the month, with a comparison to the same month a year ago, as well as a review of revenue collection year-to-date(YTD) along with a comparison to the previous year's YTD.

While the press releases presents a written summary of the numbers, the one-page tax collection summary presents the actual revenue numbers.

Perusing that summary reveals that there was one revenue story for March -- namely, that corporate/business tax collections were $50 million below benchmark -- but a separate story for the YTD report, with tax collections running $87 million below benchmark due to less than forecast income tax collections.

Corporate and business tax collections had been running ahead of forecast for the first eight months of the year, but fell $50 million below benchmark in March (and $32 million less than March 2011) leaving the overall March revenue collection of $1.802 billion some $29 million below benchmark.

YTD, the explanation for revenue running $87 million below benchmark is found in income tax collections, which are up $270 million or 3.5 percent, but which have fallen $169 million short of forecast. Basically, it is fair to say that income tax revenue has gone up, but not as much as was built into the forecast.

Both YTD income tax withholding (up $260 million or 3.7 percent but still $74 million under benchmark) and income tax cash estimated payments (down $17 million from a year ago or 1.4 percent and $73 million below benchmark) are down.

As Commissioner Amy Pitter noted in the press release, "Withholding overall has grown, but at the rate forecast, while income tax cash estimated payments dropped off in December and since then have been flat, possibly reflecting a slow down in the collection of investment related income."

So with the big months of April, May and June ahead, the Commonwealth has collected $14.697 billion, $343 million or 2.4 percent more than at the same point a year ago, but $87 million shy of the benchmark.

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"adopted lower trash fees"

In the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, there were four major items discussed:

• the capital budget
• within it were items for the Library
• discussion on Fire Dept staffing
• adoption of the lower trash fee (reduced from $220 to $204)

Part of the Milford Daily News reporting on the meeting:

Town Council also approved funding for library items not on the agenda, unanimously supporting $10,000 for library salaries and $40,000 for library materials, both from the free cash account. 

The move was in anticipation of a state vote tomorrow to reconsider the library’s certification and show that the town financially supports its library, Library Director Felicia Oti said. 

The library lost its certification in February, in part because about 27 percent of its funding was cut in the last budget cycle, said a spokeswoman from the state’s Board of Library Commissioners.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x777661177/Franklin-to-get-new-fire-truck-ambulance#ixzz1r9qp8iNM