Monday, April 9, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy Easter!
No matter what religious beliefs you hold, spring time brings new life to this world that we inhabit.
Enjoy the signs of new life!
Enjoy the signs of new life!
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 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.
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
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
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:
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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