Monday, September 24, 2012

Parmenter: modulars gone, landscaping underway


The modular units at Parmenter School which were supposed to be taken down before school  started have indeed been removed. The last one left last week. The DPW is working on landscaping the area where they were once located.


Catch up on the week that was and get an outlook on the coming week with Franklin Matters Weekly


from collaborative consumption to digital ghosts

As one who does spend a lot of time online, creating and sharing information, reputation capital is a concept that I understand. I am comfortable walking in real life and sharing what I see (pictures) and hear (text from meetings) online. While it may seem to some that this is all I do, there are limits. There are whole aspects of daily life that don't go online. There is no need to put those there, they shouldn't be drivers for my reputation.

What do you do online? How much of a digital trail do you create? Are you working on your reputation?

Spend 20 minutes and listen to Rachel Botsman talk about collaborative consumption.



One phrase I really like is "digital ghosts". How to reach them in an increasingly online world is a challenge.

Tri-County restaurant open to the public

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 9/23/12

Gerry's Place, the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in-house student-run restaurant, is open for business for the 2012-2013 school year with a new menu offering everything from low-fat to low-budget meal choices.

Things you can do from here:

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 25

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.

"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 September 11, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills - Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:  none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. FHS School Improvement Plan; AP Update – Peter Light
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/franklin-high-school-improvement-plan.html

3. Discussion Only Items
None

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of the FHS School Improvement Plan as discussed.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $625.00 from Northeast Football Operations for the FHS.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1257.00 from Lifetouch for in-house enrichment at Keller Elementary School.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Natures Edge for a banner ad at FHS in the Field House.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $125.59 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for Annie Sullivan Middle School.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $145.06 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for Remington Middle School.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from Siobhan Dunham for the J. Schaeffer Theatre Arts Memorial Scholarship at FHS.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $555.23 from Target’s Take Charge of Education Program for FHS.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $242.28 from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign (David Lee) for FHS.
j. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3000.00 from Copex, Inc. for in-house enrichment at FHS.
k. I recommend approval of the FHS trip to Washington, DC from January 19-21, 2013 to witness the swearing in of the U.S. President as detailed.
l. I recommend approval of the FHS trip to Italy from June 25-July 4, 2013 as detailed.
m. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Keefe Ins. For a banner ad at FHS.
n. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Doherty, Ciechanowski, Dugan & Cannon, PC for a banner ad at FHS.
o. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Franklin Country Day Camp for a banner ad at FHS.
p. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Ames Financial Services for a banner ad at FHS.
q. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Real Living Realty Group for a banner ad at FHS.
r. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from All American Publishing, LLC for a banner ad at FHS.

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
Approval of the Executive Session Minutes from the August 7, 2012 meeting.
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Franklin High School: Improvement Plan 2012-13

An excerpt from the Franklin High School - Improvement Plan for 2012-2013
Franklin High School, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of 1612 students in grades 9-12 serviced by 104.5 Teachers and 17 Educational Assistants. In addition, the students are supported by 6 guidance counselors, 2 school psychologists and 3 adjustment counselors. The administration consists of 1 principal, 3 assistant principals, 1 special education administrator and 1 athletic director. 

Students 
Based on March 2012 SIMS data, the ethnic makeup of our school is: 1486-Caucasian, 13-Black/African American, 60-Asian, 4-American Indian, 3-Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 24-Hispanic or Latino. The current inclusion model has 277 members of the student body classified as special needs students. Less than 1% of the student body comes from homes where their first language is not English. In March of 2009, 52 students were provided with free/ reduced price lunches and as of June 2012, 137 Students qualified for free/reduced price lunches (62% increase over three years)

The full School Improvement Plan can be found here



This is scheduled to be part of the agenda for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sep 25th

"remote participation is not widespread"

The new Open meeting Law for MA provides for remote participation for members of the board or committee that is conducting the 'open meeting'. Franklin has approved remote participation for the Town Council and School Committee. The Milford Daily News article provides a review of the communities that have allowed this kind of participation.
"It was unbelievable," Mercer recalled this week, of joining his fellow councilors via a Skype phone while traveling in China last spring for work. "It was like I was sitting in the room. I could hear the audience speak and could hear everything." 
Thanks to changes to the state Open Meeting Law that allow remote participation under certain circumstances, board members such as Mercer can join in on discussions even if they are away on business.
There are time when the remote participation works well, there are times when technology impedes the process too. There are times when you just have to be there.

I have participated in hundreds of meetings reporting on Franklin business. Many of those I could easily have watched via the broadcast. There are times when the discussion is such that it is a great thing to be there. You can ensure that your question gets asked either publicly or in the followup after the meeting.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1531247406/Some-local-boards-using-remote-participation#ixzz27I4ODIRS

To review the full open meeting law, you can visit the MA Attorney General's webpage
http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/open-meeting-law/

There is a guide that is very readable on the do's and don'ts
http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/open-meeting-law/attorney-generals-open-meeting-law-guide.html

If you think there is a violation of the open meeting law, there is a complaint process to follow
http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/open-meeting-law/open-meeting-law-complaint-process.html

'They delivered what our community needed'

The Milford Daily News has an article on the changes in the MA school building process. The prior organization providing oversight didn't do so well. The current Massachusetts School Building Authority has created a new operation and is accomplishing much.

Tom Mercer, Chair of the Franklin School Building Committee working on the high school project has experience with the prior organization and has seen changes.
Mercer said the MSBA now has a more active role in building, which initially surprised him. 
"I will say that in the very beginning, when we started the new high school project, I wasn’t sure how happy I was with the (MSBA) being right there with its thumb over us, approving everything we did," he said. "But the more we have gotten into this project with the MSBA, I can tell you it’s just wonderful."

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1531247397/MSBA-cleans-up-school-building-process#ixzz27I1Q6iCK

What is the cost for the new Franklin High School?  http://www.newfhs.com/summary.php

What is the timeline? http://www.newfhs.com/history.php

What will the building look like? http://www.newfhs.com/newdesign.php