In the News: Tri-County, chainsaw sculptor, Sandy relief

Tri-County students to launch projects for NASA

by Zachary Comeau/Daily News correspondent

Medway chainsaw sculptor has reality TV show

by Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff

Manocchio: Sandy relief drive a success

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda, Nov 27, 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.

"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 October 23, 2012 and November 7, 2012 School Committee Meetings.
Payment of Bills - Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget To Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Franklin Girls Soccer Team – State Champions!
b. MCAS Presentation – Joyce Edwards
(The MCAS presentation can be found here)

3. Discussion Only Items
Calendar Adjustment 2012-2013 (proposed change found here)
Capital Plan (documents for the capital plan can be found here)

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $270.00 from BJ’s for district in-house enrichment.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1500.00 from the Hockomock YMCA for enrichment, yoga and field trips for ASMS.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $168.79 from PBC for in-house enrichment for the Athletics Department.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2473.39 from O’Connor Portraiture for in-house enrichment for Keller Elementary School.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $126.35 from Ohiopyle Prints, Inc. for in-house enrichment for the FHS.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $156.43 from HMMS PCC for in-house enrichment at HMMS.
g. I recommend approval of the field trip request of Allison Wroe to take Parmenter students to the Veteran’s Auditorium in Providence, RI on April 11, 2013.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $282.66 from Douglas Lee for in-house enrichment at FHS.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $5000.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips for Jefferson Elementary School.
j. I recommend approval of the FPS Capital Plan as detailed.
k. I recommend adjustments to the 2012-2013 School Calendar: April 12 and May 24 as elementary reduced days; and May 3 and May 31 as secondary reduced days as discussed.
l. I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Light for the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band travel to UNH for the Band Invitational on April 29, 2013 as detailed.
m. I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Light for approximately 200 Music students travel to Orlando, Florida for “Festival Disney” during April vacation 2014 as detailed.
n. I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Light for Franklin Arts Academy students to travel to Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in Providence, RI on March 3, 2012 to see Blue Man Group.
o. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 50 passes to the premier of Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Boston on December 10, 2012 for HMMS students.
p. I recommend acceptance of a check for $600.00 from Mass Cultural Council for Sullivan Middle, Keller and Parmenter Elementary Schools.
q. I recommend approval of the request of Beth Ackley for the HMMS Ski Club’s recurring field trip to Mt. Sunapee in Newbury, NH on January 26, 2012 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

Franklin Public Schools: Capital Plan FY 2014

Here are the documents outlining the proposed capital plan for FY 2014 for the Franklin Public School District. These items are scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Nov 27th and assuming they are approved will then be part of the capital planning process for the Town.

The proposed Facilities capital plan




The proposed Technology capital plan




The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-nov.html

Franklin Public Schools: MCAS Report 2012

The MCAS Report for 2012 for the Franklin Public Schools. This is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Nov 27th.


MCAS 2012




The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-nov.html

Franklin Public Schools: Proposed calendar change

The proposed calendar change for this current 2012-2013 school year is shown in the file below. Effectively, it is the addition of two reduced days to both the elementary and secondary schools.

On the agenda, the action item currently reads:

k. I recommend adjustments to the 2012-2013 School Calendar: April 12 and May 24 as elementary reduced days; and May 3 and May 31 as secondary reduced days as discussed.

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Nov 27th can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-nov.html

"You don’t want to see them fail"

The Milford Daily News writes about the State and Federal grants that sponsor the underage drinking stings conducted regularly by some MetroWest area community police departments. Franklin is one that conducts the stings twice a year when covered by the grant. The article includes this from one of the sting participants:

"At first, I was a little nervous," he said. "But you know you aren’t going to get in trouble: You’re helping the police. You just have to be confident and levelheaded." 

Teenagers aren’t responsible enough to drink alcohol, he said, and his peers usually never think of the tragedies that can result from binge drinking or drunk driving until one hits home. 

"People don’t see that it’s bad until they lose a friend, or it’s life changing," he said.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x719497693/Selling-booze-to-minors-Busted#ixzz2DEjCA1El


Recent suspensions:
Franklin Wine and Spirits (in the plaza with Dunkin Dounts on King St)
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/live-reporting-license-hearing.html

Bamboo House
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/05/live-reporting-license-hearing.html

And in 2011
DaVita's Market, Joe's American Bar and Grill, Tedeschi Food Shop, and Uptowne Pub
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/09/live-reporting-liquor-license-failures.html

"not counted as part of a formula"

The Milford Daily News writes about unaccepted roads. According to the MassDOT inventory in 2011 Franklin has 28.7 miles of unaccepted roads and 170.4 miles of accepted roads.

Franklin, whose Town Council accepts roads, sought help from the state Legislature. Lawmakers last year approved a simplified acceptance policy that eliminates some of the legal work. 

Department of Public Works Director Robert Cantoreggi said the town has been working in recent years to accept streets. State data shows the town has about 29 miles of unaccepted roads. 

Franklin will plow a road, fix potholes and perform other limited maintenance once it has three homes on it. 

"People kind of forget about it," Cantoreggi said. "No one really knows (it is unaccepted) until a road falls apart."

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x35743936/Unaccepted-roads-pose-challenges-for-residents-and-towns#ixzz2DEeFA7cR

The MassDOT report for 2011 can be found here
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Portals/17/docs/RoadInventory/2011_ye_rpt.pdf

What is an unaccepted road? MassDOT defines this as "unaccepted roads consist of roads open to public travel but not formally accepted by a city or town, as well as some private ways." A road that is not legally owned by the local community. It was put in by a developer in order to complete the development of some number of residences. It may not have been built to the local community standard by the developer. The community may have a process to bring a road up to standard and then "accept" it as part of the community maintenance. Bringing roads up to standard can be a costly proposition and the question of who contributes to the delay in accepting the road.