Schools Closed Tuesday, March 19

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello: This is a message from the Superintendent of Schools, Maureen Sabolinski, contacting you to let you know that after consulting with local highway and safety officials, all Franklin Schools will be closed today due to inclement weather. Central Office personnel should report to work by 9:00 am. Thank you! This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. 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 FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.

MassBudget: Support for low-income children and families

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Supporting Low-Income Children and Families To help improve the lives of poor children and their families, Massachusetts provides direct cash assistance through a program known as TAFDC. MassBudget's new brief, "TAFDC: Declines in Support for Low-Income Children and Families" finds that this cash assistance has shrunk significantly over time. For every dollar that an eligible family received in 1989, they receive just 58 cents today (adjusted for inflation). The official poverty level for a family of three is $19,500, and the maximum amount of cash assistance such a family can receive from TAFDC is less than half of that. Read TAFDC: DECLINES IN SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

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Veterans assistance from State agencies

Licensing Guidelines Assist Veterans, Armed Forces Members

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced that all state agencies that oversee professional licensing within the Patrick-Murray Administration have established guidelines to assist members of the armed forces, veterans, and their spouses as they prepare and apply for jobs in Massachusetts. 

Franklin Public Schools: Inclement Weather Update

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello We have received calls and emails about the status of school on Tuesday, March 19. Similar to the previous storm the forecast is changing hourly. At this time no decision has been made about a delay or school closing. School officials will consult with public safety officials and DPW throughout the night. We will make a decision in the morning based on the conditions. As of today our last day of school is June 25 so the end of the school year will not impact any decision. Safety and predicted weather conditions will inform our decision making. This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. 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 FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.

MCAS Postponed

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Because we are expecting more inclement weather,the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has postponed Tuesday's scheduled administration of the long composition test for grades 4, 7, and 10 for the entire state. Regardless of the weather, which may necessitate delays or  school closings across the state, the new testing date for all districts for the long composition exam will be Monday, 3/25. All other MCAS tests will proceed as planned. Joyce Edwards Director of Instructional Services Franklin Public Schools 355 East Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-553-4821 FAX- 508-553-0321 This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. 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 FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.

Celebrating Solar at FUSF

The 1 year anniversary of the solar installation at the First Universalist Society of Franklin was celebrated on Sunday, Mar 17. This was the rescheduled date. It was snowed out in February.

FUSF solar installation

John Tehan, Solar Power Sales Representative for Second Generation Energy provided an overview of the electricity generated and savings that resulted.

John Tehan presenting

His presentation document can be viewed here:

FUSF Presentation by Steve Sherlock

John's talk was rather interactive as many questions were answered along the way. Some of my notes from this session can be found here:

• MA is the second best state in the US (behind California) for solar energy when considering two key factors. One, the exposure to sun. Two, the cost of electricity.
• The FUSF panels were projected to generate 11,511 KwH and actually generated 12,693.
• The KwHs generated are the equivalent of 21 barrels of oil, or 1004 gallons of gas, or by planting 230 trees.

There are five key factors that help MA residents take advantage of solar

1. Clean Energy Center provides rebates
2. There is a 30% Federal tax credit
3. There is a 15% state tax credit
4. Solar should provide savings on purchasing electricity
5. There are Solar Renewal Energy Credits (SREC) currently worth about $200 per credit per year.

• They use a special device that will calculate the sun and shade for the houses roof. If the exposure is not more than 80%, it is not likely to be recommended to install solar.
• One side benefit from a solar panel installation is that there is a reduction in icebanks on the roof. The panels heat up as they generate electricity which melts the snow and can create some avalanches as the snow slides off the roof.

If you are interested in exploring solar panels for your residence, feel free to contact John directly.

John Tehan
Solar Power Sales RepresentativeSecond Generation Energy12 Rosenfeld DriveHopedale, MA 01747 Office: 800-653-4270

jtehan@sgegroup.com

If you would like to view the solar energy monitor for the FUSF installation visit this link
https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/vGRK57403

“If it snows again I’m going to scream”

Milford Daily News recaps the area school year ending days due to the snow and weather days missed.

Franklin has also used four of its snow days, bringing that town's last day to June 25, the latest in this area. However, Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said Franklin runs little risk of hitting the limit. 

“We would really need four more snow days,” Sabolinski said. She said even with another major blizzard, that many snow days is unlikely. She credited the Department of Public Works Department for clearing the roads so quickly in the last blizzard. 

Since Franklin starts after Labor Day every year, Sabolinski said the town is at a higher risk of hitting the deadline than other districts. 

“We send out a letter at the beginning of the season to let parents know ahead of time and say, ‘in the worst case scenario, this is what we’d look at doing,’” Sabolinski said. She said the options include cutting into April vacation or holding Saturday school.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1433798247/Despite-snow-days-schools-set-to-finish-on-time#ixzz2Nso4hCuN