Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Guide to Child Support in the Commonwealth

The Mass.GOV blog has a new post on "The Guide to Child Support in the Commonwealth."
Divorce or legal separation can put both emotional and financial strain on a family. When the parents of a child no longer live together, child support must be paid by one of the parents to ensure a child’s financial needs are met to facilitate growth, security, and mental development. 
The parent with whom the child lives most of the time is called the custodial parent and the other parent is non-custodial. Often, it is the non-custodial parent who pays child support to the custodial parent. The process is straightforward whether you’re the parent who pays child support or the parent who receives child support.

screen shot of the Mass.Gov webpage
screen shot of the Mass.Gov webpage


Continue reading the "Guide to Child Support" here
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/children-families/a-guide-to-child-support-in-the-commonwealth/


Monday, June 23, 2014

Should a nursing facility be located in a residential area?

From a reader:
I love your emails. I was wondering if you could help spread the word about the Athena Health proposed 138-bed nursing facility at 864 Lincoln St. 
The location is currently a residential rural zone 1, the faculty would need a zoning ordinance to proceed. 
Only those with property touching the proposed site were notified of the meeting.

agenda item - Athena Health
agenda item - Athena Health


The Zoning Board of Appeals agendas can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_ZBAAgendas/Agendas%202014/


The video of the meeting is not yet available for replay. If someone knows what occurred at the meeting, please let me know.

Update:
I did go to the meeting.
Many voiced opposing opinions.
The board continued until July 24 at 7:30.
They requested a full traffic study be done on Lincoln St.
The fire chief sent a memo but was not in attendance. The memo opposed the building permit as it would put addition strain on the Emergency Response which would affect all residence. He also cited poor response times for that area of Franklin would put home residents at at potential risk.

Senior Center: Concert and ice cream social - July 21


SOUTHEASTERN MA COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND 
and ICE CREAM SOCIAL
on Monday, July 21, at 6:00 p.m


concert and ice cream social - July 21
concert and ice cream social - July 21


This free concert is funded by the Franklin Cultural Council. Call the Senior Center to sign up. 508-520-4945

Other events and programs at the Senior Center can be found in their monthly newsletter

In the News: final walk through, emergency medial care


For the last time in its 43 year history, the halls of Franklin High School were filled with students.
But some of these students haven’t set foot in the school in years, and came back to catch one final glimpse of the school that they spent four years in.
With a brand new 300,000-square-foot building approaching completion that will open in time for next school year, administration opened the school to the public for the last time Saturday.
You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140621/NEWS/140629196/1994/NEWS


Two town councilors held a closed-door meeting with officials from Milford Regional Medical Center this week to discuss Franklin’s urgent care needs and the prospect of bringing in a medical clinic. 
Peter Padula and Judith Pfeffer met privately Thursday afternoon with Milford Regional CEO Frank Saba, among other hospital officials. Council Chairman Robert Vallee has asked Padula and Pfeffer to research outpatient options for the town, such as a satellite emergency room, because he said it takes too long to take Franklin patients in need of critical care to area hospitals like Milford Regional. 
"We’re one of the biggest towns in the Milford area that brings patients to their hospital," Pfeffer said. "They want to make sure we’re being treated and handled as well as possible." 
According to Milford Regional, the ambulance times from Franklin fall within national standards. "But it all depends what section of Franklin you’re going to," Pfeffer noted.
You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140621/NEWS/140629318/1994/NEWS

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - June 24, 2014

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.

AGENDA
"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."

Franklin Public Schools
Franklin Public Schools

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 10, 2014 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. School Wellness Advisory Council Update – Sally Winslow, Miriam Goodman
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-public-schools-student.html

b. Student Success Team Update – Sally Winslow, Paul Peri, Peter Light
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-public-schools-student-success.html

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Readings
a) New or Revised Policies:
1. (New) JJE – Student Fundraising Activities
2. (Revised) AC – Discrimination Harassment
3. (Revised) CHCA – Approval of Student Handbooks
4. (Revised) IJOAA – Field Trips
5. (Revised) JICFB – Bullying
6. (Revised) JII – Student Complaints and Grievances
7. (Revised) JLCD – Self-Administration Medication
b) Elimination of Policies:
1. AC-E – Public Discrimination Complaints
2. AC-R – Harassment Discrimination Investigation Checklist
3. ACA – Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender
4. ACAB – Sexual Harassment Policy for Students
5. ACE – Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
6. ACE-R – Rights of Handicapped Persons

4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed.
b. I recommend the Franklin Public Schools implement PARCC as the district assessment system for the 2014-2015 school year.
c. I recommend moving the following revised/new policies to a second reading:
1. (New) JJE – Student Fundraising Activities
2. (Revised) AC – Discrimination Harassment
3. (Revised) CHCA – Approval of Student Handbooks
4. (Revised) IJOAA – Field Trips
5. (Revised) JICFB – Bullying
6. (Revised) JII – Student Complaints and Grievances
7. (Revised) JLCD – Self-Administration Medication
d. I recommend moving the following elimination policies to a second reading:
1. AC-E – Public Discrimination Complaints
2. AC-R – Harassment Discrimination Investigation Checklist
3. ACA – Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender
4. ACAB – Sexual Harassment Policy for Students
5. ACE – Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
6. ACE-R – Rights of Handicapped Persons
e. I recommend approval to declare instruments listed as surplus for FHS.
f. I recommend acceptance of checks totaling $574.00 for FHS in-house enrichment ($130.68 from Follett; $262.66 from Wells Fargo; $130.66 from Stop and Shop A+ School Rewards; and $30.00 in memory of Joseph DeNapoli from Pauline Carlson)

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: Student Wellness Advisory Committee update

The Student Wellness Advisory Committee report scheduled for presentation and update for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.




The full agenda for the School Committee meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda.html

Franklin Public Schools: Student Success

The Student Success Committee update is scheduled for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 24:



The full agenda for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 24 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda.html