Franklin Public Schools: Memorial Policy documents

On the agenda for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 10th (due to the blizzard, the meeting on Jan 29th was canceled) are revisions to the policy on memorial gifts. 

You may recall the discussion around the Graci family memorial proposed for the new high school. During the two years in which the family had been preparing the gift, the policy had been changed restricting the gift that the family had been planning.

The old policy and the proposed policies are provided here for review and comparison. 

The changes to the policy require two readings. Assuming they move successfully from one reading to the next, even with modifications, they can be approved at the second reading.

'Old'/current policy

File: KCDA

MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIONS

The Franklin Public Schools recognize that all life has equal value. In keeping with the mission of the school department and in recognition of the contribution of deceased faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members, donations may be made to Franklin scholarship funds.

The Franklin Public Schools do not commemorate deceased individuals in the form of assemblies, memorials, dedications, plaques, gardens, plantings, walkways or other permanent physical structures.

In the event of the death of an actively employed staff member or an enrolled student, the School Crisis Team will follow the protocol delineated in the district’s Emergency Response Manual and will determine a course of action that is appropriate to the situation and is consistent with district policy.

the proposed Kristin Graci Class of 2007 Memorial

Cross References: KCD, FF Emergency Response Manual

Proposed policy revision:

File: KCDA

Memorial Commemorations

The Franklin Public Schools recognize that all life has equal value. In keeping with the mission of the school department and in recognition of the contribution of deceased family, staff, students, alumni, and community members, donations to the Franklin scholarships are encouraged.

If an individual or group would like to make a memorial donation other than a scholarship, the person/group, must contact the Principal at the school where the donation is to be located. The Principal, in consultation with the Superintendent and the School Committee will determine the appropriateness of the gift. Franklin Public Schools do not commemorate deceased individuals in the form of assemblies, dedications, gardens, plantings or walkways.

In the event of the death of an actively employed staff member or an enrolled student, the School Crisis Team will follow the protocol delineated in the district’s Emergency Response Manual and will determined a course of action that is appropriate to the situation and is consistent with district policy

Cross References: KCD, KCD-E1, KCD-E2, FF, Emergency Response Manual


PDF Copies of the policy revisions and associated documents can be downloaded here:

Proposed policy revision
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczdXV3bTM1M0lQQTQ/view?usp=sharing

Policy donation form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczLTZXb0dzUFRlS0U/view?usp=sharing

Policy guidelines
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczalpfSnpCaGQ1RkU/view?usp=sharing




The full agenda for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Feb 10, 2015 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Walking Franklin in the Snow

As many of you know I spend time on the weekends walking around Franklin, "Reporting by walking around." With 43" os snow deposited in such a short period of time, the range of my walks has been challenged. Yesterday, I did get to venture a good deal in and around downtown testing the sidewalk status. As shown in the sample photos here, the status of the sidewalks varies greatly.

Some sidewalks are cleared by the DPW, some by the residents or business owners, some not at all.

I'll need to do some research in the Town bylaws to find out what if anything is said about clearning sidewalks. I recall there is a policy against putting snow into the streets. For some of the businesses on Main St, they don't have much of an option for where to put the snow, other than to pile it further on the sidewalk. Doing so creates a narrow path way restricting handicap access, nevemind making it more challenging for people to walk together.

Main St in front of the Depot Building

Dean St on the side of Dean Bank

Main St in front of Dean College

Along the side of St Mary's on Daniel McCahill Way (leading to Oak St)

Oak St, along the side of the parking lot for the Oak St/Horace Mann school complex

Oak St, parking lot entrance to Oak St/Horace Mann and Franklin High School

RT 140 in front of Akin Bak

YPO@ Barrett's Ale House February 25th 6pm-8pm and “Young Artists Perspective” March 28th 7-9pm

The United Regional Young Professional Association's Upcoming Events View this email in your browser February Networking Come out and meet the area's young professionals for a fun night of networking at:   Barrett's Alehouse in North Attleboro February 25th from 6pm-8pm. Barrett's Ale House prides itself in offering the best in food, sports and entertainment in the area. Their menu has a fantastic selection of food and drinks to appeal to everyone's taste buds.  http://barrettsalehousenorthattleboro.com/   Details: Light Appetizers provided 21+ event Registration is $5.00 in advance, $10.00 at the door. Location: 11 ROBERT TONER BLVD, NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA 02763 Register for $5:00 at: http://www.unitedregionalypo.org/events/barrettsalehouse/ A portion of your registration fee with help the YPO raise money for our sponsorship of The Preservation Framer's "Young Artists Perspective." even in March.     March Networking Join the YPO as we Sponsor:   Young Artist's Perspective" March 28th 7-9pm @ The Preservation Framer Join the YPO as we sponsor the "Young Artist's Perspective" at The Preservation Framer. The Preservation Framer will be showcasing artwork  in a professional art gallery from local talented artists in grades 6-8.   Location: 16 N WASHINGTON STREET NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA 02703   Copyright © 2015 United Regional Young Professionals Organization, All rights reserved. The United Regional Young Professionals Organization is a community of diverse individuals who share a common interest in professional relationship building, career development, social engagement and civic leadership. As an affiliate of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, the United Regional YPO provides a platform for individuals to engage with their peers and community while providing guidance and support to help them grow personally and professionally. Our mailing address is: United Regional Young Professionals Organization 42 Union Street Attleboro, MA 02703

Franklin Public Schools: Update

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello 

Well I have become another victim of this horrible winter. I took a serious fall yesterday and will be having surgery on Monday to repair my ankle. I anticipate being out for about two weeks. I will be in contact with our Building and District Administrators. 

Assistant Superintendent Sally Winslow will be leading the district while I am recovering. She is a talented and skilled educator who can effectively lead the district. 

We are all wondering about the latest storm and with respect to weather all we can be assured of is that we do not know a lot. 

Sally will be watching  the news, getting updates from our weather service and collaborating with our Public Safety officials. They will make the best decision for the safety of all our students and faculty. 

We hope to be able to schedule school even if it warrants a delay. But all will depend on road conditions. Our Town team is capable and professional in all of their decision making. 

Thank you and Stay Safe, 

Maureen

Parmenter School just before sunset on Thursday

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. 

Both FHS basketball teams top KP on Friday

From Hockomock Sports we find the results of the FHS boys and girls basketball games on Friday. Both teams beat King Phillip.

FHS Panthers

Boys Basketball

Franklin, 68 @ King Philip, 53 - Final - Franklin senior Marcus Giese led all scorers with 17 points while classmate Markus Bohmiller continues to produce offensively as he scored 15 points. Dylan Reno added 13 points for the Panthers. Ryan Layman led King Philip with 12 points while James O'Brien added 11 points.

Girls Basketball

Franklin, 70 @ King Philip, 33 - Final

For all the results of Hockomock League action on Friday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020615

Franklin small business marketing Co-Op forming

A message from Tracie Turinese, co-owner of The Cake Bar in downtown Franklin:

Forming a Franklin small business marketing Co-Op was agreed to in yesterday's Franklin Downtown Partnership meeting, and many folks indicated they would participate in a brainstorming working session next week on TUESDAY, February 10th from 7:00PM to 8:30PM at The Cake Bar. 

For those members that are interested in attending, we'd welcome as many attendees as we can get! 

I've attached a flyer that you can feel free to circulate to anybody and everybody that may be interested. The more the merrier!

print out and share this flyer to spread the word

This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/02/small-business-marketing-co-op-meets.html

Library: Family story time - 10:30 AM

Gather the family for story time at the Library. This event starts at 10:30 AM in the public meeting room. 

If you can't make this today, plan on it for the first Saturday each month through May.

family story time, 1st Saturday of the month

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/01/saturday-family-storytime.html

2nd Annual MetroWest College & Career Fair - Mar 21

The Ashland PTO and Ashland Education Foundation are pleased to co-host the 2nd Annual MetroWest College & Career Fair on Saturday, March 21, 2015 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Students and families from several local high schools will enjoy an exciting opportunity that will inform, inspire and instill them with confidence during the college and career search process.

Hosting over 100 colleges at this expo, the opportunity to explore both four-year and two-year programs will be available to the attendees.

• Seasoned professionals provide important and timely information on higher education
• College coaches give insight into hot topics such as financial aid, admissions and essay writing
• Professionals representing over 100 different careers are available to answer in-depth questions that both students and parents may have

This unique experience allows attendees to explore if a career is right for them and to gain insight on the path to get there. Professionals are on hand from a variety of industries, including healthcare, information technologies, criminal justice and finance service to name a few. 

There is no charge to attend the fair.

For the latest information about this exciting and informative event please visit:
www.mwccf.org

2nd Annual MetroWest College & Career Fair - Mar 22

"Repeat offenders would be subject to fines"

The Department of Public Works is warning residents to stop putting trash in their recycling carts, saying it could lead to fines and a higher rate for the service. 

Beginning July 1, Waste Management will charge the town extra based on the amount of trash plucked from the recycling stream, said DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi. 

The rate for recycling can increase or decrease depending on the trash that the hauler finds. A load with very little trash could cost as low as $5 a ton, while one with lots of trash could cost the town as much as $40 a ton.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150207/NEWS/150207395/1994/NEWS#sthash.ZvhCJCeK.dpuf

overflow trash bags and totters on the road ready for pickup

For my full set of notes from the DPW presentation to the Town Council at Wednesday's meeting, including the presentation document itself, check this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/live-reporting-dpw-update.html

In addition to recycling and the increased enforcement that is coming, the DPW presentation provides updates on the repair to the Beaver St connector and to the current snow/ice removal process. Franklin has spent almost $800,000 of which $268,000 was for salt. Given the forecast, Franklin will exceed the current snow/ice amount budgeted and eat into some of the 'free capital'.

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 2/6/15-2/12/15

FRI 2/6   3:30pm   Science Friday: World of Engineering at Franklin Public Library (K-4). Registration required.
FRI 2/6   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked: Boston Skyline at Franklin Art Center
FRI 2/6   8-9:50pm   Frozen Friday DJ Public Skate at Pirelli Arena

SAT 2/7   10am-12pm   Enrollment Information Morning at Franklin's Charter School
SAT 2/7   10:30am   Family Storytime at Franklin Public Library
SAT 2/7   11am   Open House at Sunrise Montesori in Franklin
SAT 2/7   2pm   Camp Rock: The Musical; presented by BFCCPS at Horace Mann MS
SAT 2/7   2pm   The Wizard of Oz at The Black Box presented by FSPA
SAT 2/7   3pm   Survivor Tales Adoption Event at Happy Tails Doggy Day Care
SAT 2/7   7pm   Camp Rock: The Musical; presented by BFCCPS at Horace Mann MS
SAT 2/7   6pm   The Wizard of Oz at The Black Box presented by FSPA
SAT 2/7   8pm   Tracy Grammer Concert with special guest: Dear Prudence at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

SUN 2/8   1-3pm   Zentangle Class at Franklin Art Center
SUN 2/8   1pm   The Wizard of Oz at The Black Box presented by FSPA
SUN 2/8   5pm   Chowder Fest at United Methodist Church in Franklin
SUN 2/8   5pm   The Wizard of Oz at The Black Box presented by FSPA

MON 2/9   5:30-7:30pm   Community Walking: FREE Walk Track at FHS

TUE 2/10   5:30-7:30pm   Community Walking: FREE Walk Track at FHS
TUE 2/10   6pm   Cocktail Club at Pour Richard’s
TUE 2/10   7:30 pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting at Franklin YMCA

WED 2/11   5:30-7:30pm   Community Walking: FREE Walk Track at Franklin High School

THU 2/12   5:30-7:30pm   Community Walking: FREE Walk Halls at Franklin High School
THU 2/12   6pm   Pan Mass Kids Fundraiser at Pour Richard’s
 
For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

THE BLACK BOX Presents Live Music Series Events

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin’s new theater, music, and event venue, presents two special evenings of live music, featuring the April Hall Quartet on Valentine’s Day and Celtic singer-songwriter Robbie O’Connell on February 20.

On Saturday, February 14, renowned vocalist April Hall takes audiences on a special Valentine's Day journey through The Great American Songbook, showcasing the most enduring and influential Golden Age standards of the Broadway stage and Hollywood screen. With her swinging all-star band, Hall interprets our most treasured classics by legendary masters of song to deliver a deeply moving

April Hall

evening of sentiment, humor, heartbreak and romance. Her voice described as "glorious" by The Boston Globe, Hall combines her deep roots in southern gospel and blues with an urban soulfulness and jazz sophistication. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, where she received the prestigious Louis Armstrong Performance Award, Hall has done projects for Atlantic Records under the direction of Arif Mardin for the legendary Chaka Kahn, Melissa Manchester and Bette Midler and has performed with artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Al Jarreau, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius and Dinah Shore. Hall’s "Room for Two" was named one of Jazz Times top 50 Jazz Records of 2012. Hall will be joined for the BLACK BOX Jazz series event by pianist Tim Ray, bassist Mark Poniatowski and drummer Kenny Hadley.

On Friday, February 20, THE BLACK BOX New England Artists Series presents a memorable sojourn with acclaimed singer/songwriter Robbie O'Connell, called "a national treasure" in Ireland and "a master of Irish music" in the United States. A native of Waterford, Ireland, O’Connell emerged as an artist of major stature with his 1982 debut recording, “Close to the Bone,” and subsequently toured with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane and with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America. His extensive collaboration with the Clancy Brothers, his uncles,

Robbie O'Connell

includes several CDs and a 1992 appearance at Carnegie Hall. O’Connell also headlined a 1994 celebration of Irish music at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and was seen by an estimated 500 million people worldwide on the telecast of a live tribute to Bob Dylan at Madison Square Garden, a performance that Rolling Stone magazine described as “breathtaking.”
O’Connell’s recordings are critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic and have received top honors and recognition, including Boston's WUMB Top Acoustic Album of the Year and a prestigious Boston Music Award as Outstanding Celtic Act.

Both music series concerts begin at 8:00. THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street. Tickets are $20 for the April Hall Valentine’s Day concert, Love Songs from The Great American Songbook. Tickets for the evening with Celtic musician Robbie O’Connell are $26 for adults and $18 for students. For ticket purchase or more information, visit www.theblackboxonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

Radio Shack files for bankruptcy

Local businesses (Tastebuds Fresh Marketplace, Artistry Kitchen, Best Deli, Rick's, etc.) are not the only ones having trouble in this new set of economic circumstances, Radio Shack is in the news now with their bankruptcy filing. 

As part of their restructuring plan many stores will close. The closest one currently listed for closing is at the Emerald Sq Mall. The Franklin store is not on the listing for closure.


From the Boston Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2015/02/radio-shack-files-for-bankruptcy-lists.html

Franklin Wine Club events

If you are interested in trying new wines or Sake, these might be the events for you. You can sign up for one or both events via the Meetup links provided.


Friday February 13th 7-9PM

Franklin Wine Club

Gay Callon from Chatom Vineyards

http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/events/220117182/




Saturday February 21st   5-7PM
SAKE 101

Join us as we welcome Sake Sommelier Nancy Cushman for a Sake 101 event.

http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/events/220276704/

FHS boys hockey win; double header basketball vs. KP on tap for Friday night

From Hockomock Sports we find the result of the boys hockey game (they won) and that the FHS basketball teams play a double header tonight at KP.

FHS Panthers

Boys Hockey

Franklin, 3 vs. St. John’s (Shrewsbury), 1 - Final - Alec Borkowski scored the game-winner in the third period and Matt Daly and DJ Shea also scored for the Panthers.

For other results from Thursday's action in the Hockomock League, check this link http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020515

Basketball vs. KP

There is a basketball double header at King Phillip tonight. The FHS girls tip off at 6:00 followed by the boys game at 7:30 PM

http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020615

Beaver St connector, recycling and snow removal updates provided

It was a quieter and shorter meeting than the past two for the Town Council. The Emmons St building has been sold, the RFP for Pond St is being re-worked so the large public participation was not in attendence.

DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi assisted by Recycling Coordinator Chris White provides updates on three major topics.

This document was used last night.

Franklin (MA) Town Council: DPW Update 20150204 from Franklin Matters

Pictures of the Beaver St connector and the repairs performed at great savings in December were impressive. The repairs had been estimated to cost $400,000 and came in at $122,000.

The DEP is working with the trash and recycling vendors to start implementing an enforcement of the restrictions around mixing trash with recycling and recycling with trash.

There are cameras on the truck to record what comes out of the totters as they are picked up. If you do put something you are not supposed to in either the trash or recycling, it is recorded and could result in a warning. Multiple infractions could result in individual fines.

There was talk of someone trying to 'recycle' a small TV in with their recycling. This is not permitted.

WasteManagement will be implementing spot studies where for a week, all the recycling will be held until the collection is complete. It will be weighed, processed and that which shouldn't be part weighed to provide a net 'good' weight. Franklin will then pay based upon the amount of 'clean' recycling on a scale where the poorer the amount of 'clean' the more we'd need to pay.

This program is effective July 1, 2015. There will be adidtional communications and information to the community between now and then to help prepare for this.

King St at Wachusett St

On the snow front, Franklin has spent almost $800,000 with snow removal so far. Approximately $268,000 of that total is for the salt. The remainder is for labor and contract resources. 

The 43 inches of snow cleared in the last week is about what the DPW normally clears in a full season.

For the complete set of notes taken live during the meeting you can review these links:

Live reporting: Legislation through to closing
Live reporting: DPW update
Live reporting: Town Council - Feb 4, 2015