Franklin Candidate for School Committee - Trevor Clement

Trevor Clement and I met recently at Panera to talk about his campaign for School Committee. This is the summary of our discussion.

FM - What is your Franklin story?

Clement – My Franklin story actually begins in Providence. My wife and I were living there. We had been living in Somerville but she got a position at Brown so we moved down there. When she was pregnant, we wanted to find something close enough to Brown but with a good place to raise a family. The school system is what bubbled Franklin up. We looked at so many houses and finally found one we loved. We moved in and two weeks later my daughter was born. 

I went to the local debates when Jeff Roy was running against Peter Padula and that was really interesting. I saw an ad where someone was looking for a campaign manager for a race in Dorchester and went there. I got a little more into it. I was driving to Dorchester and knocking on doors of complete strangers and loved doing it. I had studied Political Science in my undergraduate work and then went to Law. The candidate in Dorchester ended up losing but I had gotten hooked. 

In the last election, there was an open seat available. Only 6 people had taken out papers for the School Committee. If we moved here for the school system and were going to take advantage of the school system, then I should help to give back by running. I took out papers, ran and got elected. 

I originally based my firm here and then when I got into criminal cases, I decided basing my business out of my home was not so good an idea, so I opened offices in Milford and Framingham. I had grown up in Lexington and lived in a few different places but in my short time in Franklin, I have come to think of Franklin as more my town than Lexington was.

FM - What do you see as the challenge(s) for the School Committee?

Clement – The first and most controversial one is the decision on PARCC when it comes down. We had voted to pilot PARCC because of the opportunity it would provide for Franklin. If PARCC comes down, there’ll be two types of schools implementing it, schools that are new to it, and schools like us where we have seen it before. I like that we have done the test drive and what we have learned from it. 

I want to take another look at school start times. I want to take a look at pushing back the high school, the middle schools and maybe the elementary schools. That is going to be a challenge but we have a couple if things to work with. The transportation contract is up for renewal as well as the teacher’s contract. We going to have to work with the parents as it will change their morning routine. It will also change the after hour sports and activities. Other districts have made the change so it is not impossible. The data on it says the kids do better with a later start. It is like the kids have diesel engines, slow starting in the morning but once they get going, they do well. 

I want to take another look at NARCAN. We took a look at it in the recent policy review and decided to pass on it. Now that the opioid problem is getting so severe, maybe it makes sense to reconsider. 

I also want to improve the communications between the school committee and the parents. I have been trying to organize these forums to get opportunities for engagement. If the parents don’t provide input, we will need to make our decisions on the information we have for the best of the whole. 

I’d like to look at the notifications about the head lice policy. I know it was changed before I got on the committee. I understand the HIPPA implications but I’d like another look to see what we can do to work within the guidelines. We have had a couple of years now with no notification, what effect has that had?I’d like to look at the bus fee. Some parents don’t need the bus all the time, every day. Some need a couple of days, or just in the afternoon. Is there something we can do? I’d like to take a look at it and have the conversation about it. 

The other perpetual challenge is with the budget. We have lost many positons over the years, we are losing administrators to other districts. There is a lot of turn over. Kevin O’Malley said it and to his credit; “We don’t want to be a training school for other districts just because we can’t afford to pay our people.” That’ll be something we’ll have to work with the Town Council on, because we don’t have enough money. We are spending less than other districts in everything. We are not just pinching pennies; we are squeezing the life out of them. 

One of the other problems we face is with No Child Left Behind and all the legalese around the children at the low end, nothing really is being done for those kids on the high end. How we do challenge them?

FM - What do you bring to the position that would set you apart from the other candidates?

Clement – I am very analytical by nature and by training. I try to look at a process from a different point of view. I understand there are some emotions involved but when you look at a problem without emotions controlling the conversation, we can reach a better solution. If I can be a facilitator, that would be good. 

I do pro bono activities for kids coming across the border and are facing deportation issues. I also do pro bono work for kids who are not getting their IEPs fulfilled. I am trying to work with the school district involved, if at all possible, to get them the help that they need. That is the experience I can bring to the table, that sort of ‘advocacy’. 

I want to cooperate and get along but at the same time, I am not afraid to make a decision. I like to think I am up for the challenges. I’ll do what I can.

If you have any follow up questions for Trevor, you can contact him via email at tafgc1@gmail.com

You can also visit his webpage
https://www.facebook.com/Trevor-Clement-for-Franklin-School-Committee-179359125736109/



Noteworthy: This information is intended to help the Franklin voters when we all head to the ballot box on November 3rd. The interview candidates have had an opportunity to review the text before publishing to ensure the accuracy of our discussion.

The collection of all the information to prepare for the Nov 3rd election can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/election-collection-nov-3-2015.html

Franklin candidate for School Committee - Denise Schultz

Denise Schultz and I met recently on the Town Common to talk about her campaign for School Committee. This is the summary of our discussion.

FM - What is your Franklin story?

D Schultz – Our Franklin story seems like years ago. My husband and I met at Rutgers and moved up here 6 months after we got married. We wanted to start out our married life away from our family and figure out what we wanted to do. Jim had a job opportunity in Boston, we were excited about the location and found a great apartment in Canton. We rented there for a few years and loved it there. 

When we had our son Connor, our three-bedroom duplex that we were renting all of a sudden got very small. We decided it was time to purchase a home, and looked at several communities before finding and falling in love with Franklin. It was this great mix of how it looked, this Town Common, the Library and the Ben Franklin connection. The schools were highly rated. We found a house that we never thought we could afford. The taxes were low, coming from NJ where the taxes are very high, the taxes here were like a song. 

It is one of those bittersweet things. Our children have always been four hours away from the rest of the family but we couldn’t have afforded this house in NJ. Franklin would be the absolute perfect place in the universe if we had more family here. We have a great network of friends here and it has been a wonderful community to raise a family.

FM - What do you see as a challenge for a position on the School Committee?

D Schultz – Budgetary items are always a challenge. A few years back it seems that at the end of every academic year there were notices about pending teacher layoffs, but it seems to have gotten better. We still see that maybe we lose someone to another system so there are still challenges about that. But I never want us to go back to that era where we had some number of pink slips every year. It makes it very hard for the system to retain the talent. Teachers have an enormously difficult job. I have so much respect for them. 

I am a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), and I work in higher education. I have so much respect for the jobs that our teachers do every day, and I fully comprehend how hard that job is. We need to fully support our teachers, ensure our children are thriving as students, and keep the budget in line. That is a very fine balance, and I think my financial background and budgetary experience will come in handy addressing these challenges. 

Aside from the budget issues, there are some little quirky things. Like navigating the system when your child has learning difficulties. Our son has had to navigate the special education system within the school, and while he is doing extremely well now, we had our challenges getting him through some grades. I want to see if there is any way I can help advocate for that within the system. 

In the last year, I heard a lot of discussion about the inequalities within the dress code, perhaps that needs to be reviewed, with input from the parents, the administrators, the teachers and the students. I am open to hear about additional items of concern to all of those invested in our schools, and I am going to be looking at them from the parent’s lens. I also would love to learn more about the school start times and how we can make this more in line with what benefits our children’s learning and biological needs. I know it can be a scheduling nightmare but it is worth looking at further. 

My daughter has been doing well but was stressed to the nines with the implementation of the PARCC test last year. I am a supporter of Common Core but I question whether PARCC is the right assessment tool. I firmly believe we need assessments. We need to figure out how the kids are doing in order to make sure that they are thriving and learning and growing. In talking with others, including a recent graduate of Franklin High, the amount of anxiety students are experiencing due to their academic workload and pressures is an issue we need to address.. 

The number of breakdowns that students are having at the college level because they have so many years of anxiety was shocking to hear. As a parent, this makes me very concerned. If elected to the school committee, I definitely want to see how this is being addressed and what further efforts we can make to ensure our children are not stressed out to the point of dropping out of college because they can not handle it.

FM - What do you bring to the position that would set you apart from the other candidates?

D Schultz –Many of the School Committee candidates are incumbents so they have experience or they are retired educators, teachers, or administrators. The other new candidates are current or former administrator and teachers I am running as a concerned parent and a proud citizen of Franklin and I bring a wealth of financial experience (no pun intended). 

I have worked in many different financial operations jobs. I currently work at UMass Boston, at a nonprofit center in a higher education setting. I have four years of public financial management experience which I think is a good qualification for school committee which is about 55% of the town budget.

I did take a few years off to be a stay at home mom. I took the time finish my undergraduate degree. I have a graduate certificate in public policy and am working towards my Masters in Public Administration. I have public policy and government experience. Prior to being a stay at home mom, I worked in financial advisory services. 

I was a financial analyst at a brokerage firm in Boston for a number of years. Then I also worked for a financial advisor who specialized in retirement plans and high net worth individuals. In those roles I was responsible for analyzing retirement plans, expenses, and returns, among other duties. I also have HR and management skills that I think will be an asset to the committee as well. 

I am a proud to be the elected Chair of the Franklin Democrat Town Committee. This position requires a lot of organizational skills. I was elected after (State Rep.) Jeff Roy was elected to represent us at the State House. I was a member of the committee for a year, then became vice-chair before becoming chair. 

The other thing I have done and has been a great learning experience has been my work with the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women. We were formed and appointed in January 2015. We just held our first hearing and it was a huge success. We are a brand new commission. It has gotten me involved with our community here on another level and with the other communities that make up the MetroWest Region. We will hold two hearings this year and report back to the state commission on what we hear about the issues from women and girls in our area. We had spoken testimony from about 15 individuals or organizations that ran the gamut of issues and it was heartwarming moving, and gut wrenching.

I had asked Erin (Lynch) from the Franklin Food Pantry to come and testify about her view of the impact of the food pantry on women and girls in franklin. She was not able to attend that night but she sent in written testimony. Her testimony was vital – as I did not realize that there is a great need for donations of feminine hygiene products at the food pantry. Clients are embarrassed to ask for them, and donations tend to not include them. This seems like a small issue, but it is very important and a great example of how the commission allows me to engage with community leaders about issues that are falling through the cracks.

My roles at the Franklin Democrats, the Commission, and now just this week I was appointed to the Board at the Franklin Food Pantry, they are all volunteer jobs. I am happy to serve my community in this way, and hope that the skills I have from my professional and volunteer positions will be valuable on the school committee. 

I have a wide network, and I listen. I try and raise visibility to issues that are not being addressed. I want to hear what concerns parents and guardians of the schools in the Franklin district. I also see School Committee as a great way to give back to one of my mentors, Jeff Roy. I had a question about the schools probably about 10 years ago and I reached out to him to ask. He was so supportive and responsive and we have formed a great relationship and work well together. He was patient with me as I learned to navigate the policy concerns on the local and state levels. I hope to repay that favor with a seat on the School Committee. 

I would appreciate your vote on November 3, 2015.

If you have any follow up questions for Denise, you can contact her via email at DeniseLynnSchultz@gmail.com

You can also visit her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DeniseSchultzforFranklin?fref=ts

Or her webpage http://democracy.com/DeniseSchultzForFranklin/



Noteworthy: This information is intended to help the Franklin voters when we all head to the ballot box on November 3rd. The interview candidates have had an opportunity to review the text before publishing to ensure the accuracy of our discussion.


The collection of all the information to prepare for the Nov 3rd election can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/election-collection-nov-3-2015.html

Franklin candidate for Board of Health - Gail Chirdon

Gail Chirdon and I met recently at Panera to talk about her campaign for Board of Health. This is the summary of our discussion.

FM - What is your Franklin story?

Chirdon – I moved from Norwood in 1996 to be a first time home buyer. I was looking in Norwood as I had been involved in the community working on different committees there but I could not afford it. I have always been one to be involved in the community. And what an unexpected gift it was to move to the Franklin community where I continue to be actively involved. I was working full time as a psychiatric clinic nurse specialist (which I did for 48 years). That’s been my only job. 

I got my degrees the long hard way. I went to a three year nursing degree program at Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital School of Nursing. It wasn’t college affiliated back then, nursing schools were the degree programs. I took the boards and got my RN (registered nurse). I got my RN the first time around. Had some great jobs in Harrisburg, but once I moved up here in order to get the good jobs or the jobs I wanted to do I needed to go back to school. 

I went to Boston College and got my BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. From that I worked as Director of the Geriatric Community Mental Health Program which was affiliated both with the Dept. of Mental Health and the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. After working in that capacity for three years I decided to return to school at Boston University for a Master’s Degree in Nursing Science. I also have taken a three year course in Homeopathic Medicine. 

I retired in January of this year. After three months of retirement i felt a sense of boredom and more importantly a loss of purposeful activity. I reflected as to what I could do with my skills and interests in giving service to my community. I applied for a volunteer position in the Patient/Family Advisory Council at Milford Hospital and got chosen. I started that in May and since being there, I was invited to join the hospital’s Substance Abuse Committee and also the Mental Health sub-committee of the Advisory Council. 

I am also a Board member of the S.A.F.E. Coalition (for Opioid Abuse) recently formed here by Rep. Jeff Roy and others. In addition, I do volunteer work for Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Norfolk County driving veterans and their families to medical appointments. I think that is important. It has been great and I have made some friends out of that too. 

Earlier this year, I made a presentation to the current Board of Health and Town Council providing educational information on the proposed Spectra pipeline. As a result of these presentations, I felt strongly the need to run for a seat on the Board of Health. I strongly feel that the Board of Health needs a member with a strong medical and psycho-social background and a commitment to prevention and educational programs and a strong background in involving and advocating for Franklin’s citizens. 

I also would commit to finding monies via grants to fund a certified Community Health Worker and a Public Health Registered Nurse. This is very important if we as a town are to progressively move forward.

FM - What do you see as a challenge for the position of Board of Health?

Chirdon – The staff is seriously undermanned to do the work that is needed for health care for a community of our size. It is a huge challenge to focus on public health prevention programs. Having a term of four years will make for a great start with this effort. 

I keep hearing that Franklin is scratching the bottom of the bucket for the budget. So where do you get the money for preventive health programs? You go online and find that there are grant programs available. I have had experience grant writing. You find a grant that can give you enough funding for a good two to three year start on a program and then build the case for a sustaining program to officially put it into the budget. 

There is a group of professionals called Community Health Workers (CHW). They are out of the State’s Department of Health; grants are available to utilize them as resources. 

I like that there are four years to do something. You can start something and get something solidified in four years. 

On fluoridation for example, the Department of Health and Human Services has recently changed the standard to a lower level of fluoridation in our drinking water. According to Franklin’s 2014 water report, we are reported to be over this amount. There are health consequences to this. Let’s join forces with our DPW to fix this problem. 

There is only so much you can do with legislation. For alcohol, or smoking, or other substance abuses/addictions, the individual (and his/her family) needs to make the effort utilizing all the necessary support services to reach the end goal of sobriety.

FM - What do you bring to the position that would set you apart from the other candidates?

Chirdon – My mantra for running is education, education, education and along with that, communication, communication, communication. And when I say communication, it is not only to educate the community but also to be educated by the community by way of open and honest dialogues with the departments in the town and especially the Town Council and Administration. 

I am tired of hearing ‘there is nothing we can do about it’. I have taken tough issues and accomplished something from nothing before. It can be done. For example, when I was Director of the Geriatric Community Mental Health Program, I approached my Chief of Psychiatry to set up a day treatment program to establish programs for the chronic mentally ill to keep them in the community. He said “I tried to get a program going for our adolescent population and it fell through. I couldn’t get anyone’s interest.” I said, “Let me try.” 

I made connections with Yale-New Haven Hospital clergy and Dept. of Psychiatry and the houses of worship in the Newton/Wellesley/Weston/ Needham communities and I sponsored a one-day planning workshop with all these principals. Long story short, I was successful in gaining the support of the local resources, ending up with a successful day treatment program in the community. I utilized and trained volunteers from the above mentioned communities. And I am most proud that I did this on a ZERO budget. 

I hope the above example begins to show that I ‘walk the talk’. So, please go to the polls on November 3rd to vote. If you like what I stand for, I ask for your vote so that together, you and I can progressively grow the direction of the Board of Health. In running for this position I have at learned so more about my community, how it works, and have made some good friends and contacts along the way !

If you have any follow up questions for Gail, you can contact her via email at gail.chirdon@gmail.com


Noteworthy: This information is intended to help the Franklin voters when we all head to the ballot box on November 3rd. The interview candidates have had an opportunity to review the text before publishing to ensure the accuracy of our discussion.


The collection of all the information to prepare for the Nov 3rd election can be found here 
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/election-collection-nov-3-2015.html

Franklins' Stowell family striving for soccer succes

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of Hockomock Sports has a nice feature article on the Franklins' Stowells:

Four years ago, the Franklin girls’ soccer program made history when it brought home its first state title. Although Kristi Kirshe (rightfully) drew most of the attention for her goalscoring exploits that season, there were also a few freshmen that contributed to the championship. 

Among the underclassmen getting regular playing time was a pair of sisters, Victoria and Alexis Stowell. Now seniors, they are the Panthers leading scorers this fall and once again have Franklin poised to be one of the top seeds in Div. 1 South when the brackets are released on Monday morning. 

With a state title, two sectional titles, and three sectional final appearances, not to mention four Kelley-Rex titles, the Stowell sisters have drawn plenty of deserved attention, but this year another Stowell sibling, David, is also trying to make a name for himself in the postseason.

The Stowells: (L - R) Victoria, David, Alexis (Hockomock Sports image)

Continue reading the article online at Hockomock Sports here

http://www.hockomocksports.com/franklin-triplets-searching-for-more-soccer-success/

FHS Girls Cross Country take Hockomock Championship!

The Hockomock League Cross Country Championships were run nearby at the Wrentham Development Center on Saturday morning. I was there to capture some photos on a cool but great day for running.

The FHS varsity girls were victorious and the boys finished seventh.

the top 16 varsity boys (place 16 -9 in front row, left to right, 8 - 1 in back row, right to left)

the top 16 varsity girls (place 16 -9 in front row, left to right, 8 - 1 in back row, right to left)

The complete listing of results can be found on the Hockomock Sports page
http://www.hockomocksports.com/hockomock-league-cross-country-championshil-results/

or at CoolRunning.com
http://www.coolrunning.com/results/15/ma/Oct31_Hockom_set1.shtml

Additional photos from Hockomock Sports can be found here
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Fall-2015/Girls-Cross-Country-Hockomock

and here
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20152016/Fall-2015/Boys-Cross-Country-Hockomock/

"There's no way to lose when you are giving back to the community"

When Bob and Tricia Flynn, owners of Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, donated a New England Patriots game package for a raffle to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry, Bob called it a "win-win."

"There's no way to lose when you are giving back to the community," he said. "One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through the raffle goes directly to the Franklin Food Pantry to serve our neighbors in need. If it means that more families will have food on their tables, and fewer kids will go to bed at night hungry, we have helped make a difference."

There's still time to take a shot at purchasing the winning ticket to catch the Patriots vs. Bills game at Gillette Stadium on Monday, November 23 at 8:30 p.m.! Here are the details for this amazing game package:

• 5 club level seats
• Parking pass included
• A total value of $3000!
• Raffle tickets are $25 each, 5 for $100, or 12 for $200
• Drawing is Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m.

"This raffle has become one of our biggest fundraisers of the year," says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. "We are grateful to the Flynns, and Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, for donating this valuable game package to benefit the Pantry. There is a greater need for our services this time of year, so the raffle benefit comes at an ideal time. The Flynns are truly paying it forward many times over through this donation, and we thank them."

You can purchase raffle tickets in the following ways:

• At Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, located in the Franklin Village Shopping Center, during normal business hours
• At Team Fitness/Cross Fit on Monday, November 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. Pantry representatives will be available to sell tickets and share information about the Pantry
• From Pantry board and staff members

Tricia and Bob Flynn

The Pantry is grateful to Bob and Tricia Flynn, owners of Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, for their generous donation of a New England Patriots game package for a raffle to benefit the Pantry.

TeamFitness Franklin - CrossFit Franklin

Get your raffle tickets soon! For hours of operation and directions to Team Fitness/CrossFit, visit www.teamfitnessfranklin.com.


This was shared from the Franklin Food Pantry webpage here
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/2015/10/raffle-for-new-england-patriots-tickets.html

Register O'Donnell Announces Annual Holiday Food Drive

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Announces Annual Holiday Food Drive Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell announced today that the Registry of Deeds Annual Holiday Food Drive will take place from Monday, November 23, 2015 through Thursday, December 31, 2015. "Here in Norfolk County," noted Register O'Donnell, "some of our less fortunate neighbors continue to face economic hardship. We know this because we see each month the Notice to Foreclose Mortgage recordings that take place. Furthermore, at a statewide level, Project Bread noted that 1 out of every 10 households in Massachusetts is food insecure." Local pantry officials agree food donations, especially as we head into the winter and holiday months, are critical to their operations. "The holiday season is the busiest time of year. For the past 40 years, we have relied on the generosity of our local communities to donate food and help neighbors in need," noted Rick Doane, Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services of Quincy. Unfortunately, the issue of hunger does not stop at any border. Rene Feuerman, Director of the Brookline Food Pantry noted, "Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in the number of individuals and families needing assistance. Just this past summer, we added 100 families to our needs list. Currently, we are feeding 850 households in Brookline." Non-perishable food items can be brought directly to the Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham from Monday, November 23, 2015 through Thursday, December 31, 2015. A donation bin will be set up in the Registry building lobby which is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Suggested donations include canned goods, breakfast cereals, pasta, sauces, toiletries and paper products. Those who wish to donate but are unable to travel to the Registry can do so by donating food supplies at their local pantries across Norfolk County. "Dropping off a food donation at the Registry or a local food pantry could make the difference in a family's holiday. Working together, we can make a huge difference this holiday season," concluded Register O'Donnell. For a list of local food pantries, please visit the Registry of Deeds website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or on the web at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Register William P. O'Donnell Norfolk County Registry of Deeds email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Forward email Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | 649 High Street | Dedham, | MA | 02026-1831

screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage