MassBudget: What works in education

New infographic with links to research

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Strategies that Work  And How They Can be Implemented Effectively MassBudget and the Rennie Center's Roadmap to Expanding Opportunity project examines specific strategies that have a clear track record of helping students learn and develop into productive members of their communities. These strategies include: smaller class sizes; early education; support for new teachers; wraparound services; additional learning time; community based learning opportunities; multiple pathways to graduation; and dual enrollment in college courses during high school.  When implemented successfully, these strategies can ensure that students receive both the highest quality education possible inside the classroom and additional supports they need to succeed at school and in life. The infographic shows the supports that, if done right, can help at different ages.  For an interactive version with links to research on how each strategy can make a real difference, click here. 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

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Live reporting: Action items to closing

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of the Chapter 70 Resolution as proposed by the MASC.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 6-1 (Jewell against)

b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from the Norfolk District Attorney’s office for FHS supplemental supplies.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend approval of the field trip request for HMMS students to travel to Save the Bay, Providence, RI on May 24-27, 2016 as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip request for ASMS students to travel to Pawtucket, RI on June 9, 2016 for a Pawtucket Red Sox game as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

e. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling 3,500.00 for FHS Scholarships as listed:

1. $1,500.00 – Whitsons Food Service Scholarship
2. $1,000.00 – Friends of Franklin Library for Wilma Winters Memorial Scholarship
3. $1,000.00 – Peter Baglioni

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
reviewed 43 essays and selected 5 for the Guidance Dept to make final selection

f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $138.00 from an anonymous donor for the Adult Ed and Community Learning Scholarship Fund.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

g. I recommend acceptance of checks totaling $107.50 from various donors for Mental Health Awareness week at FHS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0


5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
MICA festival resulted in medals for all 11 groups participating
Empty Bowls dinner Apr 27 at FHS at 6
National Honor society at 7:00 PM at FHS
Parmenter principal interviews
Sarah Ward hosted by SEPAC on THursday at Horace Mann
FHS hosts Congressional Art Show on Saturday, Apr 30 between 2:00 and 3:30
K registration 269 down about 40 students, will see what it like over the summer, still getting enrollments
only home unified track meet this Monday, May 3 at 3:30

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

• Community Relations Sub Committee

Vanessa, Ann, Denise, 
coffee hours in conference room at Franklin TV
may 12 and June 24th, several times and hours

looking to out together an 'unsung educator award' working out details for a future implementation

looking at development of a communication plan


School Committee Liaison Reports
SEPAC focus of the "It Takes a Village" broadcast this week

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
none


7. Motion to Adjourn 
– Dr. O’Malley

motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting: Discussion only items - Chapter 70 and calendar committee

3. Discussion Only Items
a. Chapter 70 Resolution 


The resolution itself can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/resolution-calling-for-full-funding-of.html

Bilello - we have real unmet needs here in Franklin
we need to do more to address the counseling opportunities for our students
these are just a couple of areas with unmet needs, there are likely many more

the formula was adopted in 1993 and not kept pace with costs

demands and mandates have significantly outpaced out resources

I don't see a clear solution, maintaining status quo is at risk

I recommend that we consider passing this

Schultz - read the actual resolution

Jewell - we do need more money but we do not need to be told how to manage it. 19.5 to 22.2 increase in special education in the last several years. We are spending more of our money on special needs, I am not against it, they need it. We do need to be able to have local control over the money. We do need more money but not with strings attached to it

O'Malley - commend Bilello for an articulate and accurate statement. Jewell makes some good points, the money we have is insufficient to meet our requirements. We have $600K in unfunded requirements for this year that came on us after the year started. This is a two pronged attack, this is one tack. The second will be how we fund our schools at the local level.


b. Calendar Committee 

the calendars represent the most reasonable options meeting all regulatory requirements

discussion on the rationale in the development of the two calendars

DESE has re-examined the policy on how to make up the snow days. The districts have been authorized on how to make up the 'days' without extending the calendar. This could alleviate the issue. The FEA and administration will have a proposal in the fall on how to do this.

Donna Grady, Franklin Education Assoc President
you did have teachers who were FEA members but did not have FEA leadership participation
the FEA does have a couple of issues
the recent survey is at least a year old, what would a change in the calendar actually fix? The FEA has not identified
the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is change to our contract and would have to be negotiated
I would strongly urge you to leave the calendars as they are

Sabolinski - the calendar is the purview of the School Committee, we'll talk about the calendars with the FEA in our next meeting

Bilello - the committee was open to a new survey but the timing was not good, it would have taken longer

The Wed before Thanksgiving before 2007 was a half day, then it became a day off in recognition of the attendance patterns and requests for time off from the faculty and staff

The committee was open to anyone via a ConnectEd message, also to all parents 

this is 'game of calendars'

action for next meeting (May 10)

Live reporting: Digital Learning

c. Technology/ Digital Learning
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aU4XrHxZj6cjxNL2-X4bb--Eu9MiKObWOcYeclXgOHM/edit?usp=sharing


(notes captured via Twitter/Instagram to be integrated here later)

(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

bill of rights - promoting responsibility and moving away from restrictions

incorporated the acceptable use policy into the 'bill of rights'

incorporated 'frequently asked questions' into the 'bill of rights' to help provide the other answers on how to use this

Tim Raposa - "someday all the technology will be behind the scenes just as the pencils and paper are today"

O'Malley - the # of teachers is impressive, at some point could we have a report on technology stuff, what is working, what isn't and where it is going. You have to keep demanding what you need.

The acceptable use policy would need to be revisited. Doing so needs to be a coordinated effort with the union and legal as it crosses multiple arenas

"this is moving faster than parents are aware", the google docs with collaboration is social networking and may not have parent oversight

equity in technology is also an issue

the bill of rights can help to create the understanding, with a BYOD policy, we can't track where those device go, that is not our purview

we do have software at the high school to do tracking and there have been some tough conversation in the principals' office

Venn diagram summarizes the next steps for digital learning

Live reporting: School Committee - Apr 26, 2016

Present: Bilello, Scofield, Bergen, Douglas, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewel
Absent: none

- slightly out of the published agenda order
2. Guests/Presentations
a. FHS Hockey Team - Division 1 State Champions

presentation of plaques by the 2 captains, 2 others are playing spring sports and couldn't be here. Coach Spillane and several of the assistant coaches were also participating

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
none

Review of Agenda (changed order as noted)

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the April 12, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Empty Bowls Dinner Apr 27
Prom this Friday night

Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
b. Science Update
Asst Superintendent Joyce Edwards
introduces a number of teachers from the high school, the middle and elementary schools
a representative sample of the approx 3 dozen who participated over the past couple of years.

STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

revision of curriculum to align with the new State frameworks
"no longer in a conceptual world only"
Franklin is ahead of the other communities in this effort, will share when the work is completed in June

curriculum maps are created and will need to be updated or tweaked as things go forward

the implementation plan is expected to take 3-4 years to complete as the changes are that significant

"it is always about time and money"

(screen grabs being posted to Instagram will be gathered here later)

in middle school students created their own experiments

learning and sharing the standards among the teachers focus for next year
6th grade will start in 2017-2018, followed by 7th and 8th grade the following year

integrating new frameworks into classes this year, starting process of shifting to the new curriculum, what is taught in 6th grade will then set the stage for the 7th and 8th grade lessons when they come along (hence the delayed approach)

"increase rigor and standards"

need to create communication plan for parents and families, here tonight to start with the general awareness

this will align the curriculum to be prepared for the new MCAS 2.0 testing when it comes around

time and money biggest challenge, 'unpacking' the standards takes time, it is a complex process

pedagogical changes are equally significant

O'Malley - your leadership (Edwards) is right in this space, our teachers are working to align the curriculum not for some generic students but for OUR students.

Bilello - your work is tremendous, the work at the K-6 level is so fantastic, how do we get the resources to do this right?

Bergen - science is not taught the way it was, no longer just from the book. The science night at the high school was recorded by Franklin TV and is available for replay

Edwards - project based learning professional development coming later this year, 26 teachers signed up for 3 days of after school work

Jewell - everything you do can have a science output, parents consider how to challenge your children, medical school is how do you figure it out

O'Malley - you need to challenge us to provide the resources to help you deliver this curriculum

Developing Independent Executive Functioning Skills - Apr 28 - 7:00 PM

Please join us in welcoming back Sarah Ward, CCC-SLP and leading expert in the assessment and treatment of executive function disorder. Executive functioning refers to one's ability to goal set, make an organized plan and carry out tasks to their fruition, while simultaneously assessing and modifying the plan as the need arises. Difficulties with executive functioning skills impact students at home and in the classroom. 

Sarah Ward will present hands-on strategies that can be used to help students with these difficulties. This workshop will take place at 7:00 on Thursday, April 28th at the Horace Mann Auditorium, 224 Oak Street. 

As always this workshop is free and open to the public. Hope to see you there. Check out our website www.franklinsepac.org or email us at frankinsepac@gmail.com for more information.

Franklin Special Education Parents Advisory Council!

It takes a Village: Special Needs Parents' Advisory Council (SEPAC)

Board members, Sara Mulcahy and Jennifer O'Duggan from the Special Needs Parents' Advisory Council (SEPAC) will be talking all about the work of this important support group which provides all kinds of information and resources for parents of special needs children.  

The program will air on this 

• Tuesday morning at 9:00
• Wed morning at 7:30
• Saturday evening at 8:30

Channel 26 (Verizon); Channel 8 (Comcast) - It Takes a Village...

Franklin TV