Franklin Police arrest Tri-County Student for making threats via social media

From the Franklin Police Dept:

On December 13, 2016 at approximately 11am this Agency was notified of a student making threats via social media at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School. School Resource Officers from the Franklin Police Department and School Officials began an investigation into the incident. 

While the investigation is ongoing, at this time we can confirm that Julius Willis, age 18 of North Attleboro was placed under arrest on school property and has been charged with the following offenses:

• Disturbing a School Assembly
• Threat of Serious Disruption of School
• Threats to Commit a Crime
• Resisting Arrest
• Disorderly Conduct

Willis will be arraigned in the Wrentham District Court on Wednesday morning at 9:30am. No information at this point in the investigation has revealed that any weapons were ever brought onto school property.

Due to the ongoing status of the investigation, no further information is available at this time.


The information contained in this press release does not imply listed individuals have been convicted in a court of valid jurisdiction of the crimes for which they were arrested. All individuals are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court with proper jurisdiction over the matter(s) for which they were arrested.

Franklin Police Dept

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/2016_willis_press_release_0.pdf

In the News: Snow removal for schools; Horace Mann book choice; Tri-County's Gerry's Place

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"During a review of snow removal procedures between the schools and the Department of Public Works, a district busing policy was singled out for praise. 

DPW Superintendent Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, speaking at the School Committee meeting Tuesday night, praised a school policy in which buses - if sidewalks have not yet been plowed following a storm - pick up every student they pass by, even those who do not typically take the bus. 

"It's a great, great thing - I've told other communities about it," he said. "It's worked out really well."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161214/franklin-schools-dpw-prep-for-snow-season

one slide from the snow removal presentation highlights the parents responsibility

"Students at the Horace Mann Middle School were on tenterhooks Tuesday, awaiting the climactic reveal of this year's "All In!" book. 

A full assembly watched as Horace Mann alum Katie O'Neill opened a package to reveal the 2017-2018 selection: "Between Shades of Gray," a novel that documents the plight of Lithuanians during the Stalinist regime. 

The program - administered by the "Crazy Reading Ladies" team of Assistant Principal Mary Cotillo and teacher Erin O'Leary - is an effort to encourage literacy by having the entire school read through one book. 

"It's entirely voluntary - we don't want to force students to do it, but we do want to make it as irresistible as possible," said O'Leary, adding that "All In!" is now in its sixth year. "Last year, we had 302 students participate."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161213/school-reveals-all-in-book-selection

"Gerry's Place, the student-run restaurant at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, will host an annual International Holiday Buffet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the high school, 147 Pond St. 

Menu offerings will include spanakopita, French onion soup, seafood espagnole, stuffed turkey, sweet and sour pork, Israeli chicken, latke, saffron rice, sweet potato casserole, and green beans with cumin and garlic. The dessert table will feature assorted sweet treats from around the globe, including koeksisters from South Africa. 

The buffet costs $12.95 per person. No reservations will be taken."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161213/gerrys-place-to-offer-buffet

Real time reporting: Capital Budget Process

Asst Superintendent Peter Light provides an update on the capital needs for the School Dept.

(no handout provided before the meeting)

Asst Superintendent Peter Light talks about the budget items

1 - Curriculum materials for new Science standards (top priority)

• K-8 proposal for a text book online, 5 year license
• teaching development and training to come from operational budget
• $200,000 is the final negotiated amount from vendor 
• 2 years ago, the K-5 math program was $185,000
• Q - What does this replace? A - nothing and everything, this brings a consistent approach to what we have which is outdated. Provides scope and sequence for the MA frameworks

Bilello - This product is aligned to the MA standards, developed by Rice Univ specialists, and involved the teachers in the evaluation and selection process. Kudos to the Central Office for the process to select this. Well done!


2 - Additional student chromebooks
additional units to continue the expansion of the 1:1 initiative at FHS. 1st round of replacement units, estimate at about 1,000 to be replaced across the district. The numbers will be updated during the school year as the inventory is updated and is also a function of the capital available. One other factor is also the replacement cost, seeking the best option.

Getting to develop a replacement and lifecycle for the chromebooks.
Need to get into the discussion with new superintendent to have an overall technology plan.
Could be an annual investment of $800,000 to $1M to incorporate the replacement plan. Needs to be part of the overall financial plan, where will the money come from? Current budget is 85% personnel costs.

Discussion on accidental policy and insurance coverage paid for by parents/students


(left off reporting for work meeting)

3 - Laptops for elementary staff 

4 - Older smart board to be replaced

5 - Improvements at Davis Thayer

6 - Cafeteria 

Real time Reporting: Snow Removal Program Update

The presentation by DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, and DPW Highway and Grounds Superintendent Carlos Rebelo

DPW Snow Update from Franklin Matters

Real time reporting: DPW providing snow removal program update to SchCom #schcom1213 pic.twitter.com/4jEJWdsHy9

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) December 14, 2016

Real time reporting: reminder on the policy for parents #schcom1213 pic.twitter.com/j9M0YfHK4j

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) December 14, 2016

DPW does not have enough staff to clear fire hydrants so look to the residents to clear those near their houses.

Real time reporting: School Committee meeting - Dec 13, 2016

Present: Bilello, Scofield (slightly late), Douglas, Bergen, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewell
Absent: none



1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 15, 2016 and November 21, 2016 School Committee Meetings.

• motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas

FHS Student Representatives
1. Nicolas Gnaman
2. Alexander Chitarra

• students at the first FHS basketball home game "RattleCity Night"

Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Gina Jones and Beth Carter Recognition

Two teachers at FHS who had stepped in when a student had a medical emergency in the cafeteria

Gina Jones, Beth Carter, SchComm Chair O'Malley, Superintendent Sabolinski

SchComm Chair O'Malley, Gina Jones, Beth Carter, Superintendent Sabolinski

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Dec 13, 2016

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."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 15, 2016 and November 21, 2016 School Committee Meetings.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
1. Nicolas Gnaman
2. Alexander Chitarra
Correspondence: Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Gina Jones and Beth Carter Recognition
b. Snow Presentation – Brutus Cantorreggi
c. FY18 Capital – Peter Light

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – Second Reading
o JICA – Dress Code Policy

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Policy JICA – Dress Code Policy as discussed.
b. I recommend approval of the request for JF Kennedy 2nd grade students to travel to Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown, RI on May 26, 2017 for a field trip as detailed.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,565.60 as follows:

1. $1,165.60 Parmenter PCC for field trips 
2. $400.00 Franklin Shaws for supplemental supplies

d. I recommend adoption of the Capital Plan as presented.
e. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip for FHS Boys Ice Hockey Team to travel to Barnstable, MA on February 22-23, 2017 for a Tournament as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of three donations totaling $3,535.00 for FHS as follows:

1. $400.00 Shaws – in-house enrichment
2. $1500.00 Walmart – in-house enrichment
3. $1635.00 Various donors – Kitanosono Scholarship

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

•  ACCEPT Collaborative Annual Report
•  BiCounty Collaborative Annual Report

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

•  Policy Sub Committee – MaryJane Scofield
•  Community Relations Sub Committee – Denise Schultz
•  Budget Sub Committee Report – Dr. O’Malley

School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Motion to Adjourn 
– Dr. O’Malley

Davis Thayer Elementary School - Winter Concert Dec 13, Grade 3 and 4

A Deadly Problem

"Massachusetts is currently experiencing an epidemic of opioid-related overdose and death.

These overdoses are driven by the underlying chronic disease of opioid addiction or opioid use disorders. People with opioid addiction are at high risk of overdose and death.

Opioid-related deaths in the state were more than four times higher in 2015 than in 2000. This recent rate of increase is several times faster than anything seen here before. In 2013–2014 alone, opioid-related deaths occurred in two-thirds of the cities and towns in Massachusetts.

The opioid-related death rate in Massachusetts has surpassed the national average, with an especially sharp rise in the last two years.
In fact, 2014 marked the first year since 1999 that the fatal overdose rate in the Bay State was more than double the national average. 

While opioid-related deaths have been on the rise across the country during that period, the situation in the Commonwealth has become especially worrying. 

In one way or another — through deaths, nonfatal overdoses, or disruptions to jobs, marriages, families, and neighborhoods — every community in Massachusetts has been impacted by this growing crisis."

http://www.mass.gov/chapter55/#top


The map is interactive and I grabbed a screenshot highlighting the Franklin details.

Average Annual Opioid-related Death Rate per 100,000 People - focus on Franklin

The SAFE Coalition also recently annouced the introduction of a hotline. If you or someone you know needs help for substance use disorder, please call 

SAFE Coalition hotline

If you want to make a year ending tax contribution, you can help S.A.F.E/ Coalition and their efforts to fight this deadly problem.
http://safecoalitionma.com/donate/