Thursday, January 12, 2017

Ellis Paul's "25 Years On The Road" tour is coming to Milford

Ellis Paul will be performing at Memorial Hall in celebration of 25 years of touring!

"The World Ain't Slowin' Down"

Ellis Paul Celebrates 25 Years On The Road



Memorial Hall
30 School Street
Milford, MA 01757

Show time: 7:00pm
Some artists document their lives through their music. Others chronicle their times. It's a rare artist who can do both, telling their own story through songs that also encapsulate the essence of people and places who have helped define their era overall. Woody Guthrie comes to mind, and so does Bob Dylan. Bruce Springsteen certainly as well. 

Yet few others, for whatever genius they may possess, can relate their own history to the history experienced by those who find that common bond, be it in a coming of age, living through the same realities or sharing similar experiences.

Ellis Paul is one of those gifted singer/songwriters. Though some may refer to him as a folksinger, he is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing. 


The exhilaration of the open road. A ​celebration of heroes.​ ​The hope for redemption. Descriptions of those things that are both near and dear. The sharing of love... intimate, passionate and enduring.


Ellis Paul's "25 Years On The Road" tour is coming to Milford 2/11/17
Ellis Paul's "25 Years On The Road" tour is coming to Milford 2/11/17

In the News: School Committee faces budget issues, meadowlands goals set

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

"Members of the School Committee this week urged State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, to review the way schools are funded in Massachusetts. 
Roy, a former member of the committee, attended the group's Tuesday night meeting to provide a summary of his priorities for the coming legislative session. 
Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley noted that the effort to reform the formula by which a district's foundation budget - or the minimum that it can spend - is determined began in the early 1990s, and asked Roy why there had not been more progress since then. 
"Everything is now changing, and not to the inexpensive side," O'Malley said. "How do we get the urgency of our voice to the state house?"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170111/franklin-schools-seek-budget-help

site of the Horace Mann statue to be unveiled on May 7
site of the Horace Mann statue to be unveiled on May 7


"A local volunteer group is seeking help from several towns in its efforts to help protect and promote the Charles River Meadowlands. 
The group decided at a meeting this week to adopt a plan that includes goals for the land, which is spread out over several pieces of property owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The meadowlands - located in, among other towns, Bellingham, Franklin and Medway - were purchased as a buffer to absorb river flooding. 
Alan Earls, who is leading the local effort, said the plan was developed over the course of many meetings. 
"It's based on feedback we got from people, including town committees, town planners, the people who attended our meetings and abutters," he said. "We want to see the land preserved, managed and made more accessible."


Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170111/franklin-group-creates-plan-for-charles-river-land

Affordable Condominium Home for Sale - 9 Leanne Way





https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/818827544011087872
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/818827544011087872



Wednesday, January 11, 2017

What is the Franklin TV Community Bulletin Board (CBB)?


"Our Community Bulletin Board helps local nonprofit groups, schools and civic organizations to spread the word about their mission and their meetings and events deemed of interest to Franklin cable subscribers and the community. Generally, we update our Bulletin Board weekly."


View additional info on the Community Bulletin Board





Or download a copy from here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczZVFhajgyeC1EcEJpMHlMOWFvU1JkWW5GOXFN/view?usp=sharing


Franklin TV studio on Hutchinson St
Franklin TV studio on Hutchinson St

Superintendent Search narrows to 4 Candidates

The Franklin School Committee is progressing as they continue the process of seeking to replace Superintendent, Dr. Maureen Sabolinski who is retiring in June 2017.

The Committee hired the national consulting firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to assist them in the search. HYA was able to generate 57 applicants for the position.

From this number, they recommended 4 semifinalists to be interviewed by the search committee. The 4 semifinalists chosen are:

  • Linda Hirsch, Ed.D.
  • David Thompson, Ed.D.
  • Kimberly Shaver-Hood, Ed.D.
  • Susan Kustka


Joining the search committee for these interviews will be 4 representatives of the Franklin Community:

  • Sarah Mulcahy, Parent
  • Tom Mercer, Town Council
  • Paul Peri, Franklin High School Principal
  • Donna Grady, Franklin Teachers Association


The Search committee will interview the semi-finalists on January 19 at 9:30 AM. At the Franklin Municipal Building in the Council Chamber (2nd Floor). 

The public is invited to observe these interviews. Next steps in the superintendent search will be developed after these interviews are complete.


sunrise over Spruce Pond
sunrise over Spruce Pond

Dean College Presents: A Midsummer Night's Dream, February 22-26, 2017

The School of the Arts at Dean College will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream, beginning Wednesday, February 22, 2017 through Sunday, February 26, 2017.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is perhaps the best loved of Shakespeare's plays. It brings together the realms of the mortal and immortal, colliding in a wood outside Athens, and from there the enchantment begins. Simple and engaging on the surface, it is none the less a highly original and sophisticated work, where love is capricious as the wind, and where a mischievous imp named Puck plays with fate as merrily as a baby with a toy.

You won't want to miss our talented students perform in this well-loved play!

The Dean College production of A Midsummer Night's Dream will take place in the Main Stage in the Campus Center at Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

General admission is $22, Seniors $12 and Children $7.

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit www.dean.edu/boxoffice.


Dean College, Main St Franklin
Dean College, Main St Franklin

Both FHS basketball teams top Taunton on Tuesday

From HockomockSports we share the results of Tuesday's FHS winter sports action


Boys Basketball = Franklin, 55 @ Taunton, 42 – Final
– Taunton turned a second half deficit (25-17) into a third quarter lead (27-25) but Franklin rattled off a 10-4 run to close the quarter and never looked back. Junior Connor Peterson led the way for the Panthers with 21 points while Paul Mahon added 12 points and Jalen Samuels chipped in with 11 points.

Girls Basketball = Taunton, 21 @ Franklin, 63 – Final
– Ali Brigham was the top scorer for the Panthers with 13 points. Franklin also got 11 points from Kate Morse and nine points from Bea Bondhus.

For the remainder of the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-011017/

FHS girls basketball vs. Taunton
FHS girls basketball vs. Taunton

Via the Twitterverse
















Franklin Art Association Meeting - Feb 1

Adam O’Day
Adam O’Day
The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 6:30 to 9:00PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street in Franklin. 

Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 followed by a short business meeting and a demonstration by Adam O’Day, a contemporary multimedia artist working from studios in Abington and Medford.

Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org.

Multimedia Painting, Hadley Street by Adam O'Day
Multimedia Painting, Hadley Street by Adam O'Day


MassBudget: A preview of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget challenges



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

Our state budget is how our Commonwealth funds the things we do together to strengthen our communities, make life better for our people, and build a vibrant economy. The budget process works best when the choices are clear to everyone and made in as deliberate of a manner as possible, considering long-term issues as well as immediate challenges.

As budget writers prepare for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, it appears that the Commonwealth again faces a significant gap between ongoing revenue sources and the cost of maintaining current services. This has been the case for many years in Massachusetts, with a series of budgets balanced using temporary revenue sources and savings initiatives that may prove to be temporary in nature (such as early retirement strategies that can lose their fiscal effectiveness if it turns out that the people who retired need to be replaced). Because the Commonwealth has been using temporary revenue to balance the budget during this period of economic expansion, we have not been able to build up the level of reserves to be prepared for the next recession.

We have also seen a pattern of instability, with mid-year budget cuts and, this year, major changes to the budget very late in the budget process. This pattern is caused partly by a lack of adequate transparency in the budget process.

Two steps by state government would allow for a significantly more transparent process and, likely, fewer unwanted budget surprises in the future.



Continue reading the entire Budget Preview 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
TwitterFacebook


Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

A Preview of the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Challenges - Table 1
A Preview of the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Challenges - Table 1


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Live reporting: Action items through to closing

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of the ACCEPT Annual Report for 2015-16.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0

b. I recommend acceptance of the BICO Annual Report for 2015-16.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $5,100.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment for the district.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of the following checks totaling $8,470.90 for FHS as follows:

  1. $1,800.00 Music Boosters for in-house enrichment
  2. $789.90 All American Publishing for in-house enrichment
  3. $50.00 Jesse Southwick for Mr. Kitanosono scholarship
  4. $50.00 Lueders Environmental Inc. for Mr. Kitanosono scholarship
  5. $330.00 Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment
  6. $250.00 from various donors for the J Schaeffer Scholarship
  7. $1,500.00 from Walmart for in-house enrichment.
  8. $3,701.00 from Vicario Studios for in-house enrichment
motion to accept, seconded, passed 7-0


5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
really great news, FHS was cited for the AP honor roll
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/franklin-high-school-placed-on-college.html
2 AP classes added this year

2nd Annual Leaping Into Kindergarten Feb 28th

CASEL seminar coming Jan 17

Parmenter principal site visits scheduled for Weds

facilities did some light fixtures at Davis Thayer and elsewhere

Poetry Outloud 7:35 Am at FHS in the morning

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

  • Budget Sub Committee – Dr. O’Malley
  • in the budget season, capital requests reviewed
  • Jan 31 budget meeting (new meeting) to review budget prioritization and planning in 3rd Fl Training Room

Superintendent Search - 4 candidates to be interviewed Jan 19th 9:30 AM


School Committee Liaison Reports
Community Relations meeting Jan 12 at 7
Newsletter coming after the long weekend


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

7. Motion to Adjourn 
– Dr. O’Malley

motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 7-0

Live Reporting: District and School Improvement Plans



c. DIP/SIP Program Reports – Joyce Edwards

DIP = District Improvement Plan
SIP = School Improvement Plans







social emotional learning one of four objectives
Peter LIght presenting
working towards a 3X a month lesson on zones of regulation at elementary level
working on a documentary type video to share onw hat is being done in the Social Emotional Learning arena

Bilello - this format is very useful, easy to understand, consistency of the program is a challenge for a district this size; this is a good structure

Joyce Edwards picks up with this section
curriculum is the second objective
all schools working on science

FHS preparing for the NEASC visit on certification in March
K12 curriculum review on physical and health education
state guidelines date back to the 1990's so our work is more advanced than is required

homework policy under review with school committee policy subcommittee

FEA has some interest to work with the District on

climate and culture is the 3rd objective
update provided by Maureen
looking to enhance the feedback so it doesn't come from the principal to the teacher but would mostly come from peer to peer
interest based bargaining underway with the teachers union (FEA)

4th objective is around engagement with the community
Oak St is an example, parents did not understand the programs
the School Council planned for parent workshops to take place before the open house
very active Twitter accounts
can still grow the communication, teachers can be overwhelmed with the introduction of the various tools that are available; looking to go to an all Google platform which also includes a parent portal

Peter Light - I have never meet a harder working staff than what we have here in Franklin. There is a saturation point. we are looking to streamline the platform abudance by getting to Google

Bilello - another budget item where we don't have a full time technology leader or integration specialist to help us navigate through this


Live reporting: Foreign Language Overview



b. Foreign Language Overview – Laura Evans



creating "can do" statements for curriculum
focus on proficiency skills and will be built on from year to year

Shannon Martin - French Teacher

proficiency, and working vertically to achieve this
diverse resources used
one to one device at the high school, esp for technical tools

voice recorders, students record their voice, can review and play back to practice, or also submit to teacher for review

interactive games esp online are good for confirming learning as well as practice

enrichment via Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube used to hep continue learning outside of the classroom

use of authentic materials (rather than the text book)

more students are electing to continue beyond the college requirement

Stephanie Ahern, Emily Day
middle school Spanish Club

Pulsera project sold over 450 bracelets to raise over 2400 for artists in Nicaragua

Loreen and Briana - students at FHS
academic honor society

raised money with recycling bottles and cans, over $1000 raised
planning a Fiesta Friday for the whole school
Spanish themed food and events

Latin National Honor Society
while they don't speak in Latin at the meeting, there are cultural discussions and presentations, sharing interests
a new club (last year)
Saturnalia party held recently
tutoring project
working on a Heifer Project 

national convention held in Boston
whole department was enabled to go

Twitter chats around specific topics help to keep current

would love to see languages start as early as kindergarten
would love to see languages expand beyond Spanish French and Latin

Bilello - something I had not known much about but know that I have a child in the program, there is so much going on. How does starting earlier impact proficiency scores?

Bergen - we did have this program and it was lost over the years. To add more languages, it would require budget money

Jewell - is there any chance where we can have kids go oversees where kids can get immersed in the language?

World Challenge - previously held in the high school self funded by the students (not parents), organized and planned by students, some went to Ecuador, was a life changing experience for those who did it per Peter Light

O'Malley - it is most impressive to me that we don't just teach them and wait for them to come back again. The extension program is wonderfully interactive


Live Reporting: School Committee - Jan 10, 2017

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


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments - none
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the December 13, 2016 School Committee Meeting. 
recommend approval, seconded, passed 7-0

Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

Nicolas Gnaman
a lot going on during the break
basketball event, Coaches vs. Cancer - raised $$$
wrestling, girls swim 4-0
girls track beat Mansfield
Frosh-Soph meeting on Sunday
academic team and mock trial scrimmaging to prepare
OSKEY coming up, planning underway (mid-Mayish)
Central Districts festival this weekend

Alexander Chitarra (absent - sports commitments)

Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Representative Jeffrey Roy
thank you for the opportunity to be here
sworn in as State Representative for 3rd term

congratulations to Maureen on your wind up
in my ten years on the committee, I'd worked with 4 superintendents
and you were good to work with

bills and priorities as topics for next session
Jan 20 filling deadline for this term

teen sexting bill stall in Ways and Means committee, looking to refile
addressing the situation as a request from the police to provide some options on what charges would be/could be filed against the teen offenders

student data privacy bill being crafted to meet needs of parents and students
don't want to turn schools into marketplaces 

annual physicals include evidence of screening by personal physicians rather than have the schools

looking for a driving course with actual practice sessions rather than just classroom instructions

curriculum frameworks for genocide, civics, and 

conference in Dec, walked away with info on IEP and individualized instruction
to bring it to ILP for all students currently voluntary for school districts

working with the manufacturing caucus
renaissance of manufacturing within MA is alive and well
want to close to universities where innovators are
need 100,000 highly skilled folks but don't have the people ready and qualified for these positions
Tegra Medical is one local Franklin manufacturer that is looking
announcement coming in Feb of program to help with this need

SAFE Coalition working to address opioid crisis

What is happening with the foundation budget?
that requires funding, money is in short supply?
but folks are talking about it

May 7 - Horace Mann statue scheduled for dedication, 2:00 PM

Bilello - thank you for all the work that you do for us and Medway especially with funding for education
technology costs money and it costs to keep it updated

Roy - as part of the student data privacy bill it did contain a provision for a specialist at the school district and it was removed, it is not the best way to spend the local district money

Bergen - thanks for the emphasis on the civics and genicide
bigger mental health issue, counselors 

Roy - human services funding some assistance on student loan repayment

Schultz - what can we do as a SchCom to help the foundation budget discussion?

Roy - keeping an open mind is probably one key, in a discussion on the individualized instruction, how important is class size in that discussion? That is a discussion that needs to take place, consider that. I am not an expert in the science of class size. It is one way to save money

O'Malley - I was here when the foundation budget started in 93 and it was talked of getting fixed in 94, it has been around a long time but hasn't been done? Why? Everything is changing and not to the inexpensive side of things. How can we get the urgency of our voice to the state house

Roy - I assure you that the urgency has been heard, at the same time that this was introduced a series of tax cuts were introduced to remove $3B in tax revenues, there is not any appetite in increasing taxes. Some folks have a glamorous view of what we are getting and we are paying for it. I worked on the road bill, it went to the voters and the $10B bill was turned down. So we now need to fund the roads from the same fund as education. If you are not prepared to pay for these things, you can't come to the Legislature and say what are you doing

O'Malley - the victims of all of this is our children



Franklin High School Placed on the College Board's 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll for Significant Gains in Student Access and Success

Franklin High School is one of 433 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included on the 7th Annual Honor Roll, Franklin High School increased the number of students participating in AP courses while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.

"This recognition is evidence of the collective effort our PreK-12 administration and teachers to establish high academic expectations for all students. This is not only a HS honor but it recognizes the efforts of all PreK-12 educators and their commitment to expanding options and opportunities for all students. This distinction reaffirms our core values that a rigorous yet inclusive educational program raises achievement for all students", noted Dr. Sabolinski, Superintendent of Schools.

National data from 2016 show that among black/African American, Hispanic, and Native American students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be equitably opened. Franklin Public Schools is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

"Congratulations to all the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked so tirelessly to both expand access to AP and also to help students succeed on the AP Exams," said Trevor Packer, the College Board's head of AP and Instruction. "These teachers and administrators are delivering real opportunity in their schools and classrooms, and students are rising to the challenge." 

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.

In 2016, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admission process.

Inclusion on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, looking across 37 AP Exams, including world language and culture. The following criteria were used.

Districts must:

  • Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4% in large districts, at least 6 % in medium districts, and at least 11% in small districts;
  • Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and
  • Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2016 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2014 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students earn a 3 or higher.


When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30% or more are underrepresented minority students (black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native) and/or 30% or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

Franklin High School
Franklin High School
More information about FHS can be found on their webpage
http://franklinhigh.vt-s.net/Pages/index

More information about Franklin, MA Schools can be found on their webpage
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 10, 2017

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."


Call to order Dr. O’Malley
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence
the key to learning
the key to learning

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the December 13, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

  1. Nicolas Gnaman
  2. Alexander Chitarra

Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Representative Jeffrey Roy
b. Foreign Language Overview – Laura Evans
c. DIP/SIP Program Reports – Joyce Edwards

3. Discussion Only Items
none

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of the ACCEPT Annual Report for 2015-16.
b. I recommend acceptance of the BICO Annual Report for 2015-16.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $5,100.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment for the district.
d. I recommend acceptance of the following checks totaling $8,470.90 for FHS as follows:

  1. $1,800.00 Music Boosters for in-house enrichment
  2. $789.90 All American Publishing for in-house enrichment
  3. $50.00 Jesse Southwick for Mr. Kitanosono scholarship
  4. $50.00 Lueders Environmental Inc. for Mr. Kitanosono scholarship
  5. $330.00 Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment
  6. $250.00 from various donors for the J Schaeffer Scholarship
  7. $1,500.00 from Walmart for in-house enrichment.
  8. $3,701.00 from Vicario Studios for in-house enrichment


5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

  • Budget Sub Committee – 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