MassBudget: Report finds wage increases do not relate to drops in teen employment

Working teens' wages account for 18% of low-income families' income

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Report finds wage increases do not relate to drops in teen employment The economic security of lower income working families often depends not only on wages earned by parents, but also of working teens. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's new report, "Teens, Employment, and the Minimum Wage," finds that working teens in families with total incomes of less than $47,000 often bring in a significant share of their family income -- almost 18 percent. In addition to family necessities, many teens also face rising costs for college. 35.3 percent of recent high school graduates enrolled in college are also working. Studies have found, however, that students who work more than 20 hours a week tend to get lower grades and are less likely to graduate. The most rigorous economic studies have found minimum wage increases have little or no effect on employment rates. To read the full report, 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

Jamie Barrett plays a Holiday Sing Along at the Library

Still have the Christmas spirit? Go to the Franklin Library, Tuesday, Dec 26 at 1:00 PM for a  Holiday Sing Along with Jamie Barrett

Jamie Barrett plays a Holiday Sing Along at the Library

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/jamie-barrett-holiday-sing-long

Merry Christmas

Please enjoy the time with your family and friends today.

If you need to do some reading, feel free to scroll through the archives. You can find the archives in one of the columns on the right side of the webpage. They run back more than 10 years. Pick a date and see what was happening then!

For today, we'll share some December 2017 photos

the weight of the ice has bent these trees

frosted holly 

on the Town Common in a recent snow

"Hat's off to Franklin" at the Historical Museum

Franklin Federated Church at night

one of my favorite photos, the Single Solder monument on the Town Common

the WWI dough boy on the Town Common

Town Common at sunset

Franklin tackling school start times the people way

Franklin has started out on the right foot by inviting you, the stakeholders, to participate in the discussion and study to "study the feasibility of adjusting school start times in Franklin based on current research related to children and sleep."

You have likely heard that the Boston Public Schools attempted to take a systematic, yes, using a mathematical algorithm to develop school start times. The team was highly qualified but as the news has been touting left out conversations with all the stakeholders until after the new start times were developed. The Boston school start times implementation has now been canceled.

It will be different in Franklin. The stakeholders will be at the table first to study, review, discuss, and ultimately "present their findings and possible recommendations for the School Committee to consider."  

What does the timeline for the Advisory Committee look like?

• Applications accepted through Jan 17, 2018
• Committee appointments approved by School Committee at Jan 23, 2018 meeting
• Advisory Committee starts work in Feb 2018
• Meet approximately twice a month (one full group meeting, one subcommittee meeting), exact times and schedules TBD
• Present recommendation to School Committee January 2019

You have several options:

1. Sign up to take part as a member of the Advisory Committee (sign up info below)
2. Participate in as many of the public meetings there will be to observe and have your say (meeting schedule TBD)
3. Follow along as Franklin Matters reports on the meetings and progress of the Advisory Committee (subscribe via email to ensure you get all the info  http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html)

I would encourage you to consider the first and second options. You can then also help to craft and add to the reporting on the third option.

The conversation about to begin will help Franklin prepare for what it will look like in 2028. What is 2028? The 250th anniversary of its founding.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/11/what-will-franklin-be-like-in-2028.html

school start times would likely change the bus schedules. Boston attempted
to save money that way. What will happen in Franklin remains to be seen.

------------

Hello

The purpose of the School Start Times Advisory Committee will be to study the feasibility of adjusting school start times in Franklin based on current research related to children and sleep. The Advisory Committee will be considering any proposed changes within the local context. Representatives from the Advisory Committee will present their findings and possible recommendations for the School Committee to consider. Changes to school start times, if any, are to be decided by the Franklin School Committee.

The commitment for this committee is expected to be two meetings per month, most likely in the evenings. The committee is planned for the 2018 calendar year, with a presentation to School Committee planned for January, 2019. All activities of this committee will be subject to the Open Meeting Law.

If you would like to apply to be a member of the Advisory Committee, please fill out this form. The deadline to complete this form is Wednesday January 17, 2018 at 5 PM. Appointment of committee members by School Committee is scheduled to be made at the January 23, 2018 School Committee meeting.


Click on this link to apply: https://goo.gl/forms/stAh38Ok8637KwkG2

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

Additional Resources

an archive of school start times articles
http://www.startschoollater.net/news-archives.html


The Boston School Superintendent statement on canceling the start times change  (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/22/read-statement-from-tommy-chang-new-start-times/1gEkL1rxYy7M5JW3j08uwN/story.html


The Boston Globe article on canceling the start times change  (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/12/22/boston-schools-boss-halts-plan-change-school-start-times/Z0pAKKcF3ggCL0mkgeBPiM/story.html

The Boston Globe article on the algorithm used to calculate the start time hours and resulting bus schedules  (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/12/22/don-blame-algorithm-for-doing-what-boston-school-officials-asked/lAsWv1Rfwqmq6Jfm5ypLmJ/story.html

Town Council Recap: Agricultural Commission confirmed; DPW presents; Concession Stand proposal heard

Only three votes were recorded on Wednesday, Dec 20 at the Town Council meeting. (1) The vote to approve the prior meeting minutes passed 9-0. (2) The vote to approve a change in hours for DeVita's Market passed 8-0-1. None voted against, Councilor Padula abstained. (3) The third and final vote was to adjourn the last meeting of 2017. Before the Council adjourned for the year, they did hear updates on the following topics:


Representative Jeff Roy announced that the Agricultural Commission had been formally signed by Governor Baker. He presented a copy of the official parchment along with the pen used to sign the legislation to Councilor Melanie Hamblen who was instrumental in getting the Agricultural Commission started.

Representative Jeff Roy and Councilor Melanie Hamblen

A presentation on the proposed new concession stand for the high school (Pisini Field) was reviewed and discussed. It has been conditionally approved by the School Committee (pending funding progress) and did not need a vote from the Town Council. The presentation was for community awareness. You can view the presentation copy in the links below or on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/concession_stand_proposal.pdf

Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, DPW Director along with Chris White, Solid Waste Coordinator and Scott Haynes, Arcadas Engineering presented an update on the Sewer system as well as the solid waste processing. The document used in the presentation can be found in the links below as well as on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/council_update_nov_17_sewer_and_trash_1.pdf

Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, DPW Director along with Scott Haynes, Arcadas Engineering
and Chris White, Solid Waste Coordinator

The official "Actions Taken" document can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_december_20_2017.pdf

• Live reporting: to Closing
• Live reporting: DPW presentation
• Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 20, 2017
• 
  

Wins all around Saturday: boys and girls hockey, wrestling and gymnastics - way to go FHS!

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, Dec 23, 2017


Boys Hockey = Franklin, 3 vs. Newburyport, 2 – Final
– Franklin scored a pair of goals over the final 65 seconds to score an improbable win against Newburyport. Trailing 2-1 with just over a minute to play, sophomore Tom Tasker scored to tie the game. Right off the faceoff, senior Jeremy Miller scored the game-winning goal. Senior Luke Downie put the Panthers on the board in the second period.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 3 @ Auburn, 1 – Final

Wrestling = Franklin, 70 @ Ashland, 0 – Final

Gymnastics = Franklin, 131.75 @ Taunton, 125.25 – Final
– Franklin opened its season with a win over Taunton. Junior Mia Lazotte was first in the All-Around with a 36.15, edging out Taunton’s Elise Ferreira (34.1). Lizotte was first in the vault (9.45), bars (8.30), beam (9.20) and floor (9.2). Franklin freshman Lexi Lupien scored an 8.45 on the vault, senior Liz Traphagen scored 8.05 on the bars and 9.1 on the floor, and junior Sadie Rondeau scored 8.40 on the beam for the Panthers. Freshman Katelyn Guidi also placed on the bars.


For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-23-17/

Via the Twitterverse

[Girls Winter Varsity Ice Hockey] Franklin HS defeats Auburn HS, 3 to 1. Goals by Carter, Dwyer and Paterson

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 24, 2017

[Boys Winter Varsity Wrestling] Franklin HS defeats Ashland HS, 70 to 0.

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 24, 2017

Varsity Final: Franklin- 70 Ashland- 0. Pins from Sauer, Remillard, Farrell, Racca, MacLean, Colella, Polito, Johnson, and Downing.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 23, 2017

Franklin scores 2 goals in the final 65 second to pull out a 3-2 upset over Newburyport. Hard hat to Tasker. G’s by Downie, Tasker and game winner by Miller @FHSSports @MassHSHockey @MyHockeyLive @In_The_Slot @HockomockSports @BGlobeSports @MetroWestSports

— Coach Spillane (@FHS_PuckCoach) December 23, 2017

Good afternoon of wrestling in Ashland. JV Final: Franklin-40 Ashland-24. Pins from Molloy, McKenna (2), Ross, and Colella.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 23, 2017

Franklin storms back to win 3-2 against Newburyport. Hardhat to Tommy pic.twitter.com/RZgQHR1YKk

— Franklin Hockey (@FHS_Puck) December 23, 2017

3-1 win vs Auburn!! Goals by Carter, Dwyer and Paterson 🥅 #LetsGoo

— FHS Girls Hockey (@fhsvgockey) December 23, 2017

Extra extra read all about. Here's the recap for today's win over Taunton. @lexilupien @mia_lizotte @srondeau117 @liztraphagen @katelynguidi pic.twitter.com/hIJROWT0la

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) December 23, 2017

Congrats to this awesome group of girls. We won our first meet! FHS 131.75 Taunton 125.25! I asked a lot out of this group over these past few weeks and it paid off! Way to restore the roar girls!! Stay tuned for shout outs!!

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) December 23, 2017

FHS Panthers

Your final chance to provide input to the Election Survey - it will close out Friday, Dec 29

Please take some time this week to respond. This will be your final chance to provide your input on the survey. We currently have just over 300 responses. 

We would like to hear from more who did not vote. We'll hold the survey open for the school vacation week and close it out on Friday, Dec 29, 2017.

To share the survey with your family, friends, and neighbors you can send the link to this post or use this easy to remember link: 
http://bit.ly/FranklinElectionSurvey2017

An open survey for the voters and residents of Franklin, MA to provide feedback on the recent Biennial Election. The voter 17% turnout was less than average. The information gathered here will hopefully improve the turnout for future elections. 

The survey is meant gather the information anonymously. However, if you would be willing to provide more in depth responses, there  is an option to leave your contact information at the end of the survey. 

This survey is being conducted by Steve Sherlock, Community Information Director (volunteer) for Franklin Matters. The information gathered by the survey will be shared and used as applicable to guide future informational sharing efforts.

Can we get more responses to the Election Survey? Please

The results as of 8:30 AM on Dec 23, 2017

Support Pisini Field - Franklin, MA

The High School Field Concession Stand has a GoFundMe page:

"Our Town is fortunate to have a state of the art athletic track and field (Pisini Field) to complement our new Franklin High School. Most afternoons, evenings, and weekends throughout the year the facility is utilized by either FHS or town sports teams. Pisini Field host many youth and high school programs such as, girl’s youth lacrosse, youth soccer, Franklin Chargers football, and spring track. Currently, there are no bathroom or sanitary facilities for this athletic facility which sees more use than any other athletic facility in our Town. 

Throughout the year, a number of portable toilets are situated adjacent to the new Franklin High School to accommodate the families and children participating in the sports at Pisini Field. With the high frequency of events at this facility, maintaining the cleanliness of these temporary bathroom facilities is virtually impossible and often creates unsanitary and embarrassing conditions. During large high school events such as football games, the Horace Mann School is opened and the bathrooms closest to the field can be used by the spectators at the game. However, this provides a minimal number of facilities and is still supplemented by the temporary bathroom facilities adjacent to our new high school. 

Our proposal will provide a bathroom facility as well as areas for storage and concessions. The number of actual toilets proposed far outnumbers the amount that has typically been made available (combining temporary and Horace Mann bathrooms) during the largest events at the field, and would also provide a small sanitary area to be used as a concession stand. This new facility would eliminate the need for the current temporary concession trailer, which is in severe dis-repair, poor sanitary condition, and an eye sore to the entire facility. 

Additionally, this new bathroom facility would be handicap accessible for both the concession area and sanitary facilities, which is not the case for the existing facility or temporary bathrooms. 

We expect the cost of the facility to be in the range of $250,000. In order to cover these costs of construction, we are hoping to raise donations of materials, labor and $. We’ve included a list of materials and labor items required to complete the construction (You can check out the drawings included here as well). Please pass this along to anyone who may be able to donate materials or time towards the project. For those unable to assist with material or time donations, we certainly appreciate any monetary contributions. Thank you for taking the time to read and with your support we can improve such a significant part of the Franklin community!

*Should you have any questions, please contact Michael Socci at msocci@masbuildingandbridge.com"

For additional information on the materials required, or to contribute to the fund raising, visit the GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/z35a8n-support-pisini-field-franklin-ma

Support Pisini Field - Franklin, MA

The proposal document as discussed at the Town Council meeting, Wednesday, Dec 20
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/high-school-concession-stand-proposal.html