MassBudget: Educated and Encumbered

Support for higher ed down since FY 2001, tuition and debt up

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. March 1, 2018 Educated and Encumbered: Support for higher ed down since FY 2001, tuition and debt up While the economic strength of Massachusetts is built largely on having the best-educated workforce in the nation, funding for public higher education has declined substantially since 2001. This has led to large increases in tuition, fees, and student debt. Those financial obstacles can limit opportunity for high school graduates, potentially weakening our state economy. In the past dozen years debt for graduates of four-year public colleges and universities has grown more rapidly in Massachusetts than in 48 of the 50 states. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's report, Educated and Encumbered: Student Debt Rising with Higher Education Funding Falling in Massachusetts, finds that per-pupil funding for public higher education has declined by 32 percent since 2001 in Massachusetts, funding for scholarships has declined at a similar rate, and per-pupil debt has increased 122 percent since the 2003-2004 school year. The average debt among public university graduates now almost equals that of students graduating from the state's private colleges and universities. The report finds that, by 2016, more graduates of public higher education had debt than graduates of private institutions - 73 percent compared with 54 percent. Since Fiscal Year 2001, the state's public higher education funding has decreased by about $3,000 per student in today's dollars while tuition and fees rose by about $4,600 per student in that same time. Read the full report 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

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI 3/2/18 - THU 3/8/18

FRIDAY 3/2/18
10am-12pm   Knitting Group @ Franklin Public Library
1:30pm   Mighty Girls Story Time @ Franklin Public Library
5:30pm   Heart with Hope Restorative Yoga (for parents and loved ones of those suffering from addiction) @ Sacred Tree Yoga, Norfolk
6-10pm   Party for a Cure - Kim Luccini Fundraiser for DF Marathon @ Elks Lodge
7pm   Yoga for Recovery @ Sacred Tree Yoga, Norfolk
7pm   ‘A Pirate’s Life for Me’ - BFCCPS Musical @ Horace Mann MS
8pm   The Black Box Local Artist Series: The Gershwin-Porter Songbook featuring Cindy Jones @ The Black Box

SATURDAY 3/3/18
9-10am   School Committee Coffee Session @ Franklin Public Library
10am-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
10:30am   Town of Franklin's 240th Birthday Celebration @ Franklin Historical Museum
12pm   FSPA Musical Theatre Showcase @ The Black Box
2pm   METG DramaFest Preliminaries, Franklin HS performing ‘Fahrenheit 451’ @ FHS
2pm   FSPA Musical Theatre Showcase @ The Black Box
2pm   ‘A Pirate’s Life for Me’ - BFCCPS Musical @ Horace Mann MS
8pm   Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Patty Larkin @ FUSF

SUNDAY 3/4/18
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Breakfast @ Franklin Rod and Gun Club
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
3pm   Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song @ Franklin Public Library

MONDAY 3/5/18
10am   Storytime (all ages, free) @ Fairmount Fruit Farm
10:30am   Move Along @ Franklin Public Library
11am   Book Discussion Group @ Franklin Senior Center
11am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
3pm  Monday Crafternoons @ Franklin Public Library

TUESDAY 3/6/18
10:30am   Get Ready For Kindergarten @ Franklin Public Library
11:15am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
6pm   Lenten Soup Supper and Book Study (weekly until March 21) @ St. John’s Episcopal Church
6:30pm   Canvas Paint Night @ Fairmount Fruit Farm
7pm   Franklin Garden Club Monthly Meeting - House Plant Success @ Franklin Senior Center
7pm   Friends Book Group @ Franklin Public Library

WEDNESDAY 3/7/18
10am   Animal Tales (for ages 2.5-5) @ Fairmount Fruit Farm
10am   Roulette Fun @ Franklin Senior Center
10:30am   Terrific Toddlers @ Franklin Public Library
11am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
4pm   Construction Junction @ Franklin Public Library
6:30pm   Franklin Art Association Meeting - demo by Kim Morin Weinick (meetings are free and open to public) @ Franklin Senior Center
6:30pm   Christian Zen Weekly Meditation @ McMahon Guest House (1061 Upper Union Street)
6:30pm   YA Dystopian Book Club @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Friends of Franklin Public Library Meeting @ Franklin Public Library

THURSDAY 3/8/18
9:30am   Baby Tummy Time @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library
11:15am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
12pm   Urban Sketching (no experience necessary) @ Franklin Public Library
1-6pm   American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Elks Lodge
1pm   Minds in Motion @ Franklin Senior Center
3:30pm   Discovery Workshop @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

Celebrate 40 Years of Excellence with Tri-County - Apr 7

Tri-county Regional Vocational Technical High School

40th Anniversary Celebration and Benefit

SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018 - FROM 6 PM TO 9 PM

6 - 7 PM Vocational Shops Open
7 - 9 PM Hors D’Oeuvres and Cash Bar

Entertainment will be provided
Donation: $75.00 per person*

To purchase tickets go to: www.tri-county.us/40yearcelebration

Download a flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczUzg5V0JGZFg1Y0d1VHB6NEFrUy1xanB1OGZ3/view?usp=sharing

 Celebrate 40 Years of Excellence with Tri-County - Apr 7

FHS boys basketball advance in playoffs with a 79-49 win

Joe Clark, HockomockSports.com Student Reporter provides the game recap for the FHS boys basketball opening playoff win against Lincoln-Sudbury.

"In last year’s D1 Central Quarterfinals, Franklin survived a major scare from Acton-Boxboro en route to a 59-52 win. This year, Franklin made sure that scare never came, as the top-seeded Panthers played a near-perfect game from start to finish in a 79-49 win over #8 Lincoln-Sudbury. 

“This year, we talked about that [the Acton-Boxboro game] at practice and said how you can’t walk in and look at your number one seed and think that’s going to do the job and get you to win games, you have to go out and show why you earned that seed, be the team you have been all season that’s put you in the great position you’re in now, and I thought we did that tonight,” said Franklin coach CJ Neely about his team’s performance. 

Franklin started the game out on a 10-2 run that included five points from Matt Elias (seven points), but L-S went on a 5-0 run behind threes from Kahmari Williams (11 points) and Jack Sorbo to cut the Franklin lead to 10-8 midway through the first quarter. 

But Franklin dominated the rest of the half, using a 30-9 run, highlighted by 11 points and three steals from Paul Mahon (19 points, four steals) and seven points off the bench from Will Harvey. The run gave the Panthers a 40-17 halftime lead."

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-cruises-past-l-s-in-postseason-opener/

Franklin senior Paul Mahon takes a three-point shot against Lincoln-Sudbury. (Peter Raider/HockomockSports.com)

Register now for Community Arts Advocacy Day 2018!

Join us for a day of grassroots advocacy and educational workshops for arts & culture organizations.

Register now for CAAD2018! Action and IMPACT: Community Arts Advocacy Day 2018 is a multi-town event bringing together artists, art advocates, cultural organizations, and local businesses to participate in a day of grassroots activism and education. Agenda:  8:00 - 9:00          Registration, Breakfast and Networking 9:00 - 9:10           Welcome Address 9:10 - 9:25           Why Advocate? 9:25 - 9:40           MASSCreative: Advocating for Public Funding for the Arts, Arts Education and Public Art 9:40 - 10:00        Creative Break to Advocate…grassroots advocacy activities 10:10 - 11:10        Educational Workshop Session 1 11:20 - 12:20       Educational Workshop Session 2 12:30 - 1:15          Lunch and Meet Your Reps … talk about the arts with legislators while noshing 1:25 - 2:25           Panel Discussion: How to Drive Community Engagement 2:25 - 2:30          Wrap Up Workshops: How to Attract and Keep Volunteers Marketing for Arts Organizations How to Build Community Partnerships Social Media Basics Grant Budget Planning for Non-Profits Creating a Successful Arts/Business Partnership Event Developing a Social Media Strategy Ask the Experts: Grants and Budgets Leveraging PR and Email Marketing The Ins and Outs of How to Advocate for the Arts, with MA Representative Jeff Roy Panel discussion: How to Drive Community Engagement   Register Now Copyright © 2018 Franklin Cultural Council, All rights reserved. Received this from a friend? Subscribe to our email list. Our mailing address is: 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Questions? Contact FCC Chair Stacey David at franklinculturalcouncil02038 [at] gmail.com

SOAR at BBC's St. Patty's Party - Mar 17

SOAR at BBC's St. Patty's Party

Hosted by SOAR and British Beer Company Franklin

Saturday, March 17 at 9 PM - 12 AM

SOAR at BBC's St. Patty's Party - Mar 17

What is SOAR?
We are a teen rock band focused on classic rock songs by artists ranging from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and everything in between.

Who are the SOAR band members?
Jaylyn: Vocals and Keys
Mitch: Bass
Theresa: Vocals and Guitar
Tyler: Guitar, Bass and Vocals
Will: Drums, Drums and more Drums

Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Soaringband/

Follow the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/540822302948541/

“Our success has come about from our partnering within the region"

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

"For almost 15 years, Paul Matthews has been hearing from companies about the challenges of the 495/90 interchange. 

But last year the long-standing project to fix the interchange entered its design phase with $227 million set aside in the state’s capital plan. 

Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, said enhancing the project is key for the region’s economy. The interchange is vital for companies to transport products and raw materials and for their employees’ commutes, he said. 

“It is in its final design stage,” Matthews said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180301/495metrowest-report-highlights-success-in-regional-economy

For more about the 495/MetroWest Partnership, visit them on the web
http://www.495partnership.org/

The "Strength in Numbers" report for 2017 can be found here
http://www.495partnership.org/strength-in-numbers-2017

495/MetroWest Partnership