In the News: Project Pink Patch in Franklin; Circle of Friends Concert Oct 6

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

"Their members have an obligation to serve and protect, but caring is also big part of being on the Franklin Police force. 

For the first time, officers have the option to add a pink patch to their uniforms in order to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A few officers are already sporting the patches, but soon all of the department’s officers will be adorned with the powerful patch. 

Project Pink Patch, according to Sgt. Brian Johnson, was started on the West Coast. 

“There are a lot of area stations that do this,” said Johnson. “They ‘Pink it out’ they call it. They change the color scheme of the badge around and some even put the pink ribbon in there.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181001/franklin-officers-to-wear-pink-patches-in-honor-of-breast-cancer-awareness-month

"Franklin’s Circle of Friends Coffeehouse will host a concert featuring Joe Jencks with Katherine Rondeau on Saturday, Oct. 6. 

Some highlights 

1 Franklin’s Circle of Friends Coffeehouse will host a concert featuring Joe Jencks with Katherine Rondeau on Saturday. 

2 Jencks is an international touring musician, award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist known for his performances of musical beauty, social consciousness and spiritual exploration."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181001/franklins-circle-of-friends-to-host-top-folk-songwriter

Attention businesses: survey "on employer-specific issues"

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

"For a sixth consecutive year, businesses throughout the MetroWest and Milford regions have been invited to weigh in on factors affecting their companies through an online survey. 

The 495/MetroWest Employer Survey and Forecast is being conducted by the 495/MetroWest Partnership, Framingham State University and the MetroWest and Milford Daily News. 

Paul Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership - a Westborough-based public-private association that advocates for economic development, transportation and a skilled workforce in the region - said the survey was formed about five years ago with an initial goal of gauging employers’ confidence in the region’s business climate. 

“It was designed to be similar to AIM’s monthly survey, except to be focused on our region,” Matthews said, in reference to the statewide Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Survey, which has been conducted monthly since 1991."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181001/employers-we-need-your-help-to-gauge-local-business-climate

"The survey runs for roughly a month, from Oct. 1 through Nov. 3, and can be accessed through several links, including one through the the MetroWest Daily News, https://www.research.net/r/495SurveyMWDN. Respondents can expect to complete it in 5 to 7 minutes, Matthews and Harrison said.

Results will be released on Nov. 30."

https://www.495partnership.org/

Franklin Federated Church - Yard Sale - Oct 13

Franklin Federated Church 
Yard Sale

Saturday, October 13

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

We are looking for new and gently used CLEAN donations of books, toys, clothes, household items, small furniture, jewelry, unique items, and antiques.

Last day to donate is October 6  (Please do not wait to DONATE)

Regretfully, we cannot sell computers or monitors, televisions, large exercise equipment, car seats, cribs, mattresses, upholstered furniture, skis, encyclopedias, and stuffed animals.

Donations can be left outside behind the church on the right side or inside the youth room as indicated.

Please Do Not Block the Doors!

Franklin Federated Church - Yard Sale - Oct 13

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z1LpZ1dBqbKvQFypyhb1FG52ljAsWtGH/view?usp=sharing

School Committee - Sep 25, 2018

The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting held on Sep 25, 2018.


Superintendent's Report

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_september_25_2018.pdf

EdLeader 21
Dr. Edwards is not here this evening. She is off site attending a professional development conference with EdLeader 21. This group is an extension of the former Partnership for 21st Century Skills and is a big part of our district initiative on development of engaging curriculum and personalized learning. When she returns, we will be kicking off our efforts to engage with School Committee and the community in the development of Franklin’s Portrait of A Graduate, which is an exciting part of our District Strategy for Improvement.

Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium
I would like to provide a follow-up communication to the community about the Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium. Last Tuesday, during the heavy rains and flash flooding, the interior courtyard at HMMS became flooded with water due to clogged drainage. A large amount of water seeped into the school and settled in the pit of the auditorium, flooding the stage, and seeping into the entrance to the band room. Clean up services have been employed who have been spending the last week mitigating the damage, drying the spaces, and engaging in repair efforts.

The drywall in the entrance to the band room has been removed and water under the instrument storage cubbies was dried. The service company will come in and repair the sheetrock, like they did previously in Keller last year. Everything will be repaired in accordance with safe practices in the prevention of mold growth. The carpet in the auditorium has also been dried. It is a “backed” carpet, with protection on the underside, so there are no mold concerns about growth underneath. The auditorium stage is drying well. The Facilities department is optimistic that the floor can be sanded and refinished, which is a quicker fix than pulling up the boards for repair. They will reassess at the end of the week to confirm and we will keep the Committee apprised.

Franklin Cultural District Site Visit
The Franklin Public Schools participated in the Franklin Cultural District’s Site visit with the Massachusetts Cultural Council last Thursday, September 20. This site visit evaluates the district’s application towards a designation as a Cultural District. Along with other partner members, FPS attended the site visit meetings at the library and Franklin Historical Museum. 

We also hosted a brief tour at the high school. Dr. Edwards, Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Ms.Plouffe, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. Nayler brought them through to see the highlights of the high school and the fine and performing arts areas. We toured the TV studio, music practice spaces, art classrooms, the 3D art installation in the courtyard, the art display cases, and the auditorium. Thank you so much to our educators for showing off the investment we make in the fine and performing arts for both our students as well as the greater Franklin community.

The documents released for the meeting can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-25-2018-packet-documents

ECDC School Improvement Plan - Update from Franklin Matters

Elementary Schools Improvement Plan - Update from Franklin Matters

The elementary school principals ready to present at the School Committee meeting

• Live reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-consent-agenda-to-closing.html
• Live reporting: Information Matters
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-information-matters.html
• Live reporting: Discussion - Action Items
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html
• Live Reporting: Elementary School Improvement Plan...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-elementary-school.html
• Live Reporting: School Committee - Sep 25,2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-school-committee-sep.html

The agenda for the School Committee

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-sep_23.html

Town Council - Sep 26, 2018

The recap of the Town Council meeting held on Sep 26, 2018

The Council approved the Appointment of Kaye Kelly to the Franklin Cultural Council ​with a term expiration of June 30, 2021. ​Approved 9-0.

The Council approved Resolution 18-51 to renew the Verizon Cable License with the Town of Franklin with a license term of 5 years . Approved 9-0

The Council approved resolution 18-53 to amend the FY19 Library Budget from $126,519,822 to $126,618,521 by raising and appropriating funds in order to increase the FY19 Library budget from $900,301 to $999,000, ensuring for the first time in a over a decade the Town does not have to apply for a waiver of the Minimum Appropriation Requirement (MAP) with the state. Approved 9-0.

The following two actions allow the Town of Franklin to hire five police officers whose salaries would be funded from the overtime money saved by the change in hours per the memorandum. The unions did this for two reasons; one to keep some one to staff the police station when the regional dispatch operations starts in 2019 and two to add folks to the street patrol.

The Council approved resolution 18-54 to ratify the Memorandum of Agreement between the Franklin Police Association and the Town of Franklin, 4X4- Ten Hour Per Day Work Rotation. Approved 9-0.

The Council approved resolution 18-55 to ratify the Memorandum of Agreement between the Franklin Police Sergeants Union and the Town of Franklin, 4X4- Ten Hour Per Day Work Rotation. Approved 9-0.

The complete actions taken document can be found online
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zQBDmJuO4X4HyNtu1j7sPWlsLaeoAgiX/view?usp=sharing


My notes reported live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: To Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-to-closing_26.html
• Live reporting: Legislation for Action
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-legislation-for-action_26.html
• Live reporting: Public Hearing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-public-hearing.html
• Live reporting: Town Council - Sep 26, 2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-town-council-sep-26-2018.html

Town Council - Sep 26, 2018

SAFE Community Forum - Weds, Oct 3 - 7:00 PM

Join the Safe Coalition on Wednesday, Oct 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. You can hear Shared Recovery Stories, Grandparents Role in Recovery from SUD, Outreach Talks on Alcoholism, Recovery News, and Upcoming Community Events,

SAFE Community Forum - Weds,Oct 3  7:00 PM

For more about the SAFE Coalition, visit their web page    http://www.safecoalitionma.org/

Franklin Veterans Memorial Walkway - construction begins

On Saturday, September 29, the construction of the Franklin Veterans Memorial Walkway began with the opening of the walkway path. 

Work will continue through October in preparation of the Dedication on Veterans Day, 11 November at 1:30 PM on the Town Common.

Franklin’s Veterans Service Officer thank the DPW crew and Building Commissioner for their work to begin the construction.

preparing the walkway

digging for the foundation

done for the day

The Brick order form  https://post3402.org/documents

Make checks payable to Franklin VFW Post 3402