Franklin School Committee recap - June 11, 2019

The School Committee meeting of Tuesday, June 11, can be summarized as follows:

The Superintendent's Report can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_june_11_2019.pdf

    

FEF Presentation

Franklin Education Foundation: Update Presentation from Franklin Matters

SEPAC Presentation

Franklin SEPAC Update to School Committee from Franklin Matters

Student Services Tiered Focus

Franklin Public Schools: Tiered Focus Monitoring Report from Franklin Matters

Student Services SEL Improvements Preliminary Report

Franklin Public School: Preliminary Findings - Improving SEL from Franklin Matters

Additional details can be found in my notes reported live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: Information Matters through to Clo...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-information-matters.html
• Live reporting: Discussion / Action items
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html
• Live reporting: Presentations - FEF, SEPAC, and St...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-presentations-fef-sepac.html
• Live reporting: School Committee - June 11, 2019
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/live-reporting-school-committee-june-11.html

FEF meeting schedule for the coming school year 2019-2020

FM #166 - Special Town Council Mtg 6/12/19

FM #166

This internet radio show or podcast is number 166 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the special Town Council meeting held on June 12, 2019. As I was coming down the stairs from the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on the third floor of the Municipal Building, I realized that the Town Council was gathering for a meeting that had not yet come to my radar.

Town administrator Jamie Hellen describes the search process

new Fire Chief James G McLaughlin listens intently

A quick search showed that this was a ‘special’ meeting just called for the primary purpose of allowing the Town Council to approve the appointment of James G McLaughlin as the Fire Chief.

The search to replace Chief McCarragher (now retired) I knew had been underway. It turns out that apparently the search finalized since the Council meeting on the 12th and since the new chief was going to be away for the next Council meeting (6/26), they called a ‘special’ meeting for this purpose.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording (approx 40 minutes).





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Additional References:

My notes for the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/franklin-fire-chief-approved-james-g.html

Town Council Agenda
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/june_12_2019_special_town_council_meeting.pdf

Town Council Actions Taken
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_june_12_2019.pdf


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning, or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind, and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

FM #165 Economic Development Subcommittee 6/12/19

FM #165

This internet radio show or podcast is number 165 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting held on June 12, 2019.

The notes from the meeting along with the agenda and reference documents are linked to in these show notes.

After a brief update on three grants in process, the main portion of the meeting was the discussion with the Franklin High School students bringing the proposal to ban plastic bags back to the process. They have learned from their predecessors and are more prepared this time around.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording (approx 50 minutes).





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Additional Reference Links:

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/economic-development-meeting-recap-june.html

The agenda document for this session
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/edc_agenda_-_revised_6-12-19.pdf

House 771 was referenced during the discussion
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H771

The Boston Ordinance
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/final_plastic_bag_ordinance_11.29.17.pdf

WBUR Episode on the plastic bags
https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2019/05/08/ehrlich-house-massachusetts-plastic-ban

Plastic Film Recycling
https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/find-drop-off-location/



This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning, or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind, and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

FM #164 "Exploring Stone Walls" - Robert M Thorson

FM #164

This internet radio show or podcast is number 164 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Robert M. Thorson “Exploring Stonewalls” talk at the Franklin Historical Museum held on June 9, 2019. The presentation copy he used is linked to here so you can follow along.

Robert holding the piece of 'rock' actually melted steel that he talks about at the end of the presentation

Mary Olsson provides the introduction and closing to the talk at the Historical Museum.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes).

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d8f929c1-d2dc-42b8-a222-559643cbcc1a

 

"Exploring Stone Walls" by Robert M Thorson from Franklin Matters

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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning, or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind, and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.

Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

Franklin Public Schools: Safety Concern - Alert and Information

Dear Franklin Families,

Our apologies if you get this message twice, as we are experiencing technical difficulties.

We are writing to alert you of a situation that occurred in Franklin yesterday. The Franklin Police Department has issued a press release related to suspicious activity involving an encounter between a juvenile and a stranger on Oak Street. We want to be sure that you see it: https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/media-release-stranger-encounter-oak-street

We encourage you to hold a family discussion regarding personal safety and we ask that you have a heightened awareness of safety precautions for your children at this time.

The BFCCPS has kindly shared these resources with us, which may be helpful to you:

An article regarding child abduction prevention tips ranging from young children to teens from Parents Magazine.
https://www.parents.com/kids/safety/stranger-safety/talking-to-kids--teens-about-safety--abduction/

Parent tips on this site provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children  https://www.kidsmartz.org/ParentTips

We have taken measures to inform our crossing guards and our transportation company so that our crossing guards and bus drivers are aware and can be on heightened alert. If you would like to use an alternative form of dismissal for your child on Monday, please contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: Safety Concern - Alert and Information

“It’s like the foundation of a building. If you remove the foundation, the whole building is going to fall down”

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

"It’s estimated there are about 200,000 species throughout the world that are considered pollinators - animals that transfer pollen grains from one flower to another. Pollination leads to the production of fruits that people eat, and seeds that will create more plants. 

From the plump bumblebee to the chirpy hummingbird, the delicate monarch butterfly to the wide-eyed fruit bat, pollinators of all kinds play an important role in helping maintain the Earth’s biodiversity and agricultural systems. 

It’s estimated there are about 200,000 species throughout the world that are considered pollinators - creatures that transfer pollen grains from one flower to another. Pollination leads to the production of fruits that people eat, and seeds that will create more plants."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190615/pollinator-week-in-massachusetts-time-to-celebrate---and-protect---animals-and-plants-that-fuel-biodiversity

The Franklin Agricultural Commission has recently created a "pollinator pasture" at Dacey Fields:




Pollination Tips to help Horace
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/pollinator_pastures_with_horace_-_untitled_page.pdf

a "pollinator pasture" at Dacey Fields

Franklin (MA) Police: Stranger Encounter on Oak Street

On June 14, 2019 the Franklin Police were alerted to suspicious activity involving a juvenile student of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School. The juvenile reported that while walking on Oak Street, a male party in a vehicle approached her and motioned for her to come to the vehicle.

Thankfully in this incident a neighbor recognized the situation, and called the juvenile over to her. The child was not harmed in any way.

Over the last few weeks there have been reports in Franklin, and area communities of similar type occurrences. At this time we cannot say with any degree of certainty that these incidents are related other than they all involve school age children. Descriptions of suspects and vehicles are not consistent.

The Franklin Police are actively investigating these incidents. We encourage all parents to talk to their children about what to do if approached by strangers, and to practice safe strategies such as always having a friend with them, or moving with groups of people who they know.

At this time we are not issuing any alert for a specific vehicle or suspect. This message is just to alert the community of these incidents, and to remind parents and children to have a plan about what to do in the event they are approached by a stranger.

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/media-release-stranger-encounter-oak-street

Franklin Police - 911 Panther Way, Franklin