“the best census ever, one that is complete and accurate”

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

"With just a few months left before America starts taking its biggest-ever self-portrait, the U.S. Census Bureau is grappling with a host of concerns about the head count, including how to ensure that it is secure and accurate and the challenge of getting most people to answer questions online.

All of that is on top of the main attention-grabber of the 2020 census so far — a citizenship question that was nixed by the Supreme Court, dropped by the Trump administration, resuscitated briefly and then abandoned again.

Beginning early next year, residents from Barrow, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, will be quizzed on their sex, age, race, the type of home they have and how they are related to everyone living with them.

At stake is the balance of political power in a deeply divided country, billions of dollars a year in federal funding and population data that will shape business decisions nationwide for years to come."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20190827/greatest-head-count-in-us-history-2020-census-is-nearly-ready-for-launch

Learn more at  Census 2020  https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census.html

“Adapting and changing can sometimes be scary"

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

"Carol Lynch has been packing school lunches for kids since the mid-1980s, first for her own children, then for her grandchildren. For her, buying lunch from school has never really been a consideration.

“It’s nothing against the lunches they serve,” said Lynch, who has helped raise two generations of children in the same Plymouth home. “For me, food has always been about family. No one can put personal touches on food like a parent or grandparent. (Whether it’s) a Thanksgiving meal or a quick school lunch, I just like to use food as a way of showing my love.”

But given all of the children across the state who do take part in their school’s lunch programs, food service departments have the complex task of designing menus that meet an ever-growing diverse student population. There are allergies and food restrictions, pressure to offer newer and healthier choices while also increasing participation rates (read: more revenue), and federal food guidelines that are changing under the current presidential administration.

“What’s on the menu today?” is more complicated now than ever before."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190828/school-lunches-balancing-act-to-satisfy-diverse-populations-loosened-regulations

“Adapting and changing can sometimes be scary"

The Franklin Food Services page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/food-services

The lunch menus for each school  https://franklindistrict.nutrislice.com/

Lunch payment accounts  https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home

"The new Franklin location will be their ninth"

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

"If Joseph and Mary Nocera were around today, the immigrant founders of The Chateau restaurant would probably feel right at home opening up a dining room in Franklin where they could share their beloved Sicilian cuisine.

One hundred seven years after their arrival in the states, that’s exactly what their descendants are planning, now that the Town Council has approved the necessary common victualler’s and all-alcoholic beverages license.

The councilors recently voted unanimously to grant the license to the popular family-style Italian restaurant.

Chateau President Joseph Nocera on Tuesday said the hope is to open the restaurant in the next few months."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190827/chateau-restaurant-aims-to-open-location-in-franklin

"The new Franklin location will be their ninth"

Live reporting: Consent agenda to closing

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes - I recommend approval of the minutes from your August 13, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. JFK Gift - I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,339.00 from the JFK PCC for supplemental supplies as detailed.
c. Music Gift - I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,785.05 from Music Parents for in- house enrichment as detailed. 
d. 2019 Student Activity Account Approval - I recommend approval of the 2019 Student Activity Accounts as detailed.

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0




8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence

12. Adjournment

motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 

Documents released for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-27-2019-school-committee-packet

Live reporting: Discussion / Action Items

returned from executive session to open meeting at 7:23 PM

motion to approve cafeteria worker contract agreement, seconded, passed 7-0 via roll call

 
3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Strategy for District Improvement – Annual Goals 2019-2020

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/discussion_actiona_-_dip_goals.pdf

cultural proficiency transcends the overall objectives for emphasis 

overall objectives remain the same but the individual strategic initiatives are different and refined for this school year

portrait of a graduate coming together with artistic development of materials for approval later this year

implementation of new homework guidelines to bring consistency across the district

identify a model, assess where they are, develop a plan to expand approaches to meet the model over time

"Seal of Biliteracy"

"it seems like a lot"
it is comprehensive, it does filter down into the district in different ways
did spend time on how to be deliberate about how and where this would be done


I recommend approval of the District Improvement Goals for 2019-2020 as discussed.

motion to approve, second, passed 7-0




4. Discussion Only Items
a. Draft Presentation Schedule for School Committee Meetings 2019-2020
calendar of meeting dates with presentations distributed among the sessions
recap pf FHS trip to Europe in October
 
ECDC revision of their report card, here for review before implementation possible in Jan/Feb
 

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Report

Budget - need to set meeting, develop 5 year plan

Community Relations
farmers market last week
at Harvest Festival, need to develop schedule of coffees
explore FHS gear at Festival

Policy - did meet, more policies coming

Public Schools Advocacy - conf for MASC coming up 
Joint PCC - no schedule just yet

Substance Abuse Task Force - Oct 1 first meeting

School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC] - Sep 24 first meeting

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items
middle school and FHS school improvement plans presentations
 

live reporting; school committee - executive session

11. Executive Session

a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA Cafeteria unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

motion to adjourn to executive session, seconded, passed 7-0 via roll call

to return to open meeting

Live reporting: School Committee - Aug 27, 2019

Present: Feeley, Linden, Douglas, Scofield, Bergen, Schultz, Zub
Absent: none


1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
no adjustments

b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

no citizen comments

c. FHS Student Representative Comments

d. Superintendent’s Report

really smooth opening of school today, faculty and staff back to school meeting Monday; recognized longevity benchmarks (10, 15, 20, 25 or more years of service)
235 earning professional teaching status, reception in the fall
Donna Grady, opening remarks on treating each other with kindness
validation of behavior that is already happening

admin team helped craft the message, formed during retreat this summer
cultural proficency in DIP later this evening
introduction with proper pronunciation of names

welcoming K students tomorrow
a few hiccups to iron out but overall a very smooth opening

last week at Town Council meeting did receive confirmation of additional funds, via state budget, allocated now versus later this fiscal year per processing internally within the Town; eliminated high school parking fee, and added back 2 K aides

Tyler Brogan won the High School Invitation mile at Falmouth recently with a race record

no school Friday, Aug 30 and no school on Monday, Sep 2 for Labor Day

Linden - thanks for inviting us to the welcome on Monday, well done





2. Guests / Presentations
a. Introduce New Administrators

Dr Kim Stoloski, Asst Director Student Services
Donna Krikorian, asst principal, Oak St
Michael Procacini, asst principal, Annie Sullivan
Jennifer Santosuosso, asst principal, FHS

b. New Faculty and Staff

listing in packet

still looking for nurses and substitutes for this school year