Tracy Novick works as a field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), and as a parent and resident of Worcester, MA, she was recently re-elected to the Worcester School Committee. She tries to explain the MA school funding formula/process in less than 10 minutes and comes close.
As you listen to this, substitute "Franklin" for "Worcester". We have one charter school, they have several. We have some Title 1 students, they have far more than we do.
I'd share the school budget numbers to plug in to replace the Worcester numbers but those are influx this year given the circumstances of the pandemic. You can find the 'current' and prior school budget info on the School Committee page: https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget
Video link = https://youtu.be/Vf_47iWxUZM
Tracy writes about the Worcester schools http://who-cester.blogspot.com/
For more about MASC visit https://www.masc.org/
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Zooming into the Future, Part 4
A small step forward – toward our new normal
by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 08/02/2020
On Wednesday evening the Town Council conducted its first meeting in Chambers since- uhh- (??) Yes, it was that long ago. We’re on Covid time, and the days, weeks, months are a bit fuzzier without the cadence of the Mon-Fri work week. Working from home is absent the normal familiar boundaries of time and space, doing what we must when we must. However, I am deliberately grateful. I can work. Those who can’t work from home are exposed to the viral threat. Those who have no work are exposed to financial hardship and ruin. I’m exposed to longer hours. I’ll take it. Gratitude is a rare moment in these times. We all owe it to ourselves to seek it.
I found it in abundance among our Town Council members on Wednesday evening. They were grateful to experience some sense of normalcy. They were grateful just to be back doing the work of the Council – in Chambers. They were grateful simply to be socially distanced yet socially together, while also being socially connected to others via Zoom. What is also notable is that they work as volunteers, stepping up and giving of their time in gratitude.
Those of us who can master the art of grace and gratitude for the small things – the things we took for granted – will fare better in our new normal.
And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.
Find the full program guide for this week http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
or this copy of the PDF
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yljeA0mlTFbVBI-FRdtRwc-7EzqJvIJi/view?usp=sharing
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| Zooming into the Future, Part 4 |
Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Club is Free EVERY Wednesday at 7:30 PM on ZOOM!
Let's Laugh Today Laughter Club is Free EVERY Wednesday at 7:30pm on ZOOM!
See www.letslaughtoday.com for link to the free ZOOM Meeting EVERY Wednesday at 7:30pm. All ages are welcome. You will laugh, clap, and breathe! You can sit or stand the entire time. It's a good time to try something new! Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Master Trainers, Bill and Linda Hamaker.
Here is the BOSTON CHRONICLE TV clip in case you missed it. It is three minutes long. https://www.wcvb.com/article/laughter-yoga-is-an-emotional-boost/32972798
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| Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Club is Free EVERY Wednesday at 7:30 PM on ZOOM! |
Veteran Employment And Housing Virtual Walk-In Clinic
Resources Available
*** Visit from any Device***
Join Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97525135152?pwd=VnpGRGE0Wmd6dmFEUDAxSnkwSWJyQT09
Meeting ID: 975 2513 5152
Password: 819142
Or Call: (929) 205 - 6099
Join Weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1 PM – 2 PM
Hosted by Volunteers of America
Download a copy of the flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yTojlNlDrwHRgg34HhtzbpwwvpTXVCnd/view?usp=sharing
- Employment Assistance
- Education & Training Resources
- Housing Programs
- Support Services
*** Visit from any Device***
Join Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97525135152?pwd=VnpGRGE0Wmd6dmFEUDAxSnkwSWJyQT09
Meeting ID: 975 2513 5152
Password: 819142
Or Call: (929) 205 - 6099
Join Weekly: Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1 PM – 2 PM
Hosted by Volunteers of America
Download a copy of the flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yTojlNlDrwHRgg34HhtzbpwwvpTXVCnd/view?usp=sharing
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| Veteran Employment And Housing Virtual Walk-In Clinic |
In the News: Police chiefs want seat at table; teachers union expresses concerns
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200801/police-chiefs-reform-needed-but-we-should-be-included?rssfeed=true
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200801/state-aid-accord-leaves-teachers-with-victory-but-also-concerns?rssfeed=true
"Local police say their departments already have access to an accreditation system. Police chiefs have kept the formerly state-run Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission operating since 2004, when the Legislature cut its funding just eight years after its creation.
Natick Police Chief James Hicks wishes more people understood that television police procedural dramas don’t accurately reflect his profession.
″‘Chicago PD,’ you see police officers who are skirting the rules, and it’s OK because at the end of the day, they look like heroes, and they save the day,” he said. ”(Actual officers) have to have the highest of integrity ... and they have to understand they’re totally under the microscope, as we should be.”
Moved by state and nationwide demands for reform following the deaths of people of color at the hands of police, Massachusetts lawmakers have proposed new legislation in recent weeks. Key to state reform is the idea of accreditation – creating a set of standards all police departments will have to follow."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200801/police-chiefs-reform-needed-but-we-should-be-included?rssfeed=true
"Saying school districts had expected state education aid could be cut by 10%, the Massachusetts Teachers Association late Friday called a new local aid level funding agreement a “major victory” and urged districts to recall about 2,000 educators and staff who had received layoff notices.
“The first thing districts must do is recall teachers and other staff who were pink-slipped due to budget fears,” Mass. Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy said in a statement. “To operate schools under any model will require more staff members, not fewer.”
The teachers union also expressed concerns about public higher education layoffs and revenue shortfalls and what it called a “hold” on the phase-in of an education funding law passed a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and upended the state’s finances.
“Although the schools’ budgets weren’t cut, they also did not receive the increases they would have received under the Student Opportunity Act,” MTA Vice President Max Page said. “That act addressed very real gaps in funding for low-income students and communities of color - gaps that are worse due to the pandemic.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200801/state-aid-accord-leaves-teachers-with-victory-but-also-concerns?rssfeed=true
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Franklin Public Schools: Return to School Plan - "remote setting for students in grades K-12"
August 1, 2020
Dear Franklin Families,
When August 1 comes, I always begin writing a back to school letter. This is like no other back to school letter and hopefully is one I only write once.
Yesterday, we submitted the Franklin Public Schools’ preliminary reopening plan to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The plan contained a summary of three instructional models that the Reopening Taskforce and Administrative Team have been developing: full in-person instruction with health and safety practices in place; a hybrid model of both in-person and remote learning with smaller cohorts of students alternating between the two; and a plan for fully remote instruction.
Numerous emails and phone calls came in over the week advocating for each model. Clearly, it is a difficult decision as not everyone will be pleased. Each model, in their own way, comes with significant impacts to families.
In the submission, I indicated that the plan for opening school in Franklin is to begin the year in a remote setting for students in grades K-12. Within this model, however, High Needs Students will be prioritized for in-person instruction, as required by DESE. Our preschool, ECDC, will communicate their plans in a follow up letter to preschool families.
Remote instruction for 2020-2021 will be considerably different and more “robust” than the emergency remote learning of the spring closure. FPS remote instruction will involve:
● a full day of instruction in order to meet the “structured learning time” requirements, sometimes referred to as the required number of days/hours of “time on learning” required by the state
● live instruction to students, while also building in screen breaks and low-tech learning experiences
● familiar instructional strategies as well as highly effective novel strategies leveraging technology
● grading of student work
● attendance and accountability
We have used CARES funding from the state to invest in additional Chromebooks in order to provide access to technology to all students.
By opening in a fully remote way, we will be able to spend the next several weeks building a strong virtual learning environment with an overall goal to have as many students and staff return safely to school. We will build towards a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction in a phased way. We will monitor the efficacy of remote learning and we will examine readiness for students to be present in-person at benchmark dates.
Please note that the start date of the school year will be delayed. The Commissioner of Education has reduced the required number of school days from 180 to 170 in order to allow districts to use the first ten days in preparation with our faculty and staff. Staff will be preparing for remote instruction and receiving training on health and safety practices. We anticipate school to begin on or about, but no later than September 16, pending School Committee approval of a revised calendar.
The Comprehensive Reopening Plan is not due to the state until later in August, however we wish to convey this information to you now for planning purposes.
We invite you to a family webinar on Tuesday, August 4 at 6 pm or Wednesday, August 5 at 7:30 am where you can learn more about our plans, rationale, answers to FAQs, and what instruction will look like. Please pre-register at the following links:
Tuesday, August 4 at 6 PM: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hpm_1UKCSCyKrPZEcVH0Aw
Wednesday, August 5 at 7:30 AM: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6Jd64pWnSjWrBoParD9UmQ
If sessions exceed the limit of 1000, additional ones will be scheduled.
We appreciate the difficulty of the situation we are all in. Health and safety is our first priority. We are also viewing this approach as the most educationally sound way to attend to the health and safety requirements while prioritizing the quality of instruction and we look forward to sharing more about our thinking in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools
Please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 508-553-4819 with questions. Alternatively, you can e-mail reopening@franklinps.net
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/august_1_reopening_update_families_1_1.pdf
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| Franklin Public Schools: Return to School Plan - "remote setting for students in grades K-12" |
Senior Center: Email Blast 7-31-2020
Hello Everyone and happy last day of July!
Staying Connected
Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc
Link to the Senior Center Calendar -https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/day/2020-07-07
Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/
August Events
Wed., Aug. 19: FIVE WISHES is a legally binding, advanced directive (living will), that lets you control your personal, emotional and spiritual wishes. This presentation is on Zoom at 1:00 p.m. If you aren't able to access Zoom our Nurse can call you to discuss the info one- on-one. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov or call 508 520-4945.
Mon., Aug.24: MEMORY CAFÉ at 3:00 p.m. on ZOOM, features the beautiful and engaging music of violinist, Lynn Canavan. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov
Thurs., Aug.27: FASHIONS OF HOLLYWOOD on ZOOM with Karen (Ren) Antonowicz of Spirits of Fashion at 1:00 p.m. Ren presents this fascinating look at the glamorous fashions of the silver screen during the '30s, '40s, '50s. Join us as we travel through the decades to enjoy a glimpse into the glamorous world of fashion. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov
Mon., Aug. 31: STEVE SHERLOCK - Talk Franklin Matters at 2:00 p.m. for all the latest Franklin news. To join us, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov
MINDFUL MEDITATION (ZOOM) CLASSES COMING SOON! Call for more info!
FREE QUILT RAFFLE: Take a free chance on this stunning, red, white and blue, hand-made quilt (see above). The winner will be picked on Sept. 18. Call the Center at (508) 520-4945 to sign up!
Tips
Sit and Get Fit with Paul Eugene
Positive Energy a guided meditation - Relaxing and beautiful positive inspiration
Music
Top hit songs from the 1940's - sure to get you up and tapping your toes
Honky Tonk tunes
Melody Gardot - From Paris With Love
Just for Fun
15 incredibly beautiful places you might not know exist
21 of the most unusual homes ever built. Which one would you like to stay in?
Most unusual vehicles. Some of these look fun!
Skywalk over the Grand Canyon. Would you walk on a glass skywalk 4000 feet over a canyon?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjEFNGgP-Q
Humor
Jeanne Robertson - A Mother's revenge - the red Porsche
Funny animal videos - guilty dogs
Kindness Matters
Animal survivors - incredible stories of animal's will to live and the people who saved their lives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDv2NkZCvvo
Tim McGraw - Humble and Kind video - this is sure to uplift you
Attached you will find:
- Paint/color by number fruit basket https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mdfZRBP37Q73Z-scwzJjh705W99_ilRz/view?usp=sharing
- Donna's fantastic and fun filled activity pages https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DWqKBbyZZ9cnNJSe2uyJY_HaR4tAdRox/view?usp=sharing
Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all! We are still here for you! Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!
Ariel & Donna
Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it. If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it.
SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES:
MONDAYS: ⇒ PUZZLE PICKUP & DONATIONS at 1:00 p.m. We have puzzles from 100 up to 1000-pieces! Call the Center at (508) 520-4945 to request one or arrange to pick up a puzzle with your curbside meal.
TUESDAYS: ⇒ AUDIO BOOK CLUB (Conference Call) on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. See page 4 for details. ⇒ CHAIR EXERCISE with Judith on ZOOM. Email: judivperez@gmail.com ⇒ CARDIO, STRENGTH & BALANCE CLASS at 11:00 a.m. with ZOOM. Email: judivperez@gmail.com ⇒ LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP CONFERENCE CALLS on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. See page 4. ⇒ QUARANTINI HOUR at 5:30 p.m. with ZOOM. Email: adoggett@franklinma.gov
WEDNESDAYS: ⇒ BE WELL COFFEE HOUR with Nurse Trish is offered with ZOOM at 11:00 a.m. To sign up, email: pcollatos@franklinma.gov ⇒ ZUMBA GOLD with Judith at 11:00 a.m. on ZOOM. Email: judivperez@gmail.com ⇒ WELLNESS CONSULTS BY PHONE OR VIDEO from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Email: pcollatos@franklinma.gov ⇒ MEDICAL EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION & DONATIONS at 1:30 p.m. Please call in advance to arrange pickup. ⇒ FIBROMYALGIA SUPPORT GROUP on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. Call for more info. ⇒ CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP is offered on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. via ZOOM. email: elaine.owens@verizon.net
THURSDAYS: ⇒ CHAIR EXERCISE with Judith at 10:00 a.m. on ZOOM. Email: judivperez@gmail.com ⇒ CARDIO, STRENGTH & BALANCE CLASS is offered at 11:00 a.m. on ZOOM. Email: judivperez@gmail.com ⇒ CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION GROUP invites new members for ZOOM Discussions at 10:00 a.m. For more information, email Matt Rovendro at: mrovendro@yahoo.com
FRIDAYS: ⇒ TOPS (TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS at 12:30 p.m. via ZOOM. The group provides support and encouragement. Join us by emailing: patdamour@yahoo.com
REMEMBER:
When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution! Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer. Many look like real sites. Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).
MEMORY CAFE!
For those of you who attend our Memory Cafe events I invite you to learn more about attending a VIRTUAL Memory Cafe through Zoom! There are many options to choose from.
Ariel Doggett
Virtual Program Coordinator
Respite Coordinator
"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll
There is no act of kindness too small
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| Senior Center: Email Blast 7-31-2020 |
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