Sunday, August 9, 2020

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda = Aug 11, 2020


I.            Routine Business

A.      Review of Agenda

B.      Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters 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. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening. ” - from Policy BEDH

 

C.      FHS Student Representative Comments

D.     Superintendent’s Report

II.            Guests/Presentations

A.      Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Reopening Plan

III.             Discussion/Action Items

A.      Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Reopening Plan

I recommend the adoption of the Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Reopening Plan, which may be updated and amended in its implementation.

 

Presentation  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/reopening-presentation

Re-opening Plan https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-action-reopening-plan

 

B.      2020-21 Revised School Calendar

I recommend the adoption of the revised 2020-2021 School Calendar as discussed.

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-action-b-revised-calendar

 

C.      Policy 2nd Reading/Adoption

I recommend adoption of Policy FA – Facilities Development Goals as discussed.

IV.             Discussion Only Items

A.      None

V.            Information Matters

A.      School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)

B.      School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council)

 

VI.                New Business

A.       To discuss any future agenda items

 

VII.               Consent Agenda

A.       Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your July 28, 2020 School Committee meeting as detailed.

B.      Transfers

I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.

C.      Jefferson Surplus Materials

I recommend declaring the attached list of Jefferson materials as surplus.


D.     Executive Session Minutes

I recommend approval of the Executive Session Minutes from the following School Committee Meetings:

July 14, 2020 Executive Session Minutes to be released 

July 28, 2020 Executive Session Minutes to be released

 

VIII.            Payment of Bills                                                                                  Dr. Bergen

IX.                Payroll                                                                                                 Ms. D’Angelo

 

X.                  Executive Session

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

Return to Open Session

XI.                Adjournment

 

The agenda doc is found online

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-81120


The meeting packet can be found

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-11-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet


Franklin, MA: School Committee -  Meeting Agenda = Aug 11, 2020
Franklin, MA: School Committee -  Meeting Agenda = Aug 11, 2020

Franklin Public Schools: Superintendent's message on Re-opening Plan

 August 3, 2020 

Dear Franklin Community, 

The overarching goal of the Franklin Public Schools at this time is to return as many students and staff as safely as possible to our school buildings. The health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic is our number one concern. With school closures come learning loss and negative impacts on social-emotional health and the Franklin Public Schools, in our quest to reopen schools, will prioritize both the quality of education and social-emotional growth and development. While we do not believe that remote learning will ever replace full in-person school, we plan to begin the year using a predominantly remote model. We believe both social-emotional and academic learning progress is independent of the way in which it is delivered and that in-person learning will be so dramatically different that it no longer serves as the same comparison it did prior to the pandemic. Within a predominantly remote start, High Needs Students will be prioritized for in-person instruction, in order to meet their learning needs, and as required by DESE. Additionally, we plan to open the district’s Early Childhood Center in an in-person model, recognizing that, as preschoolers, many with special needs, require in-person services. 

A Reopening Taskforce has been meeting since June to contribute to the district’s Comprehensive Reopening Plan. This team of administrators, teachers, school nurse leader, counselors, parents/guardians, School Committee representatives, Facilities personnel, Health Agent, School Resource Officer, consulting school physician, and our Communications Coordinator met throughout the month of July and early August to interpret agency guidance and develop protocols, resources to support students’ and staff social-emotional learning (SEL) upon return to school, and a framework of three instructional models: 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. 

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  
  • curriculum that is aligned to the relevant standards, including the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks 
  • grading of student work 
  • attendance and accountability 

The District has 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. The school year will begin on September 16, 2020. 

We appreciate the difficulty of the situation we are all in. No one learning model is going to meet the needs of all Franklin families; each comes with its own challenges and concerns. Health and safety is our first priority and 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 SEL connections we know our educators will be able to build remotely, at first, and then in-person later in the fall as we transition into a hybrid model. 

Sincerely,

Sara E Ahern

Superintendent of Schools 


Franklin Public Schools: Superintendent's message on Re-opening Plan
Franklin Public Schools: Superintendent's message on Re-opening Plan


Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee Meeting Recap - Aug 8, 2020

As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online #swsc0805

  • Real time reporting for Stormwater ad-hoc subcommittee underway #swsc0805 awaiting 3rd person for quorum
  • Without quorum can't do policy discussion but could answer questions #swsc0805
  • Derek Adams hired as Stormwater Director per FY21 budget also as needed to be compliant with the EPA permit. Had previously worked as summer help in college, worked up through the ranks, water treatment side, Masters program at MassMaritime ##swsc0805
  • Need to expand what we're doing on Stormwater management. #swsc0805 budget is tight, looking at it all carefully Stormwater Environmental affairs superintendent. Dellorco should be on soon to make quorum.
  • Moving some of the DPW operations budget items from general funds to the Stormwater fee is a long process. #swsc0805 Dellorco arrives to make quorum.
  • Melanie Hamblen officially opens the meeting at 6:52 PM #swsc0805 reads the usual blub on meeting protocol for virtual meeting. 14 present at time of official meeting
  • TA Jamie Hellen provides recap of info sessions held preCOVID-19, one in morning at the council chambers, one in the evening at the Franklin TV studios, there was a third scheduled but it was canceled due to the pandemic #swsc0805
  • Brutus provides a recap of Derek's background. #swsc0805 web site a basic stopping point for info on work done over the years. franklinma.gov/stormwater-div For reading materials, check out the full management plan franklinma.gov/stormwater-div
  • Delay as Chair lost connection and thereby quorum broke, patience #swsc0805
  • She's trying to reconnect via phone see if that's quicker. #swsc0805
  • Yup, still waiting #swsc0805
  • She did join, now working to pick up where we left off. #swsc0805 Jones replaying his question and proposal on fee to get started
  • Discussion of phasing in new fee is a timing issue, need to generate some funds via the fee in order to be able to pay for some of the current DPW Stormwater budget items, would also gather revenue from the users not currently paying #swsc0805
  • Stormwater utility fee couldn't realistically appear on a homeowner bill until July 2021 due to the software changes required to get the MUNIS system set up properly. Also need to get the other items i.e. exemptions defined. #swsc0805
  • Summary timeline: Oct/Nov during budget to relook at Stormwater costs, DPW budget impact, possible fee discussion in Jan 2021, first billing possible in July 2021, with possible budget relief for FY 22 or FY23 #swsc0805
  • Motion to adjourn, #swsc0805 catch you all next time

Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee Meeting Recap - Aug 8, 2020
Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee Meeting Recap - Aug 8, 2020

"Worcester is first in state to build modular micro-units for chronically homeless"

From the Mass Municipal Assoc, we share this housing for the homeless article: 

"The city of Worcester and the Worcester Housing Authority received funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development to help build the state’s first modular micro-unit housing for the chronically homeless.

The project, estimated to cost $3 million, was approved by the state for $2.2 million in funding. An additional $200,000 is being contributed by the city, and the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance is providing $100,000. The remaining cost will be covered by a mortgage held by the housing authority.

The project is one of many actions that resulted from 26 recommendations made by the city’s Task Force for Sustaining Housing First Solutions, convened two years ago. The task force was charged with reenergizing the city’s “housing first” focus for the chronically homeless, with an emphasis on sustainability and resources to maintain supportive housing over the long term."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/worcester-is-first-in-state-to-build-modular-micro-units-for-chronically-homeless/

A rendering depicts the modular micro-units housing being developed by the Worcester Housing Authority for the chronically homeless. (Photo courtesy Worcester Housing Authority)
A rendering depicts the modular micro-units housing being developed by the Worcester Housing Authority for the chronically homeless. (Photo courtesy Worcester Housing Authority)


1, 2, 3 videos to help you stop unwanted calls


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

by Jabari Cook - Intern, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

It can be frustrating to deal with a bunch of unwanted calls. If you answer them, you might hear a recorded message of someone trying to sell you something. Or it could be a real person hoping to scare you into paying a debt you don't owe.These kinds of unwanted calls are often scams. Taking steps to stop them can help save you time and unnecessary stress — and maybe some money, too.


Read more

This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.


 
Video 1

   
 
Video 2

   
 
Video 3