FM #355 - Town of Franklin Health Director Cathleen Liberty - 9/29/20 (audio)

FM #355 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 355 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin’s Health Director Cathleen Liberty. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We covered the following topics in our conversation

• COVID-19 recap
• It’s here, it will be, follow the protocols: facial coverings/masks, social distance, hand hygiene, etc.
• Halloween
• MA DPH and CDC guidance out
• Flu shots
• Important esp now
• Clinic at Senior Center (slots full already) maybe a second one stay tuned...
• EEE
• Low risk so far here

The conversation runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen.  Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HN21x5GK



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Town of Franklin Health Dept page https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department
If you have a question, you can call the Health Dept at (508) 520-4905

The audio of the Health Dept presentation to the Town Council
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/fm-350-town-council-mtg-91620-audio.html

The Town Council video of the Health Dept presentation (not yet released for replay but when it is you can find it here)  https://franklintv.vod.castus.tv/vod/?nav=playlists%2Fplaylists%2FTown%20Council.m3u8

Prior recordings
We did record two session back in March 2020, early in the pandemic stages
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/fm-232-franklin-ma-health-director.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/fm-224-health-director-cathleen-liberty.html

We also did a recording jointly with Board of Health Chair Bridget Sweet
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/fm-259-board-of-health-c-liberty-b.html

We also did one in May where we talked about questing and insect borne diseases
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/fm-271-franklin-health-director.html


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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.

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Town of Franklin Health Director Cathleen Liberty

Facility Analysis Subcommittee: Long term plan could close 5 school buildings

Recap:

• Where are we? Recall that there was an ask if Davis Thayer could be closed to save money?
• The Facility Analysis Subcommittee was formed and set up their 5 step process. They are still on step 1. A public information session was held in March (before the shutdown). Another public information session will be scheduled for November TBD.
• A demographic analysis was done and handed over to the architects for use in their facility assessment. Oh, the demographic analysis will be redone with the official Oct 1 numbers. It should be interest for that analysis to see how well the forecast turned out. That would be an update sometime in the future to the Subcommittee (no timeline provided).
• The work by the subcommittee stopped during the summer after the first preview of the report was presented June 11. Stopped due to the work required by the District to prepare the re-opening plan for all schools in September. Now that schools are back albeit remote and moving to hybrid, there is time for the committee to resume its work.
• So the architect report gets presented with the data gathered and analyzed. The five options for consideration were presented. Instead of closing one elementary school, the long term report recommendation is to close the three oldest elementary schools, keeping three elementary schools to feed to one central middle school (yes, closing two other middle schools) all feeding to the one high school.
• How about that for generating some conversation?

Screen captures of the presentation deck shown during the meeting are available. https://photos.app.goo.gl/RB1AXrc4abYTPEm56

We all await the copy of the report to be posted to the Schools page so we can read and digest the remainder of it.


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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  #scfa0930
https://twitter.com/hashtag/scfa0930?src=hashtag_click

• Ready for the SchComm Facility Analysis meeting to start. #scfa0930
• Meeting bridge just opened  #scfa0930
• Roll call of committee members but no protocol announcements. Stokes (chair) Pfeffer and Scofield present. Still in step 1 of the 5 step process #scfa0930 added COVID related spacing requirements to analysis
• Craig Olson, Kaestle Boos to present report. Report to be shared after meeting; preliminary report was shared in May, this is updated from that #scfa0930
• Data based report, all data pre COVID, #scfa0930 Capturing slides as they are shared, some we'll need to wait for report publication to see, he went to quick only video would have caught
• Adjusted zoom windows for better screen capture #scfa0930
• Individual school analysis for each school in report #scfa0930
• Oak and Keller #scfa0930
• Kennedy and Parmenter #scfa0930
• Jefferson #scfa0930
• Middle schools #scfa0930
• Enrollment projections not unique to Franklin a national issue with some areas)stares affected more than others #scfa0930
• Excess capacity in both elementary and middle School levels #scfa0930
• Key slide of options considered in report
• The various option slides part 1 of 2 #scfa0930
• Option slides part 2 of 2 #scfa0930
• Interesting recommendations to make one middle school, with 3 feeder elementary schools all to the FHS facility #scfa0930
• Now that the data is out the discussion can commence. Some folks won't like, it will take time to understand the implications #scfa0930
• Q on Title 1, student dependent, not school dependent. #scfa0930 redistricting is always an issue not so much for the students but for the parents
• Survey better to do sooner than later, #scfa0930 McKibben working on additional update for his demographics, will include the Oct 1 actual vs his model from last year. COVID is a major variable.
• Community info session to be scheduled on this, date to SchComm not yet set so it would be after Oct, early Nov, being defined via email. #scfa0930
• No recommendations to SchCom at this time, motion to adjourn, second, passed 3-0 via roll call
• That's all for schools for now, soon to be reporting on the listening session at 6:30, catch you there #scfa0930 

 

 

long term plan could close 5 school buildings

FHS golf schedule changes for Thu-Fri

Via HockomockSports.com we share the schedule changes for the FHS golf team

Golf

Attleboro @ Franklin – Postponed to Friday, 10/2 at 3:30. 

Friday’s match at Attleboro has been moved to Thursday, 10/1 at 3:00.

 

 

Results from around the Hockomock League on Wednesday

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-30-20/

 

FHS golf schedule changes for Thu-Fri

 

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Send in your #wednesdaywisdom quotes!

"Send your ideas for FPS #wednesdaywisdom quotes to FPSVoice@Franklinps.net
 

#Wednesdaywisdom  

#Kindness 

#BeKind 

#Kindnessmatters "

https://t.co/2qUo7d6SSX

 

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1311326594921902080?s=03

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Send in your #wednesdaywisdom quotes!

Town of Franklin, MA: Business Drop Box available for Mail in Ballots

"Welcome a newly designed official Town of Franklin Business Drop Box which will also service Mail in Ballots.

This is the only location for an official ballot drop box in Franklin.

Stay tuned here for more election updates through November!"

https://t.co/FGG0E35x71

 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1311378530371018761?s=03

Town of Franklin, MA:  Business Drop Box available for Mail in Ballots

MA FY 20 budget ends $700M in red; Legislature gears up for FY 21 budget in October

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:

"MASSACHUSETTS ENDED 2020 with a nearly $700 million budget gap, Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday, as he filed a proposed closeout budget with the Legislature.

Baker, in his filing letter, wrote that tax collections for the fiscal year that ended July 30, 2020, were $693 million below expectations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Much of this was due to lower-than-anticipated sales tax revenues, as economic activity ground to a halt from mid-March to mid-May and only gradually rebounded. Deferral of business taxes, lower gaming revenue, and lower gasoline taxes also hurt the state’s bottom line.

But somewhat surprisingly, Baker wrote that income tax collections remained largely steady – likely due to a mix of people moving to remote work and people collecting unemployment benefits, which are taxed. The state also benefited from an influx in federal coronavirus relief money. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/massachusetts-ends-fiscal-2020-with-700-million-budget-hole/

From the Mass Municipal Assoc (MMA) we share an article of interest for Franklin:

"After keeping watch on the economy and state finances over the summer, the House and Senate budget committees are gearing up to attempt a full-year spending plan for fiscal 2021, which has been delayed due to uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the related recession.

So far this fiscal year, state spending has been governed by interim budgets to cover July 1 through the end of October. The state has made monthly payments to cities, towns and school districts, and has deducted assessments, using temporary rules that were updated in September based in part on fiscal 2020 amounts."

Continue reading the article online  https://www.mma.org/legislature-restarts-fy21-state-budget-process/

Senator Becca Rausch: Reflection on recent events - Newsletter - Sep 30, 2020

September 30, 2020

 
Friends,  
 
This is a really difficult moment in our nation’s story. Last night’s so-called debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump demonstrated the severity of this moment, as the current occupant of the White House not only refused to denounce white supremacy but rather directly incited violence from a known neo-fascist hate group, refused to state that he would accept the results of an independent certification of the upcoming election, and would not even engage in a mature, civilized debate.  
 
Against that backdrop, the profound and heartbreaking loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg feels like a wound reopened. Justice Ginsburg’s death would be heartbreaking at any moment, but it is particularly so at this moment. The threat of a majority anti-choice Supreme Court underscores how reproductive rights are still under attack, but this time with potentially devastating national consequences to the health, safety, and civil rights of people who are or might become pregnant.  
 
We must pass the ROE Act here in Massachusetts. If (and more likely, when) Roe v. Wade is overturned, the states will once again govern access to abortion and other aspects of reproductive health care. The abortion laws still on the books in our Commonwealth were enacted in 1974 by anti-choice legislators as an immediate response to Roe v. Wade. The ROE Act (S.1209/H.3320) is a critical step in guaranteeing that anyone, regardless of age, income, or insurance, can access safe, legal abortion here in Massachusetts. Abortion is health care, and as your State Senator, I will do everything I can to pass the bill.
 
For everyone reading this who is angry or fearful for the future to come, know that I see you, I hear you, and I'm right with you. I too am deeply concerned, but I promise you, whatever happens in Washington, I will continue fighting to advance intersectional justice, safeguard our elections from illegal interference and enhance ballot access, promote health care and reproductive freedom, and protect our democracy right here in our Commonwealth. It’s what I was sent to Beacon Hill to do, and I will not let you down, particularly amidst this national political crisis.
 
As always, if you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My office line is 617-722-1555 and my email is becca.rausch@masenate.gov. We are here to help. You can also find robust resources to help you navigate through COVID-19 on my website.
 
Wishing you and your families strength, health, and resilience.   

Yours in service,

Senator Becca Rausch  

 

ROE Act https://prochoicemass.org/issue/expanding-abortion-access/

 

Senator Rausch COVID-19 resources  https://www.beccarauschma.com/coronavirus

 

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full contents follow this link:  https://mailchi.mp/7b5531ce69c1/maearlyvoting2020-12880084

 

The next Senator Rausch Virtual Office Hours will be this Friday, October 2,  from 10:00 AM – 11:00 a.m.   Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here.

 

 

Virtual Office Hours will be this Friday, October 2