FM #357 School Comm Facility Analysis Mtg - 9/30/20 (audio)

FM #357 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 357 in the series.

This shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee Facility Analysis SubCommittee meeting that was held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

A quick recap:

• Where are we? Recall that there was a question asked if the Davis Thayer School 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 of interest for that analysis to see how well the forecast turned out. There 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 facility report was presented June 11, 2020. 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?

The meeting runs just about 75 minutes, so let’s listen to the meeting of Sep 30, 2020

Audio file =  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-357-school-comm-facility-analysis-mtg-9-30-20

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The agenda doc, including connection info

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/facilities-analysis-sub-committee.html

 

My notes taken via Twitter during the meeting are summarized here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/facility-analysis-subcommittee-long.html 

 

Photos used in the Twitter thread can be found in the Google photo album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RB1AXrc4abYTPEm56

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.

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

How can you help?

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

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I 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 or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

FM #357 School Comm Facility Analysis Mtg - 9/30/20 (audio)

FHS Golf opens at Attleboro, plays them again Friday

"Congrats @FHSGolfTeam as they start out strong shooting 149 @ AHS. Nolan Norton led the way with a 36. Sandham shot a 37 and Paterson & Hagerty both carded 38s. Back at it Friday at FCC. @FHSSports"

Shared from Twitter:  

https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1311786813716078592

The info unfortunately doesn't say they won and no info on the Attleboro scores are available at this time.

https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1311621856642969607/photo/1

 

 

Watch "Panther News: October 2, 2020" on YouTube

Produced by the Franklin High School TV Production classes 

Video link = https://youtu.be/twlRLs7yG_E

In the News: "It really is dependent a lot upon what the feds do in terms of us putting together a budget"

 From WWLP.com, we share an article of interest for Franklin

"Senate President Karen Spilka told local officials in her district this week that action on the overdue annual state budget is unlikely to happen in the Legislature until after the November election, a softer target than the more ambitious goal articulated earlier in the week by the Senate’s budget chief of making decisions on how to spend billions in tax dollars by the end of October.

Spilka also said that Gov. Charlie Baker may be planning to file an updated version of the pre-pandemic fiscal 2021 spending plan he put forward in January, which would become the jumping off point for the House and Senate to craft their own budgets for the fiscal year that began on July 1.

“Currently the state budget has been delayed, as you know,” Spilka said, appearing before the Holliston Board of Selectmen and the town finance committee on Tuesday night. “We are waiting on certain factors.”

“We will also know more after the election. If the feds have not done anything with a stimulus package, a second one, before that, we’ll have a better idea as to how to interpret that with the election,” Spilka said, according to a recording of the meeting reviewed by the News Service."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/spilka-baker-budget-refile-may-spark-post-election-debate/

In the News: "Franklin’s Cobi Frongillo makes bid for Town Council"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Growing up in Franklin, Cobi Frongillo was surrounded by role models who taught him the value of service, and he has followed in their footsteps in many ways.

Now the 23-year-old is looking toward the Town Council as an opportunity to expand his service to the community.

Frongillo is hoping to fill a seat on the town’s top governing board that was recently vacated by Eamon McCarthy Earls, 26, who stepped down to pursue a law degree in Virginia.

A special town election is scheduled for Dec. 5."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201001/franklins-cobi-frongillo-makes-bid-for-town-council-he-is-second-candidate-to-put-in-his-name-for-december-special-electoin?rssfeed=true

 

FM #356 School Comm Budget SubComm Mtg - 9/29/20 (audio)

FM #356 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 356 in the series.

This shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee Budget SubCommittee meeting that was held on Tuesday, September 29, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

A quick recap:

• Given the move from remote to hybrid and that the transportation fee was set for full in person rates, what should the hybrid rate be? The discussion was on a proposal of 40% less as two days are remote. Should set one rate for district, multiple rates too hard to manage
• Discussion on the ECDC rate IF they were to go fully remote, what should it be? Proposal for a 30% of cost per survey done by the school, full details of the survey not available during meeting
• Future meetings targeted for committee members, if session are needed, they will be held, if not, they will be canceled

The meeting runs just about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the meeting of Sep 29, 2020   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HW73DV6K

-----------

The agenda doc, including connection info
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-budget.html
 
My notes taken via Twitter during the meeting are summarized here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/school-committee-budget-subcommittee.html
 
Photos used in the Twitter thread can be found in the Google photo album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MmXaoDfNKqtL3e3c8

--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) anywhere on the internet, or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio FM dial.

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

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

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I 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 or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

 

Business Administrator Miriam Goodman updates the Subcommittee

School Committee: Budget Subcommittee Meeting Recap - 9/29/20

Recap:

• Given the move from remote to hybrid and that the transportation fee was set for full in person rates, what should the hybrid rate be? Discussion on proposal of 40% less as two days are remote. Should set one rate for district, multiple rates too hard to manage
• Discussion on ECDC date if they were to go fully remote, what should it be? Proposal for a 30% of cost per survey done by the school, full details of the survey not available during meeting
• Future meetings targeted for committee members, if session are needed, they will be held, if not, they will be canceled.

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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  #scbs0929
https://twitter.com/hashtag/scbs0929?src=hashtag_click

• Real time reporting for the SchComm budget Subcommittee meeting underway #scbs0929 opens with an update on bus transportation contract renewal. Rate reduction to allow for hybrid vs. full in person model?
• Budget discussion around reduction and whether some folks who haven't paid yet should pay full or part based upon developments. #scbs0929 how should this subcommittee handle this? Likely make recommendation for full SchComm (one way or the other)
• SchComm currently only requires 80% coverage of the total busing cost. Discussion on intent of coverage by district vs parents. #scbs0929 possible reduction in standard fee of 40% as 2 days are remote, let's set one rate for the district, multiple rates challenge 2 admin
• recommendations for consideration for full Committee; ECDC tuition collection is next topic. What would happen if we go full remote? Deposit made in Feb 2020, collecting monthly as they open now. If switch to remote, fee reduced to 30% of cost #scbs0929
• Where did the 30% come from? Survey of parents by ECDC principal. What would be other impacts for students with IEPs as well a teacher/staff compensation. Maybe less in revolving account for next year depending. #scbs0929
• No details on context of survey with parents hence not sure of how to interpret. #scbs0929 hard to respond without such context. How to handle the integrated students with their peers as that would change the program. Adjustment of payment only if long term remote.
• Going to the calendars for future meetings. #scbs0929 attempting to meet between the SchComm meetings. Week of 10/19 - Oct 29 at 4:30 PM; Nov 5, 4:30 PM, Nov 17 at 4:30 PM all tentative. Dec 1 and the 15th, 4:30. It has been quiet on the State front
• Motion to adjourn, second, passed 3-0. That's all for tonight folks, catch you next time #scbs0929

Agenda doc for this meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-budget.htm 

 

Additional photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in this album https://photos.app.goo.gl/MmXaoDfNKqtL3e3c8

 

Business Administrator Miriam Goodman updates the Subcommittee