FM #398 Davis Thayer FA Insights- 11/19/20 (audio)

FM #398 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 398 in the series.

This shares my interview and discussion with Franklin School Superintendent Sara Ahern and Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Ad-hoc Committee chair Elise Stokes. Our discussion was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Sara and Elise and find out more about what the Davis Thayer Ad hoc Subcommittee is doing.  Audio file =  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-398-davis-thayer-fa-insights-11-19-20

--------------

Survey/Questionnaire  link = https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/dt-facilities-analysis-survey

Comprehensive Facility Analysis presentation doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-analysis-presentation-10-27-20

Facility Assessment report doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-assessment-report

Davis Thayer Facility Analysis page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/davis-thayer-facilities-analysis

Info Session Nov 4, 2020 - Agenda doc  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_facanalysiscommunitypresentation_11.4.2020.pdf

--------------

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

DT facility analysis timeline

Senator Rausch: MA Budget Update and Thanksgiving Safety

November 25, 2020

 
Dear friends,

From my family to yours, I wish all of you a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving. This year has certainly been a difficult one for all of us, but there is still so much to be grateful for, from the development of multiple promising COVID-19 vaccines, to the results of this month’s presidential election, to the small moments of everyday joy amidst these challenging times. Our Thanksgiving celebrations this year may be smaller and look different, but they can be just as profound.

On Beacon Hill, the last couple of weeks have been particularly busy as the House and the Senate debated and successfully passed versions of the FY 2021 state budget. This year’s deliberations were challenging due to the global pandemic and related economic downturn, but despite this, there are still tremendous victories to celebrate in the FY 2021 budget, including no cuts to services or education funding, full funding for teenage dating violence prevention, and a quarter of a million dollars for public schools in our district to continue managing learning during COVID-19. The Senate also adopted by a vote of 33-7 an amendment to notably improve abortion access in the Commonwealth. More details on the budget, the abortion access amendment, safe holiday celebrations, and upcoming office hours follow. 

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 via phone (617-722-1555) or email (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 (https://www.beccarauschma.com/coronavirus).
 
Wishing you and your families strength, health, and resilience.    
 

Yours in service, 
   
Senator Becca Rausch

   

This email newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please follow this link  https://mailchi.mp/7686f073ec7c/maearlyvoting2020-13209536

 

Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here

 

MA origins for Thanksgiving items

via Katie Lannan (@katielannan)

"your pre-Thanksgiving reminder that Bell's Seasoning comes from Weymouth, and there's a bill that would make it the Official Seasoning of the Commonwealth"

Link to draft Legislation = https://t.co/vILz4hm3vr #mapoli  

Shared from Twitter = https://t.co/Z84vLWI7jm

 

"Some official Mass. emblems for your Thanksgiving table: cranberries (official berry), corn muffins (official muffin), Boston cream pie (official desert), and of course, wild turkey (official game bird).  Maybe a Bay State tartan (official district tartan) tablecloth?"

Shared from Twitter =  https://twitter.com/katielannan/status/1331678479524442113

your pre-Thanksgiving reminder that Bell's Seasoning comes from Weymouth

FHS athletes recognized as Fall 2020 Hockomock League All-Stars

These FHS athletes were recognized as All-Stars for the Fall 2020 Hockomock League. Three were also selected as MVP for their respective sport: Nicholas Calitri, Amanda Lewendoski, and Jack Paterson.

The full listing of all Hockomock athletes can be found 

https://hockomockleague.blogspot.com/2020/11/hockomock-league-announces-fall-sport.html

You can download a PDF copy of the FHS listing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LU4ci4oGV0ueFbyrE9kp4kFmK2Xkc5io/view?usp=sharing

First	Last	Status	Sport
Erin	Quaile	All-star	Girls Soccer
Sydney	St. Marie	All-star	Girls Soccer
Julia	Bertone	All-star	Girls Soccer
Anya	Zub	Honorable Mention	Girls Soccer
Ethan	Cain	All-star	BOYS SOCCER
Terry	O'Neill	All-star	BOYS SOCCER
Ben	Moccia	Honorable Mention	BOYS SOCCER
Angelina	Perez	All-star	GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Alexandra	Batla	All-star	GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Sydney	Brady	Honorable Mention	GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Nicholas	Calitri	MVP	BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Griff	Sieczkiewicz	All-star	BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Declan	Walmsley	All-star	BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Joshua	Anderson	Honorable Mention	BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Amanda	Lewandowski	MVP	FIELD HOCKEY
Kaitlyn	Carney	All-star	FIELD HOCKEY
Stephanie	Bell	All-star	FIELD HOCKEY
Sara	Carney	Honorable Mention	FIELD HOCKEY
Jack	Paterson	MVP	GOLF
Nolan	Norton	All-star	GOLF
Pat	Dolan	All-star	GOLF
Brian	Sandham	Honorable Mention	GOLF

Fall 2020 Hockomock League All-Stars

Virtual Franklin Turkey Trot - TODAY or anytime

Get ready to burn off those Thanksgiving calories before dinner AND give to the Franklin Food Pantry (https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/).

This year the Franklin Food Pantry is holding its 9th Annual Franklin Turkey Trot 5K as a virtual race. The turkey trot will still officially run on Thanksgiving morning, November 26th, but you can run or walk your own personal 5K when it is most convenient for you. Once you have finished the race, you can post a picture on social media sharing that you completed your run and use the hashtag #turkeytrot2020. 

To register, go to http://www.franklinturkeytrot.org!

All proceeds from this event go directly to the Franklin Food Pantry to provide quality healthy food to hungry families in our local community. In 2019, the over 1000 entrants, donors and sponsors raised almost $21,000! 

We hope you will still join us and register to support this great cause!

-- 
Krystal Whitmore
Race Director
www.franklinturkeytrot.org 

Note: Franklin Matters is proud to sponsor this fund raising effort for the Franklin Food Pantry.

 

Virtual Franklin Turkey Trot - TODAY or anytime

Boston Globe: "Baker’s $50 million effort to help small businesses is wildly oversubscribed"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Governor Charlie Baker’s two new grant programs to help small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic have been swamped by applications, essentially ensuring there won’t be enough money to go around for everyone who sought the help.

Working through the quasipublic Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp., the Baker administration unveiled two programs in October offering a combined $50.8 million in grants, aimed at helping small businesses endure what’s expected to be a tough winter.

One program, backed by $40 million, offers grants of up to $75,000 for businesses with as many as 50 employees; the other, with $10.8 million, provides grants of up to $25,000 for businesses with five or fewer workers. The latter program also requires that the owners who apply have below-average incomes.

Mass. Growth Capital stopped accepting applications last week. At that point, state officials said, more than 10,000 applications had been received for the two programs, which are being funded by federal dollars. About 37 percent were for the program to help businesses with five or fewer employees, although a few businesses applied to both programs."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/25/business/bakers-50-million-effort-help-small-businesses-is-wildly-oversubscribed/

 

Franklin Recreation: Reindeer Holiday Drop Off Class - Dec 21

"DATE CHANGE: The Reindeer Holiday Drop Off Class will now occur on Monday December 21st"

https://t.co/bT4XKEiiD0

 
(https://twitter.com/FranklinRec/status/1331630707437867014?s=03)

 

Franklin Recreation: Reindeer Holiday Drop Off Class - Dec 21

"Perhaps the path to healing begins with three simple words: Are you OK?"

By Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex:

"It was a July morning that began as ordinarily as any other day: Make breakfast. Feed the dogs. Take vitamins. Find that missing sock. Pick up the rogue crayon that rolled under the table. Throw my hair in a ponytail before getting my son from his crib.

After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.

I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.

Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/opinion/meghan-markle-miscarriage.html

CommonWealth Magazine: "The Legislature’s ‘black box’ committees"

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

"After months and even years of public debate, the fate of six key pieces of legislation is now in the hands of just 29 lawmakers.

The lawmakers are charged with resolving differences between House and Senate bills dealing with the state budget, police reform, climate change, economic development, health care, and transportation bond funding.so-called conference committees on which these lawmakers serve are “black boxes” whose inner workings are unknown.

Rep. Denise Provost of Somerville, who retires in January after 14 years in the Legislature, said on the Codcast this week that many of her constituents have been asking her about progress on bills in the House-Senate conference committees. She said she has to explain that she doesn’t know.

Continue reading the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/the-legislatures-black-box-committees-2/

Representative Roy's letter to "correct erroneous comments"

Continue reading the full letter with the embedded PDF copy (below) or download the PDF to read on your device  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bz1oGOYjaogjCrxjeWCBq72RyPhq4ywd/view?usp=sharing

 

Thomas Mercer, Chair
Franklin Town Council
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038

RE: November 18, 2020 Town Council Meeting

Dear Chair Mercer:

I am writing to correct erroneous public comments aired at the Franklin Town Council meeting on November 18, 2020. Specifically, I am referring to comments from Councilor Kelly who called into question the work of Franklin’s legislative delegation. I know that Councilor Kelly attempted to clarify his remarks later in the meeting, but I feel it is important to correct the record so that the citizens of Franklin have a clear understanding of the delegation’s commitment to the community.

 

Let me begin with a discussion of Franklin’s receipt of state aid over the years. Contrary to the assertions made, the state has not decreased aid to Franklin. In fact, Chapter 70 aid, the largest component of state aid to Franklin, has increased annually despite precipitous drops in student enrollment over the last 10 years. The spreadsheet and charts included below show that since 2009, Franklin student enrollment has gone from 6,254 students to 5,236 in 2019 (a drop of over 1,000 students). During the same period of time, Chapter 70 showed drops following the

recession in 2009, but increases in every year from 2012 on. The impact of the drop in student enrollment as compared with the increase in Chapter 70 funds is shown most clearly by the increase in per-pupil expenditure from 2008 through 2019. That is, in 2008, Franklin spent $9,146.71 per student and in 2019 that figure was at $14,276.06. That represents a 56% percent attributable to the advocacy of your legislative delegation. "

 

 

 

 

Audio and notes of the Town Council meeting of Nov 18, 2020 can be found here

Part 1 - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/fm-396-town-council-meeting-111820-p1.html

Part 2 -  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/fm-397-town-council-meeting-111820-p2.html

 

Town Council chair Tom Mercer opens the meeting

 

 

Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities for Finance, DPW, and Police

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

Purchasing Agent - Finance Department   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/purchasing-agent-job-posting-nov242020.pdf

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/dpw-hmeo-posting-nov242020.pdf

Executive Assistant - Police Department   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/executive-assistant-police-jobposting-nov2020.pdf

Recycling Center Laborer - Department of Public Works   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/recycling-center-laborer-posting-august172020.pdf

Substitute Custodian   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/sub.custodian-posting-july272020.pdf

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf

Franklin, MA:: Job Opportunities for Finance, DPW, and Police

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Budget Workshop - Dec 1

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin School Committee

Budget Workshop

Tuesday, December 1, 2020  =  6:00 PM

 

Call to Order 

Discussion

1.    Budget Development Process and Timelines

a.     Process  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hUNEMYeZGR07TcOCCcnmxQRdGHO_hVLPabIrejnHJco/edit
b.     Timeline  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pv4YhUoNoOUzPk-sNEQwQmcaiOgT0GkS/view

2.    FY 22 Priorities
3.    Per Pupil Expenses  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qegibWEASNACal1hmpFV_ciRZXHkEjGFJXXQqrwpRs8/edit#gid=164888986

a.     Scenario at 50th percentile  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCnT6f7tzJvVyOeRFXMhAEC7gBfPpKnxAei4zrWKqmY/edit

i.    What would the budget look like?
ii.    What additional enrichment services would be funded?

4.     Unfunded Mandates -- Quantified, Where Possible  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rhjSDdp42EMubSTyeGpyh1jSsTNeDNxQ/view

a.     Cost Analysis of Selected Unfunded Mandates (not all inclusive)  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dM6rRxMs3HzOCb6HKXf0vnF7UpP6r1T86Gt30ptS7hw/edit

5.    Medicaid reimbursement information

a.     MA School Based Medicaid Program Overview  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHmIQsu9MJOLSs9fB-sLaje8dQmlegYCPknldCioAWQ/edit

6.    New Business -- January Budget Workshop

a.    Revolving accounts
b.    Special Education Process and the budgetary impact
c.    Budget drivers
d.    Student teacher ratios

Adjournment 

Agenda doc and connection information

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/budget_workshop_agenda_0.pdf

 

Superintendent Sara Ahern updating the School Committee at a recent meeting

Panther TV: Q&A on the FHS hybrid model (video)

"Check out this Q&A with @MrHanna_FHS about our hybrid model. Lots of your questions answered here!"

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1331218323376398337?s=03

Video link =  https://youtu.be/SLieuVHXY14

 

 

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Nutrition Infographic

"Franklin Public School SWAC (Student Wellness Advisory Council) is sharing this infographic to provide our families with some helpful nutrition tips!  #swac #nutrition #healthychoices  "

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/jCzTgrmLun

 
Other info from the SWAC can be found at

https://www.franklinps.net/district/swac-school-wellness-advisory-council

helpful nutrition tips

The Franklin Food Pantry Distributes 220 Thanksgiving Meals

The Franklin Food Pantry gives thanks to our community for helping us fulfill 220 Thanksgiving baskets for our neighbors. Our neighbors received a turkey, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, coffee, choice of an Apple or Pumpkin Pie, and a Yankee Candle votive to help make their meal festive.

We couldn't make so many Thanksgivings extra special without the help of the following business and individuals who reached into their hearts and pockets. Thank you to b.Luze Hair & Makeup, Big Y, Yankee Candle Wrentham, Franklin Stop & Shop, The Franklin Interfaith Council, Greater Boston Food Bank, Working Moms Social Club, Dell, and the community members who purchased off of our Amazon Wish list.

If you want to donate to the Franklin Food Pantry, please visit their page  https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

 

Some of the Franklin Food Pantry Staff and Volunteers that distributed Thanksgiving Meals