Electric Youth - debut live stream broadcast March 13

Livestream airing March 13 at 7:30 PM, and rebroadcasting starting March 17 through July 1, 2021. 

Electric Youth 2021  includes Kelsey Breslin, Devin DeAngelis, Finley Doherty, Hayley Driscoll, Sami Goldman,  John Fitzhenry,  Dillon Lightbody, Audrey Miningham, Tatiana McAlpine, Maddie Rezendes, Hannah Rezendes, Abby Settle, Caroline Wilkins, and Madigan Wirkus.  

EY is backed by Boston musicians who’ve performed, recorded and toured with such music legends as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations, and Van Morrison.

Don’t miss this exciting evening of timeless hits and non-stop entertainment! Tickets are $30  https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1440

Electric Youth - debut live stream broadcast March 13 

Franklin Food Pantry: "If everyone gives a little - a lot of good gets done"

"Share your why with us. Learn why one donor supports The Franklin Food Pantry. #shareyourwhy"

You can read Marilyn's story here

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1369706142545362946

Franklin Food Pantry: "If everyone gives a little - a lot of  good gets done"

FHS football drops opener to Mansfield 49-7

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results:

Franklin, 7 @ Mansfield, 49 – Final 
1st Quarter: (M) Nico Holmes 6-yard rush, James Gilleran XP good; (M) Cincere Gill 52-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good; (M) Rocco Scarpellini 25-yard interception return, J. Gilleran XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Jared Arone 19-yard pass to Will Tracey, Parker Cheuvront XP good; (M) Matt Boen 17-yard pass to N. Holmes, J Gilleran XP good; (M) C. Gill 20-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good; (M) C. Gill 5-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) Jack Colby 35-yard interception return; J. Gilleran XP good.
4th Quarter: No scoring.

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:

"It had been 15 months since Mansfield last walked off the field, at Gillette Stadium, holding the 2019 Div. 2 state championship trophy. When the lights came on for Friday night’s Fall II season opener at Alumni Field, the Hornets showed no rust after such a long layoff and, in fact, it looked like they hadn’t missed a beat. 

Mansfield scored after just three plays, had six first half touchdowns, half of them by senior running back Cincere Gill, scored twice on defense, and rolled to a 49-7 victory against Franklin. 

“It’s been a long, long wait,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “All fall everybody just held their breath that we maybe would get a chance to play and it was almost surreal you walk out here and it’s 60 degrees on a Friday night and it felt like September."

Continue reading the recap

https://hockomocksports.com/mansfield-football-doesnt-miss-beat-rolls-past-franklin/

– For the Photo Gallery from this game

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2020-2021/Fall-II-2021/Mansfield-Franklin-Football-03-12-21/

For  other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-03-12-21/

FHS' Mack Gulla gets the handoff (hockomocksports.com photo)

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Reopening Update - March 12, 2021

Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) tweeted on Fri, Mar 12, 2021:

Please find the latest update from Superintendent Dr. Sara Ahern here https://t.co/WBbXxufDNr

Dear Franklin Families,

This week marks the year anniversary of our school closure and pandemic response and it is not lost on me. I want to begin this very important informational e-mail acknowledging the collective efforts across Franklin. First, I am incredibly proud of the efforts of each administrator and educator in the Franklin school system and all of our staff. Our employees are serving students in ways we never could have imagined; we’ve learned along the way and there has been much adaptation and growth. I also want to recognize your efforts and resilience as Franklin families. Without a doubt, school closure, remote learning, and hybrid instruction has been very difficult on family life. Community organizations deserve our acknowledgment as they have mobilized to support families including the YMCA, Adirondack Club, and the Franklin Food Pantry, among others. Throughout the entire pandemic, there has been strong collaboration between my office and that of the Town Administrator. I feel so fortunate to be the Superintendent in a town with excellent collaboration and I am grateful for the support from the Health, Technology, Facilities, DPW, Fire, Police, and other town departments. I hope everyone in the Franklin community takes a moment to reflect on the year and pat yourselves on the back for the collective effort. We are not out of the woods yet, and continued diligence is important. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I outlined a framework for a return to in-person school for grades K-5 (date: Monday, April 5) and grades 6-12 (target date: Monday, April 12) at the recent School Committee meeting. The presentation can be found on our reopening site: https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/next-steps

In summary:
○ Hybrid instruction is being phased out in Districts across the state.
○ Students in grades K-5 will begin full and in-person instruction five days a week on April 5.
○ Our target date for students in grades 6-12 to begin full and in-person instruction five days a week is April 12.
○ The Wednesday schedule is still being worked out but will no longer be fully remote.
○ Parents/guardians will continue to have a remote learning option (see below for level-based information).
○ Students will be in school at distances between 3-6 feet, which will depend on classroom square footage and class size. There will be distancing of 6 feet for faculty and staff whenever possible.
○ Distancing during lunch will be 6 feet. 
○ All health and safety practices will be in place: mask-wearing, hand hygiene, symptom screening, ventilation strategies, and daily disinfecting/cleaning. We are also continuing our pool testing pilot; new participants are still welcome to sign up. Please inquire with school buildings on how to do this.
○ Physical distancing restrictions have been lifted on buses, expanding bus ridership capacity. All riders must be masked, hand sanitization will be in place, and windows will be open at least two inches.
○ Attendance requirements will be strengthened and students will be required to be in school for in-person learning. More information will be coming soon.
○ Instruction will be provided for students needing to quarantine. We anticipate larger numbers of close contacts being identified as the standard for close contacts will continue to be based on 6 feet of distance. Cases within the community are trending downwards, however.

K-5 Families

We are not going to survey K-5 families. If your child is in the hybrid learning model and you would like to request Virtual Learning Academy for remote-only instruction, please submit a request in writing to your child’s school principal. If your child is in the Virtual Learning Academy and you would like to request a seat for in school learning, please submit your request in writing to the VLA administrator (kaufmane@franklinps.net). Seats in both our current classes and the VLA are limited. Large numbers of requests in either direction may be difficult to accommodate and may require an adjustment of teachers. The deadline to submit a request is 5 PM on Monday, March 15.

Grades 6-12 Families

The middle schools principals are currently collaborating on a survey and will send it to families next week. This survey will ask for a commitment to in-person instruction or remote-only instruction for the remainder of the school year.

High School Families

At this time, the high school is surveying families (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGVRAUw-MavKZUlHbilSsNYmFrsPb0MuZGnmNUpAMlbjcMPQ/viewform?usp=sf_link)  about commitments to in-person instruction or remote only instruction for the remainder of the school year.  Returning full and in person with our current schedule is dependent on a percentage of FHS students remaining remote. We appreciate you taking another survey under a new model. Please complete this survey by Wednesday, March 17 by 5 PM. Mr. Hanna will be holding a Q and A session on Monday, March 15 at the PCC meeting 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm. 

At this time, we are holding our plans to collapse the 3 cohorts to 2 so that we can focus on a full and in-person return in April.

________________________________________________________________

If you have questions about District policies/practices about reopening, please email our reopening email account:  reopening@franklinps.net  There will be a virtual “coffee” with the Superintendent at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 17 to answer questions about the overall framework. A link will be sent next week.
Building-based specifics are best addressed by the school administration. They will continue to communicate with you through their regular avenues such as their newsletters and personal communications with you.

To sign up for busing, please visit our website: https://www.franklinps.net/district/transportation

More information will be forthcoming about options for childcare through our Solutions program.

Sincerely,  

Sara Ahern, 

Superintendent of Schools
Franklin Public Schools

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1370410232321556481

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Reopening Update - March 12, 2021

Senior Coffee Hour with State and Local Officials - Mar 18 - 8:30 AM

Senior Coffee Hour with State and Local Officials

We invite our seniors to join our State and local officials to discuss topics important to Franklin on Thursday, March 18th at 8:30 am via Zoom. 

Please pre-register here and you will be sent an email confirmation and link. 

We hope to "see" you! 

Shared from the Town of Franklin page:
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/senior-coffee-hour-state-and-local-officials-2

Senior Coffee Hour with State and Local Officials - Mar 18 - 8:30 AM

School Committee: Budget SubCommittee Meeting - Mar 16

Budget Sub Committee Meeting

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)

Mar 16, 2021 - 4:30 PM

• FY22 Budget Development

Agenda doc includes connection info:   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda-bsc_3_16_2021.pdf

The first pass at the budget was previewed at the School Committee meeting Mar 9, 2021:

• Recommended Budget  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/supt-rec-budget-3-9-21
• Audio for this segment of the meeting Mar 9  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/fm-486-school-committee-mtg-030921-p2.html

chart shows decline in elementary enrollment (bars) and associated decline in # of teachers (line)

Finance Committee Meeting Recap: Topics of interest -> capital budget, public safety, and FY 22 budget revenue estimates

Quick Recap:

• The initial capital budget proposals were reviewed, discussed and approved to bring to the Town Council at a future meeting
• An overview of public safety from the dispatch operations (MECC), including police (Chief Lunch) and Fire (Chief McLaughlin) was insightful. The answer to "How long does it take for a police new hire to actually take a working shift?" (after training, etc.) is eye opening
• FY 2022 will present a challenge, the revenue estimates are still early but the gaps will not easily be reconciled without serious discussions. The question remains, how will Franklin address its structural budget deficit? It is not only a school budget problem, it is a town problem
• Meeting calendar topics discussed and the summer meetings (July and August) were removed from the schedule

----

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/7B8yNDUwNhJueieg8

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  #fincom0310
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23finCom0310&src=typeahead_click 

• Real time reporting underway for the Finance Committee meeting tonight #fincom0310 5 of 9 members present for a quorum.   https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf  (added later (based upon conversation and questions), the five members present were Dowd, Conley, Dewsnap, Corbosiero, Riley)
• Late to capital budget due to COVID concerns and snow/ice #fincom0310 (normally starting to review in Dec) projects listed for capital are critical. After doing policy obligations (OPEB, etc.) have $1.6m to work with
• Not putting aside $ for fire trucks given the 2 recently purchased. Also not putting aside for open space due to the CPA passage and start of the CPC process. #fincom0310
• Slide down the pages of the agenda doc to bottom page 3 and top of 4 for initial school items
• #fincom0310 don't typically do trade ins for the vans, usually well beyond useful life hence surplus
• Municipal bldg had been approved for financing last year, and when out to bid getting a good price so it has come down considerably and can use the free cash instead. #fincom0310 fire dept request mostly annual type items for gradual replacement of some #s regularly
• Likely to have solution on north Franklin with radio coverage and a new tower possible. Fire happy with analog radio for guarantee of comms on site; all the radios both police and fire go both digital and analog, explanation on article sent by #FinCom0310 chair
• Tower at Keller/Sullivan will help except for those over the hill and down Populatic. Did submit request for grant with Plainville to replace radios, asking for microphones in this submission. #fincom0310
• Next up, DPW line items, while borrowing was authorized, they would like to avoid it. Also applying for a MassWorks grants with a local contribution (this amount) to help prioritize #fincom0310 Q on the other items but not in this year's request
• Next year is a longer list for DPW, #fincom0310 vehicles are usually run until they can't pass inspection. Have milled parts when parts weren't available in channels. Haven't considered using some of the smaller capital items bundled together for a bond issue.
• An unwritten policy to not use the bond for such a short term item, fire trucks bonded for 10 years, may last 20 which is okay. If it is 5 years life for a ten year bond, not a good deal, likely costing more #fincom0310 discussion at St Mary's intersection, and long waits
• #fincom0310 is there a central motor pool? DPW runs the pool and watching the life cycles, maintenance, etc. Approx 258 registered vehicles taken care of by DPW with 3 mechanics. As part of green Community, we will be purchasing 2 electric vehicles for town staff near future
• Next up, the enterprise funds and capital associated with water sewer, etc. #fincom0310 pages 6-7 has these items  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf 
• When you get a new water main, you also get a new road surface. Resolution has correct amount, narrative may have a typo. #fincom0310 Q how old are the tanks? tank is 3rd oldest in nation still in use. Can upgrade pump 4 to feed the hillside tanks and remove Pleasant st
• Rate payers support the sewer enterprise fund (along with the water  rate payers supporting the water enterprise fund). 150k to look over the Beaver St project to make sure something wasn't missed. #fincom0310 there is a minimum $1m maintained in case
• Page 8 has other capital wish list items #fincom0310 Q on snow ice use from free cash vs. putting it in the budget, raises a great question on why we are so low in roads and other accounts... 6-7" snow costs 175-250K, calling contractors costs about 8K per hour
• Does use a 5 year rolling average to start the budget; extra money in snow/ice goes to roads so it is used.  Motion to approve 1st resolution, passes 5-0. #fincom0310
• 2nd motion passes, same vote, 3rd motion, passes with same vote, 4th resolution 21-16 passes 5-0
• Next up, MECC presentation. #fincom0310
• Presentation copy at end of the agenda doc https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf …
• #fincom0310 Mendon and Millville begins dispatch in July, agreements signed work underway to make happen. Who is next after them?
• Due to development grant to allow for merger of Mendon and Millville into, did create fund to set aside to cover for when we pay the full bill again in FY 2025. As for who is next? We can bring in more with planning. #fincom0310 currently 29 FTE
• Business calls are not 911 calls but they can be an emergency call. #fincom0310 call efficiency? still too early to really see, do have efficiency within the team and still building the operations. Did just ratify the first dispatcher union contract today at the board meeting
• Next up Chief Lynch 56 total, 53 sworn officers, description of the divisions and operations. Patrol work 10 hour days four days, then off... Should have 58 for comparable dept of our size. Hired 20 in 4.5 years, yes turnover. Retirements of 6-8 in next three yrs, command staff
• From hire time to be on the street it is a year (if academy req'd). Better to find an experienced individual to cut down on the time req'd. MA police accreditation underway. Just went thru review today, should find out in month/so. #fincom0310 station study would be nice
• The building is ok but not enough space, officers dress at home, locker space insufficient. #fincom0310 cruiser fund to replace x per year would be good. Busiest time is in afternoon/evening, between 2-3 PM and 2-3 AM.
• $90k from DPH, covers the program but if necessary would fund local, Community has received it well, #fincom0310 if dealing with a mental health issues best is going along with the officer, significant savings to avoid court and criminal justice system
• Over 600 calls between Medway and Franklin last year, clinician is busy and coordinates the service and follow up. #fincom0310 trending up, mental health, domestic violence - decline of break-in, (folks are home) opioid has not gone away, deaths are down but incidents …
• Completed OneMind training for 20% of dept, want to do more, could use an other clinician, do a lot of training, 72 hours of training/year. Ben is now a certified support dog. Other depts went to the four days to save money, we went to add people back. #fincom0310
• Chief McLaughlin up next, new hires 4 starting this month so in April we'll be full staffed for the four battalions for the first time ever. #fincom0310 all four groups doing same process, nice span of control in this structure. Volunteer grant Committee, over $250k received
• Pursuing grants, close to an ISO 1 rating, new ambulance non May, trucks in July and all this during the pandemic, very productive year. #fincom0310 SAFER grant trying for, could provide support for 4 folks for three years. Next up, FY 22 assumptions
• A good start but still work and numbers to verify, the bottom line initially is about $2.7 short. Some of the delta will go with revisions to some of the assumptions. Some of the remaining will need to be adjusted on the expense side #fincom0310
• #fincom0310 budget Committee meeting scheduled for Mar 17 before the Town Council meeting. They'll go thru this sheet and any changes. Long explanation (no easy answer) on how to balance the budget ? There is a structural deficit, how do we address it?
• Aside: given the time length of this meeting, the recording will likely be split into logical segments, one clearly on BUDGET! (Yes, deliberate choice for caps) #fincom0310 the first draft of school budget was posted today, shared at SchCom 3/9 https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fy22_budget_book.pdf 
• #fincom0310 about to close the meeting with last topic of future meeting topics, page 8 added earlier, OPEB April 14 at Town Council ... likely to cancel the July/August meetings. Motion to adjourn, passes 5-0. That's all for tonight, catch you next time!

 

section of the revenue forecast for FY 22, shows a negative number as the budget cycle starts