Disability Expo schedule for May 4 at the Franklin Senior Center |
Franklin Matters
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Friday, April 26, 2024
Disability Expo schedule for May 4 at the Franklin Senior Center
Dean College performs Dance Company through Sunday, April 28
"Our final production of the 2023-2024 season, Dance Company, opens tonight and runs through this Sunday!
Don't miss our incredibly talented dancers performing faculty and guest choreographed works in this exciting performance!
Award-winning faculty and guest choreographers showcase the impressive talent of our dance majors through a mixed bill of new and restaged dance works, ranging in style from hip-hop to jazz dance, tap to modern and ballet.
Get your tickets -> https://ci.ovationtix.com/36211/production/1174832
Shared from -> https://t.co/nfk6l8D6Sj
Dean College performs Dance Company through Sunday, April 28 |
Comprehensive School Facilities Planning proposal to right size the school district in fewer schools
Good Evening, FPS Community,
I am writing to provide an update on this evening’s Comprehensive School Facilities subcommittee meeting. As previously shared on 4/19/24, Locker Master Planning and Kaestle Boos and Associates are finalizing their assessment of the district’s facilities to identify both short-term, midterm, and long-term solutions to continue providing high-quality education opportunities for our students while creating a more fiscally sustainable model for our district.
Two options emerged from this work, which were shared and discussed. Visual maps that depict both options are attached to this email to provide more context.
Both options developed resulted in two strategic changes for the 2025-26 school year.
Unifying our three middle schools into one middle school in one location, the current Horace Mann/Oak Street complex. This will result in the closure of the three middle schools as they currently exist.
Unifying our five elementary schools into four elementary schools in two locations, the current Remington/Jefferson Complex and the current Annie Sullivan/Helen Keller Complex. This will result in the closure of the five elementary schools as they currently exist and the redistricting of all students between these complexes. As a result, the Kennedy and Parmenter Elementary Schools would become unoccupied in their current capacity.
school district in fewer schools |
Option A
Identifying two K-5 complexes, the current Keller/Sullivan and Remington/Jefferson complexes, that would function as four elementary schools. Labeled on the map are “North Elementary K-2” and “North Elementary 3-5” schools at the Keller/Sullivan complex, and “South Elementary K-2” and “South Elementary 3-5” schools at the Remington/Jefferson complex.
Option B
Identifying one K-2 elementary site at the current Keller/Sullivan complex and one 3-5 elementary site at the current Remington/Jefferson complex. However, the Comprehensive School Facilities subcommittee determined this was not a viable option to move forward to a School Committee vote. This decision was made when considering the impacts of transportation, additional school transitions for students, and the creation of a large number of class sections within each grade level, which does not align with the stakeholder feedback to preserve smaller learning communities within larger schools.
Lastly, both options maintain ECDC at its current site and allow for future expansion at the current Kennedy Elementary School.
The results from the Master Facilities Plan will be shared at the next school committee meeting on April 30, 2024, along with a recommendation to the School Committee. Franklin stakeholders are invited to share input during public comment at that meeting.
School Committee Members will vote on a final recommendation at the following School Committee meeting on May 14, 2024. A vote to take action on this option will result in strategic master planning during the 2024-25 school year, followed by implementation for the 2025-26 school year.
We recognize these options result in significant change within the district, and we are committed to thoughtfully planning and sharing information as it becomes available. Please be on the lookout for a follow-up email from your building principals as well.
Respectfully,
Lucas Giguere
Superintendent
FHS girls & boys lacrosse and girls tennis teams post wins on Thursday
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com |
Comprehensive School Facility Plng Subcommittee recommends Option A for redistricting (audio)
FM #1181 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1181 in the series.
This session shares the Comprehensive School Facility Planning Subcommittee meeting of Thursday, April 25, 2024. Subcommittee Chair Dave Callaghan, Al Charles, Erin Gallagher, Supt Lucas Giguere, Asst Supt Dr Tina Rogers, Asst Supt Paula Marano, Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch participated.
Review of the feedback from the focus groups on visioning and portrait of the graduate were reviewed.
Facility proposal outlined with 2 options on how to handle the elementary schools. Option A to keep the facility as K-5, Option B to split the K-2 and 3-5. Option B would introduce a transition and put aside. It also did not align with feedback from the focus groups.
Subcommittee recommended to bring Option A forward to the School Committee meeting Tuesday, April 30.
The meeting recording runs about 70 minutes. Audio link https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1181-comprehensive-school-facility-plng-mtg-04-25-24
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Agenda for this session -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/fps-comprehensive-facilities-planning.html
Letter to FPS community with summary ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/comprehensive-school-facilities.html
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WFZHjNN7Ggf7rMXmZN29PgtAQTHP-nO_/view?usp=drive_link
PDF file with the 3 maps, current state, Option A and Option B https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DO3B2-nn1S1wNucsrODU-nrIAWL7Meib/view?usp=drive_link
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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/ or www.franklin.news
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"
Town Council and School Committee hear from residents for or against an override, for June, or for Nov (audio in 2 parts)
FM #1179-80 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1179-80 in the series.
This session shares the Joint Town Council & School Committee meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in 2 parts. All 9 Town Councilors and all 7 School Committee members participated. Many town and school department managers were also present in the first couple of rows of the auditorium.
Over 400 folks were in the FHS auditorium, another 2-300 were online via YouTube at one point or another (and that tallied 800+ unique individuals by the time the meeting ended).
Part 1
Covers the first 90 minutes of the meeting
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented the FY 2025 budget
School Superintendent Lucas Giguere accompanied by Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch presented the school budget and issues
Part 2
The remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes covered the public comment and question section. Speakers were allocated 1 minute, most kept to the point.
Audio link P2 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1180-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p2-of-2--------------
The Franklin TV broadcast of the 3 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/live/xMN27_nBPUU?si=aeSWZvxA-SMPJ6wo
Agenda for this session ->
Town presentation
School presentation
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_7qKlYxPivFDjatz9mjtDg8lU-WMY_q/view?usp=drive_link
Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiHMQqYaertGjcqSA
-------------
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/ or www.franklin.news
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"
Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Apr 26, 2024
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = FRIDAY
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Key events for Thursday, April 25, 2024
Should be a good event with art and conversation about art, a great way for me to begin my evening of reporting
What is this latest redistricting effort going to bring forward? This may be the preview for the subcommittee before the School Committee gets to see it. Kinda a sneak peak! We should at least find out find out where they are in the process.
Yes, a special committee meeting to interview the next school business administrator. Folks should recall that Miriam Goodman retired last year. Dr Bob Dutch has stepped in for this year. The meeting will help determine the next individual to fill this critical role.
Funded by the Franklin Cultural Council and MASS Cultural Council, a great way to close the day with some big band and jazz sounds
Key events for Thursday, April 25, 2024 |
If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
The School district calendar is found https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26
Franklin Public Schools to Host BT/ALC Big Band at Franklin High School - April 25
Circle of Friends Coffeehouse schedule for the Fall of 2024; Runa, Abbie Gardner, & David Francey start the season
Runa, Abbie Gardner, & David Francey start the season |
Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/MbM7rF5vJ17iZ27a/
Town Council and School Committee hear from residents for or against an override, for June, or for Nov (video)
Town presentation
School presentation
- Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented town side of the FY 2025 budget and financial outlook
- School Superintendent Lucas Giguere accompanied by Dr Dutch, Business Administrator, presented the school budget summary and cost drivers as well as potential cuts if the proposed override does not come to pass
- Town Council Chair Tom Mercer then opened the floor for resident comments. They lined up individually at one aisle or the other to raise a question or make their comment.
- The Town Council will take this information to their May 1 meeting and decide on IF, when, and What the $ amount would be. From that set of decisions, additional info can be prepared on both side as to what the override would bring us, and what failure to pass would mean
- The budget hearings by the Finance Committee (May 6, May 8 & May 15) as well as the Town Council (May 22, & May 23) would still happen to work out the details of the budget.
TA Jamie Hellen, School Supt Lucas Giguere |