Thread by @FranklinMatters

Getting ready to report on the School Committee meeting at 6 PM

Broadcast to Comcast 9, and Verizon 29 subscribers, as well as to Zoom, and YouTube bit.ly/FTV-TownHall

Follow along with the agenda docs as released

The budget docs are scheduled for release Wednesday morningma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/V…

Meeting commences after slight delay
They will go to executive session at the end of the normal session, not to return to public meeting

Discussion coming an adjustment of the agenda, taking some items before the budget and others after
Amended motion to keep info matters, motion amended, passes 7-0
Amended motion to move items up in agenda, now a vote to approve, passes 7-0

No FHS students tonight, possibly due to early start
Superintendent report, touts grant for ELA literacy support at Washington St
$50k grant on best practices for time out practices
Spring conf approaching, mar 10/11 early release dates, no school next week

Q on dollar amt for ELA , not specifically awarded that way, tutoring being provided
Q on why Washington? The students and level of support needed met the grant requirements

Discussion action items
1.Policy - 2nd Reading/Adoption
I recommend adoption of Policy BL - Remote Participation as discussed.
Typo correction mentioned, vote passes 7-0

2.Chapter 70 Arts and Music Letter of Support
I recommend endorsement of the letter to the State Legislature in support of a Chapter 70 funding allocation to directly support the Arts and Music programming across all MA public schools.
So moved, second, discussion
Well written

Vote on the motion, passes 7-0

Consent Agenda, recommended to approve, so moved, second
Discussion
Thanks to all for the contributions donated
Vote on the motion, passes 7-0

Motion to open budget hearing
Second, passes 7-0

Chair outlines process for hearing, committee first, then the public

Working to share the spreadsheet after the 8-9 pages of the presentation so folks online can follow

Presentation slides to intro the FY 27 budget discussion photos.app.goo.gl/FW6xHYa4NKXhUF…

Added the 4 pages of the line item summary to the album

Clarification question on the superintendent budget, some moves aligned better with total district costs rather than Superintendent

Line 1410 with the formal contract with Dr Dutch will expire this school year.
Most q result in answers like the budget was in a different line, and now here, one of the moves also avoids period transfer from 1 acct to another during the year

Line 1450, clarification on the tech cost, re: cyber security received a grant to cover some of the cyber costs, tech hardware moved to the capital budget. After this year, the cyber cost will be coming back as the grant is only 1 year

Line 2110
Increase in student services required make sense to try and hire the person for in house, previously used contractual services (at a higher cost)
Legal and moral responsibility to provide the services needed

Assuming we do get the hire, be careful to note that for future the hire offset increased contractual services

Reducing 2x Digital learning instructors, still using 3. Assuming a budget with better health, these would be kept; optimizing resources, redistribute tasks involved

Interesting that while this is a "level service" budget, there are cuts and not due to enrollment declines

FTEs gained and lost are a wash, (my Q for later)

Q on postage spilt between individual school and central office, shredding contract now district based

Shredding contract at district level also revealed by the redistricting

Students svcs advocate, adding 1, initially got 1 last year when the request was for 2, getting the 2nd this year (hopefully, pending approval)

2250 costs shifted to 4450

MOU for the shared technology services between town and schools, salaries carried here

Lane advancement decline due to less requested, some may have already reached the max level for now, others are taking time to get to the next request level

2310 reducing 4 but adding 1 so total decline is 3 from this area, rebalancing the staff per the student enrollment

The redistricting resulted in reduction of individual desktop printers hence a reduction in printing costs, large copiers remain in the schools and it is a cost savings (can send a job to the printer)

Medicaid expenses lie in the school budget, the reimbursement ends up in the general fund at the Town, the same everywhere

Line 3300 transportation
Costs are more than we take in from bus fees...

3510 also a line item that doesn't get covered by the athletic fees
Those other funds come from the operating budget
Soccer goals are required but couldn't be fit within the capital budget, not an annual cost

3520 done due to the current clubs
Police detail was not previously budgeted, hence adding it this time around

School traffic at Lincoln, what can be done via the budget?
Queue timing and other enhancements part of the many discussions underway, with Town et al

Families that are eligible for free buses, please take them. Will help with the traffic

Open for questions
I clarified that while it is a level service, there are dynamics underneath, hence a wash between new hires and reduced positions

Net school spending done at the state level creates an apple 2 apple comparison across the districts, would be good to share ..

That report more broadly

3rd a request for a break out of the FHS population for those students with at least 1 sport, at least 1 activity, and no sport, activity so the three totals equal the total FHS student population

Jane Callaway-Tripp has 3 q, re revolving account, usage of; left over funds, go to the Town, shortfalls need to be made up by school operations budget

Grant questions, money above and beyond, do apply each year, very little multiple year grants, if not able to receive...

It could result in cuts

Jane clarification Q
On special Ed reimbursement vs chap 70, answers referring to the slides from prior presentation

Answer to the club q from earlier, 52 clubs between FHS and middle school

Motion to close public hearing, second, passes 7-0

Info matters
Mental health and wellness task force met, online predators and ways to avoid, help. Connections with businesses or mental health clinics re instructions for online behavior

Community relations met on Monday next newsletter 3/5

I stepped up to promote Ali Rheaume's new book, Buddy the Brain being Available Feb 20.

Blood pressure kits available at the library via a first among many moves by health dept, Library and Amer Heart assoc.

S Arnold commenting on the Federated Church

Request to update the listing of capital improvements

Interest in screen time
"The amazing generation" graphical novel by J Haidt and another ?
Good for family conversation, accessible

Consistent high quality interactions between staff and students

Can look at the SchCmte policy to see about adding a committee member comments opportunity

Calendar coming next meeting, budget needed to be first
Consider 6 for a start time going forward send feedback to Chair

Entering executive session and not to return to open time, so moved second
Passes 7-0

The PDF version of the 4 page budget summary (made from copy I picked up in Chambers)

The doc is still supposed to be posted to the School's page on Wednesdaydrive.google.com/file/d/1SpeLx7…

The redistricting doc referenced during the meeting closing that could be updated. This version is from March 2025, outlining the work planned for the summer, future work can be brought up to current date files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asse…

and that is all for tonight, catch you next time

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