This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. 7 members participated, 5 in chambers, two were remote (Callaghan, Sompally).

Quick recap:

• Superintendent Giguere reported on the opening professional development days Monday & Tuesday; all together at FHS Monday with a welcome, breakfast, group activities and a student produced video; teachers and staff with school based activities 
• Staffing update: hired 44 positions this summer, 6 teacher vacancies, 9 ESP vacancies, and 9 other non-union vacancies remain as of 8/27/24. As noted in follow up questions, this # is a little higher than prior years, complicated by 48 resignations during the summer, most in the past 2 weeks, hiring process still underway. 
• Transportation update: 31 remain on wait list after a new bus was added to the school 'fleet'. The bus provider has the busses and drivers we need, the same number of busses as last year was what they started with, then added one Monday. There is one other bus funded by the State for the students at the hotel. 
• Transportation letter referenced ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/fps-letter-providing-school.html
• All students registered and paid (partially or fully) by deadline are slotted for a bus
• 31 students remain on a wait list after one bus was added
• Bus passes won't be checked until Sept 16 to allow for the "who's really riding, who's not" process to get sorted out
• Bus capacity in some cases may be high but those at the scheduled stops will get a ride at least thru the 16th
• Discussion and approval (7-0 vote via roll call) for the school handbooks; discussion focused on the changes some significant, some minor to the handbooks vs. prior year, photos of the slides for FHS, middle schools, and elementary schools are available in one album (when presentation gets updated to meeting page, link will be added) https://photos.app.goo.gl/hcjHqYuWPNvg4ca8A 
• Now that the handbooks are approved, they will be posted to the Schools page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-handbooks 
• FY25 Revised Final Budget Vote - I recommend approval of the FY25 School Budget in the amount of $77,470,190.00 as discussed ** Motion to approve, second, passes via roll call by 7-0 vote. Note that the "base" for next year would be $1m less than this due to the one time funds
• Policy 2nd Reading/Adoption - I recommend adoption of Policy GBEBD - Online Fundraising and Solicitation - Crowdfunding as discussed. ** Motion to approve, second, passes via roll call by 7-0 vote

The recording runs about 1 hour & 43 minutes, so let’s listen in.

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  

https://www.youtube.com/live/sahovop6Kv0?si=sDlNZtXfQ-KJCgBg&t=1159

Agenda doc  -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4746981/SCAGENDA_8-27-24.pdf    

Meeting packet folder -> (docs released for this meeting, some of them available after the meeting)  https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/august-27%2C-2024-sc-meeting-packet/692601 

My notes in one PDF ->  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lnpeEhrwjgVtZypRj-9T6iHGBfNHgjkT/view?usp=drive_link 

Handbook slides ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/hcjHqYuWPNvg4ca8A 

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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
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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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