Franklin Matters Radio

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion virtually via Zoom on Thursday, March 13, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the Joint Budget Listening Sessions and the School Committee meeting of March 11, 2025. 

We cover 

Recognition of multiple sets of students for accomplishments in (arts, writing, painting, ceramics), and for those in the DECA program who were State championsThe redistricting facility update was talked about. The doc itself was posted on Wednesday. It lays out the process in 3 phases of imm...

Sarah Amaral, Franklin Senior Center Director, with the robocall message about the extension of the closure.

The Center will reopen March 19, and no events other than the van schedule will be held.

The Party had been rescheduled to Thursday, March 20.

This session shares the last of the 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions held Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at the FHS Auditorium. 10 of the 11 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.

Quick recap:

Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. Approx 100 folks in the audience this evening, a mix of town staff, school dept and teachers, and residents10 members of the Joint Budget Subcmte present on the stage along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas GiguereA dozen folks asked q...

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. 6 members participated, 5 in Council Chambers.1 remote (Charles), 1 absent (Griffith). 

Quick recap

Recognition of multiple sets of students for accomplishments in (arts, writing, painting, ceramics), and for those in the DECA program who were State championsThe redistricting facility update was talked about. The doc itself will be posted on Wednesday. It lies out the process in 3 phases of immediate, near term, and long term apparently in detail. The pix captured of the doc shown on the screen during the time shown didn't allow for s...

This session shares my conversation with Dr. Tina Rogers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning; Dr. Timothy Frazier, Director of Curriculum ELA & SS; and Eric Stark, Director of Curriculum STEM. We had our discussion in person in the Franklin Public Schools Central District offices on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 

We cover 

Middle School math curriculum changesUniversal design, and tiered supportOverall curriculum evaluation plan and processesExcitement of synergies coming with the redistricting

The recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen in.

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Teaching & Learning contact information

https://www.franklinps.net/page/teac...

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri and Katherine Kellett, both teachers at Franklin High School. We had our conversation at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, March  3, 2025.  

Katherine Kellett, Teacher - English

Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri, Teacher - World Language

We cover their road to Franklin and FHSWe talk about the joy in teachingAnd the issues faced with continued budget cutsOnly one language to be offered at the middle schoolReduces the total of language classes High School graduates can carry forward to collegeText book & curriculum cuts cha...

This session shares the Joint Budget Listening Session held Saturday, March 8, 2025 Council Chambers. 8 of the 10 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.

Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. More than 14 folks stepped up to comment or ask a question, some multiple questions. Felicia Oti, Library Director spoke to the work being done by the Library.

Link to the Town page with the budget materials for both Town and School sides https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx...

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  

The audio is in 2 sections:

Part 1 - the beginning and the ending (1 hour 40 mins)

Part 2 - the FY 2026 preliminary budget review & discussion (2 hours)

Quick recap:

Part 1 - non budget

Police officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months agoA string quartet of FHS students played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a...

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  

The audio is in 2 sections:

1 - the beginning and the ending (1 hour 40 mins)

2 - the FY 2026 preliminary budget review & discussion (2 hours)

Quick recap:

Part 1 - non budget

Police officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months agoA string quartet of FHS students played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a formal pr...

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, March 6, 2025.  

Our conversation condenses the three recent meetings:

Police Station Building Cmte Mtg - 02/25/25Town Council meeting - 2/26/25Town Council meeting - 3/05/25 

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

Police Station Building Committee 2/25/25

Team together and starting work; No site chosen, no design or es...