Episode 1178

FM #1178 - Chalkboard Chat - School budget insights - 04/22/24

Published on: 23rd April, 2024

This session of the radio show shares this special episode of Chalkboard Chat with  Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and former School Committee Chair Dr Anne Bergen. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Monday, April 22, 2024.  

Our conversation was a discussion around the school and Town budget issues in advance of the joint School Committee and Town Council meeting April 24 at 7 PM.  

During our conversation we address the key topics of 

  • the rationale for the current school budget as “level service plus”
  • the history behind the school budget cuts over the years (and resulting declining in academic performance)
  • teachers and school personnel still providing a heroic effort in the face of challenges 
  • rising special education costs and the creative inhouse programs saving the district (and taxpayers millions of dollars)
  • the ‘old’ classroom is not today’s classroom, how the schools are telling that story
  • redistricting status, fixing the holes in the prior studies to provide answers to all the questions that a long term facility plan should have
  • how this is a “One Franklin” effort, the Town departments need more than they are getting in this budget, check out their needs listing

The conversation runs about 36 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Dr Bergen & Dave Callaghan

--------------

Contact info for Dave Callaghan  callaghand@franklinps.net 

Contact info for Dr Anne Bergen  annekbergen@gmail.com 

School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

Town FY 2025 budget narrative  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy_25_budget_message_narrative_updated_links_2.pdf 

Town FY 2025 budget book 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf 

--------------

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Franklin Matters Radio

About the Podcast

Franklin Matters Radio
Information for the community because Franklin matters
What matters in Franklin MA - we follow the money sharing Town business meetings and interviews to enable an informed resident and voter

About your host

Profile picture for Stephen Sherlock

Stephen Sherlock

I volunteer as the Community Information Director for Franklin, MA (USA)*. I have been providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin since 2007. Currently working in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019.

*They don't have one and couldn't afford me.