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

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan  [email protected] 

Contact info for Dr Anne Bergen  [email protected] 

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 

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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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