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 via Zoom on Thursday, October 16, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of October 14, 2025. 

We cover 

• Superintendent’s Report
• Budget book, zero based budget effort
• Teacher evaluations underway
• Update on clubs for FHS & Middle School
• FHS club fair held, 35 clubs presented, looking to finalize what's active with signups and payments to confirm membership. If not all to operate there are additional proposals being developed that could be implemented in lieu of some that didn't make it. High school has a late bus confirmed, awaiting word from bus company on one for the middle school
• Middle school working on confirming advisors and also setting survey to determine student club interest. Hopeful of get the matching done during November
• Franklin Food Pantry presentation by Laura Doherty and Tina Powderly. Much work to create awareness, address stigma, expand the availability of food for those who need it. Lots of coordination, collaboration underway with the School District, more to come. Empty Bowls will continue, looking also to expand and offer bowl workshops outside of the high school to the community. Looking into why middle school students who were part of the back pack program don't continue with it into high school
• Good of the order raised the following items
• Consideration of removing restrictions on citizen comment about something on the agenda, esp. now as it is at the end of the meeting; could be an opportunity to gain immediate feedback on something discussed during the meeting
• A public education slot to share info on current topics, to help address the misinformation still bantered about in the social media channels
• Do something to help the new Town Council get up to speed quickly, perhaps to include a tour of the schools, many don't seem aware of the details of daily operations
• Entered into Executive Session not to return to open meeting

The meeting recap runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen in.

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> [email protected]   

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEwf-tNffMs 

The agenda doc -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142025-1948 

The packet folder also contains other docs released before or after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/october-14%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/857413 

My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dKcjoQ-fFsLF7j1sNbpxy6QuusaqtBZG/view?usp=drive_link 

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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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