FM #1501 - Chalkboard Chat - 08/28/25

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 in person at the Franklin TV & Radio studio Thursday, August 28, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of August 26, 2025.  

We cover 

• Excitement among the teachers and school personnel as they all make the final preparations for the redistricting to open with schools on Tuesday, Sep 2. Minor tweaks to some of the bus routes, stops will be notified shortly. 56 personnel hired this summer, 2 teacher openings, 13 ESP's openings remain and some nonunion positions too, work is still underway attempting to fill the positions
• Handbook significant changes, only a few were made and needed to be discussed. There is only one elementary handbook now for the 4 schools in the 2 buildings. All the handbooks were approved unanimously in separate votes (ECDC, elementary, middle and high school)
• Voted to create a subcommittee to expand upon how to honor the legacy of Horace Mann, beyond the naming of the campus where ECDC, the Middle School and High School are now located on Oak St. The campus naming was a second vote as the two items were related and there was good discussion among the committee as to the scope and objectives of the proposed (now approved) committee. Members of the full SchCmte will notify the Chair of their interest. The Chair will confirm, the subcommittee will craft a scope and objectives doc for the full committee to approve. Members of the community including the Historical Commission and other such stakeholders will be involved.

The recording 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/live/EWVb7O-b_ag?&t=67 

Meeting agenda ->  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979277/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf 

Meeting packet folder (items released for the meeting, in some cases posted a day or two after the meeting) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-26%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/846929  

My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VB3GuDdCAG-U80a3pT3nIp5GSZZhUSJ/view?usp=drive_link 

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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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