As you know, the Town of Franklin will be voting on an override on June 10, 2008 at the Franklin High School field house. The question will ask the voters to approve an additional $2,800,000 in real estate and personal property taxes to be used towards the town’s operating budget in FY09.  Without the override funds, the School Committee and Supt. Ogden would need to impose several million dollars in cuts, including:

• 15 teaching positions at elementary level
• 12.5 teaching positions at middle school
• 17 teaching positions at FHS
• A $100 increase in the pay-to-ride bus fee hike, and
• The end of late bus service for students who need to stay after school for academic, clubs and extracurricular programs.

We are happy that the Franklin community members will have the opportunity on June 10 to express their opinion about whether they want to see the proposed school cuts.  The override vote will allow them to express their views about their willingness to maintain and invest in the educational quality that has long been a hallmark of Franklin’s schools.

This page is offered as a resource for information on the override, the date and location of forums on the topic, and links to documents and videos.

FORUMS AND BUDGET EVENTS

RESOURCE LINKS

• School Committee Documents Page
• School Committee budget blog
• Superintendent’s budget page
• FY09 Budget PowerPoint
• Complete FY09 budget
• School Committee website
• Franklin Matters override page

VIDEOS

• 2008 override predicted last year
• Budget presentation videos
• Budget drivers
• Former Councilor Geremini’s comments on override from FY08

NEWS ARTICLES

• Franklin override at a glance
• Impact of override detailed
• Without a voice
• Networking on the net
• Franklin moms form group to promote override
• Franklin officials explain override
• Closing DavisThayer School not an option
• Franklin override questions answered
• 47 Franklin teachers given their notice
• Franklin tax rate lower than many similar towns
• Franklin officials urge residents to attend override forums
• Long term plan for Franklin will be key
• Bill would exempt elderly from override
• Franklin to explain need for override
• Voters may defy stereotypes
• Franklin to vote on $2.8 million override question