This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee member Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation in person in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. 

Our primary topic was the school budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024). The Finance Committee meetings are done, the Town Council held their budget hearings and approved the budget. Coming up at the June 7 are a couple of resolutions to add another approx. $700K to the schools budget. This still leaves the School budget short of what they were asking for and hard choices remain.

One bright spot coming out of the hearing is that there appears to be agreement on trying to do something to address the systemic issues in the school and town budget.

The recording runs about 40 minutes so let’s listen to my conversation with Dave Callaghan.

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

School budget ->  https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 

Town Administrator’s budget ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

Town Council budget hearings (video & audio links)

• May 24 & 25 (budget hearings) - recap & audio links ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/audio-recordings-for-1st-of-2-budget.html       https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/town-council-approves-fy-24-budget_01384873643.html 
• recap & video links ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/town-council-approves-fy-24-budget.html 

Finance Committee budget hearings (video & audio links)

• May 11 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) public safety (police, fire, dispatch) -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/finance-cmte-completes-fy-2024-budget.html 
• May 10 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) schools (FPS, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie) recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/finance-committee-budget-hearing-2-gets.html 
• May 8 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) general government and DPW (enterprise accounts (sewer, water, solid waste & stormwater) - recap, audio & video links ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/fincom-gets-fy-2024-summary-from-town.html

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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 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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