2024 Override Timeline
A troubling sequence of events highlighting possible mismanagement and questionable practices in Franklin:
July 13, 2023: Ruthann O’Sullivan co-founds OneFranklin with Ken Ojukwu.
November 7, 2023: Ruthann O’Sullivan wins her seat on the Franklin School Committee.
February 13, 2024: School Committee member, Ruthann O'Sullivan uses her time on the School Committee meeting to promote One Franklin, "...and then there's a ballot question committee out there organizing, One Franklin, is where I can direct people to get answers about that if you want to get involved", at timestamp 2:53:12.
March 5, 2024: One Franklin distributed material on school grounds to advocate for an override.
April 12, 2024 - Jamie Hellen, our Town Administrator, released the budget forecast for 2025 with a $9.3 million override.
April 24, 2024 - The School Committee invites the Town Council to a joint meeting at the Franklin High School. Jamie Hellen shares a potential $8.8 or $8.6 million override amount.
April 25, 2024 - Lucas Giguere, our Superintendent of schools, releases the Comprehensive School Facilities subcommittee notice to Franklin parents about the 2025-2026 redistricting plan. Which closes our Kennedy and Parmenter elementary schools.
May 1, 2024 - Franklin Town Council votes yes on the special election for a $6.8 million override. 36 days until June 11 to inform the people.
May 2, 2024 - Town Clerk orders the Mail-in ballots.
May 6, 2024 - Budget hearings for the Finance Committee.
May 14, 2024 - School Committee votes on the recommended Comprehensive School Facilities Plan.
May 22 & 23, 2024 - Town Council finalizes the FY2025 budget.
June 3, 2024 - Franklin Public Schools’ email parents potential fee increases if the override fails, using fear and pressure to influence support of a "yes" vote.
June 11, 2024- Special Election. Voting Day at the Franklin High School. OVERRIDE FAILS by 236 votes with 45% voter turn out!
2024 Impact of sports on our children and how many students play sports?
| Sport | Enrollment | Increase | Total Increase/Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football | 108 | $750 | $81,000 |
| Hockey (B&G) | 69 | $500 | $34,500 |
| Spring Track (B&G) | 185 | $375 | $69,375 |
| Indoor Track (B&G) | 120 | $375 | $45,000 |
| Lacrosse (B&G) | 98 | $350 | $34,300 |
| Soccer (B&G) | 97 | $350 | $33,950 |
| Cross Country | 75 | $350 | $26,250 |
| Basketball (B&G) | 71 | $350 | $24,850 |
| Baseball | 52 | $350 | $18,200 |
| Volleyball | 38 | $350 | $13,300 |
| Softball | 33 | $350 | $11,550 |
| Field Hockey | 29 | $350 | $10,150 |
| Gymnastics | 13 | $150 | $1,950 |
| Strength & Conditioning | 77 | $100 | $7,700 |
| Unified Track & Field | 60 | $100 | $6,000 |
| Tennis (B&G) | 41 | $100 | $4,100 |
| Unified Basketball | 41 | $100 | $4,100 |
| Swimming | 38 | $100 | $3,800 |
| Cheer - Fall | 20 | $100 | $2,000 |
| Cheer - Winter | 20 | $100 | $2,000 |
| Wrestling | 20 | $100 | $2,000 |
| Golf | 16 | $100 | $1600 |
| Total Enrollment | 1321 | ||
| Grand Total | $437,675 |
Continued 2024 Timeline...
July 8, 2024 - One Franklin dissolves their account.
July 17, 2024 - Town Council discusses the override coming BACK ON THE BALLOT and makes plans to form a new Joint Budget Subcommittee.
August 31, 2024 - Town Council announces Kenneth Ojukwu, previous Treasurer of One Franklin, to the Finance Committee.
September 11, 2024 - First JBSC meeting. School Committee member and previous Chair of One Franklin, Ruthann O'Sullivan now sits on the JBSC.
October 24, 2024 - Second JBSC meeting stating next JBSC meeting will be in January.
November 5, 2024 - General Election.
November 6, 2024 - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator briefly states "We’re asking for the joint budget meeting on the 17th because some people couldn’t do the 11th." at the 1:18:25 timestamp of that meeting of the Finance meeting.
November 20, 2024 - Jamie Hellen, gives his TA report during the Town Council meeting at mentions JBSC meetings starting in January.
December 17, 2024 - Finance Committee meeting is canceled and to replace the JBSC meeting.
