Franklin Public Schools announced the district received two state educational earmarks totaling $175,000 and a separate $9,945 school-safety grant, and that the district has launched an online Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) legacy page and donation portal.

The superintendent said the district was awarded a $75,000 earmark “to supplement the replacement of a specialized transportation van,” and a $100,000 earmark to fund the first phase of courtyard improvements at two schools. The district also received a $9,945 Municipal Intergovernmental Insurance (MIIA) school-safety grant for additional two-way radios.

The earmarks and the safety grant matter because the transportation money will fund a specialized vehicle used by students with transportation needs, while the courtyard funds are intended to create outdoor learning and flexible student spaces at two schools that currently have interior courtyards. The MIIA funds will pay for two-way radios to improve communication and emergency response.

District staff said the FEF legacy page is now live on the Franklin Public Schools website, under Teaching and Learning, and includes a Unipay link to accept donations. Jonah, a district staff member who helped build the page, said, “The Unipay donation link is now available under the FEF legacy program page, and it’s also on the business and finance page of the website. The page went live this evening.”

Superintendent Lucas described the earmarks and thanked local legislators: “The first earmark is $75,000 which will supplement the replacement of a specialized transportation van,” and “The second earmark is for $100,000 and will support the first phase of improvements within our school courtyards.” He also acknowledged state representative Jeff Roy and state senator Rebecca Rausch for their advocacy in securing the funds.

On the safety grant, the superintendent said the $9,945 award will provide two-way radios districtwide, adding, “These two-way radios help support a safe learning environment for students, staff, and ensure quick and efficient communication throughout the day in the event of an emergency.”

District leaders said the $100,000 earmark is intended as a one-time contribution toward courtyard redesign and will not fully fund a final build-out. They described the earmark as funding foundational work—reestablishing and shading spaces and preparing them for later additions funded through future grants or other sources. The superintendent said the district will present grant awards and financial updates to the school committee as grants are awarded to maintain transparency.

The FEF legacy page will include the foundation’s history, financial reports and a record of awards made during the foundation’s existence. District staff asked the public to report any issues with the new webpage by email so staff can correct them.

No formal vote was required to note receipt of the earmarks and to announce the new legacy page. District leaders said they will provide more detailed plans and cost estimates as project design proceeds.

Sources: Superintendent report to the Franklin School Committee; district staff announcements. No additional district commitments or contract awards were made at the meeting.