2021 — The Year in Review, Part I

The Franklin Journal looks back on a busy year full of ups and downs.

2021 – Year in Review in Photos, Part 1

2021 – Year in Review in Photos, Part 1

Looking back on 2021 in Franklin County through photographs from the Franklin Journal.

RSU 9 board sees change under new Chair Carol Coles

Across the country, school board meetings where fights over COVID-19 safety policies and "critical race theory" manifest are under the spotlight in a way they've never been before. With a focus on positivity, transparency and listening, Board Chair Carol Coles feels the RSU 9 Board of Directors has managed to prevent tensions from boiling over.

RSU 9 deems threat made at school not credible

After a threat of violence was made at Mt. Blue Middle School, Regional School Unit 9 found there was "no credible threat." Rather, it was a "comment ... said out of frustration," according to Superintendent Chris Elkington.

RSU 9 launches ‘staff members of the month’ award

The first recipients of the Mt. Blue school district's "Staff Members of the Month" awards are Amy Eustis and Katie Fournier.

RSU 9 receives grants for homeless students

The school board discussed outreach and services for homeless students with the Cape Cod Hill School Principal Lisa Sinclair, who is the district's federal homeless liaison. Sinclair said during the meeting she believes the district is doing a "good job" of identifying housing-insecure youth due to a correlation between the district and statewide percentages of its homeless youth populations. However, studies show that the actual size of homeless youth populations are not captured by state figures — particularly for populations in rural areas.

Mt. Blue seeks community input on strategic planning for schools

Regional School Unit 9 began examining the future that parents, students and community members envision for the district in a survey and series of interviews.

Mt. Blue school district fall-term COVID cases exceed 2020-21 total

As positive COVID-19 cases increase in the Mt. Blue school district and Franklin County, the Board of Directors chose to keep the current COVID-19 safety guidelines in place at their Nov. 23 meeting.

Wilton to explore merger of North Jay, Wilton water departments

The Wilton Select Board acted to send to the North Jay Water District Trustees with contingencies in order for Wilton to move forward in exploration of combining the Wilton and North Jay water departments.