LETTER: Teachers, School Committee Have at Heart Best Interests of Our Students

Editor's Note: The following was Eric Silverman's statement to the Framingham School Committee Tuesday night.

I am Eric Silverman, a Town Meeting member, a parent of Cameron Middle and High School students, a professor at Wheelock College, and, most recently, a candidate for the seat on School Committee soon to be vacated by Adam Blumer. And I want to say that Adam has served our schools and community with great dedication and distinction.  Thank you. 

Contract negotiations are, by their very nature, often tense, sometimes unfriendly endeavors. It is a process of emotion and not just detail. And since these negotiations occur in executive session, we the public are not party to the tone and substance of the deliberations, nor to all the relevant issues, in all their many legal and fiscal complexities. 

But underneath any tempest,  I know that all parties involved—both the teachers and School Committee—have at heart the best interests of our students.  For it is to the students that we are ultimately accountable. 

I have faith in all parties to these negotiations, and support you in your efforts as you work collaboratively to reach an equitable, amicable resolution so we may all come together united again in common purpose to move the schools forward. 

We are all equally committed to providing the young people of Framingham with an excellent and safe education. That is our top priority. 

On this, I know, we can all agree. 

For your passion and dedication, I thank the teachers, and I thank School Committee. And I look forward to joining you in the new year.