Schools

Framingham Elementary School Principal on Paid Administrative Leave

A parent asked administration to keep parents informed during the process. Parents and staff had been contacting Framingham Patch about the issue at the elementary school since Monday.

Originally posted at 3 a.m. Updated at 6:20 a.m.

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Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott has placed Stapleton Elementary School Principal Joseph Smith on paid administrative leave.

Scott told Framingham Patch issues have come up and he is in the processing of "assessing the leadership at the school."

I will "make a decision on how to move forward by week's end," Scott told Patch.

Scott met with staff at the Saxonville elementary school Tuesday afternoon. He said he plans to meet with staff again to gather more information.

Staff told Framingham Patch its principal was not in school on Monday and Tuesday. 

Parents are feeling uneasy and what to be included in the process.

Stapleton parent Jenny Landsiedel, who has been active with the school and the PTO, spoke during the public comment period at last night's School Committee meeting.

"I'm concerned about the leadership at the school," Landsiedel told the School Committee and Scott.

She said there are a lot of rumors and there has been a "lack of communication to parents." She wants administration to "send a note home to parents as soon as something happens." 

She said Stapleton has the best teachers, but it is clear there is a "lack of confidence" in the current leadership.

Neither the School Committee nor Scott addressed Landsiedel's concerns. It has been the policy of the School Committee to hear from the public, but not to respond to their comments.

Scott said he did inform the School Committee of what is happening at Stapleton Elementary School.

While the leadership assessment is taking place, Scott said literacy coach and Stapleton lead teacher Ellen Vendora is in charge at the school. Parents with issues can contact her.

Stapleton Elementary School is the only elementary school of the district's eight elementary schools not to have an assistant principal. Scott said there was money in the budget for one, but one was not hired. 

Framingham Director of Educational Operations Sonia Diaz, Director of Curriculum Grace Wai and Director of Gifted and Talented Diane Modest have been at Stapleton to assist staff since Monday, said Scott.

Last week, Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to report about an MCAS issue at Stapleton Elementary.

Due to an administration error, fifth grade students had less time to complete a part of the state-required MCAS exam than their counterparts in Framingham or across the Commonwealth. 

Scott would not expand on why he gave the principal paid time off this week, citing personal and administrative issues.

Parents, who contacted Framingham Patch, said the school's new principal is not very visible and has not attended many PTO meetings or events, unlike the previous principal.

A couple of parents said the school's improvement plan process has also been stalled under the new principal. Scott could not comment on that. 

Scott told Patch he understood why parents have concerns and welcomed them to contact him or his staff with issues. 

On Friday a tea/coffee with the principal was to have been held with parents. It will now be a tea with Diaz, and other District administrative staff, according to Stapleton PTO leadership.

Smith was hired this summer to replace Principal William McDonald, who resigned last year. 

Smith was one of two finalists for the Stapleton Principal position. He came to Framingham from Northampton, where he was principal at Leeds Elementary School. Two years prior to that, he was the assistant principal at Crocker Farm Elementary School in Amherst.
 


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