School Committee Issues Statement on Teacher's Contract

Hugo: "Our goal for this contract was to balance the sometimes competing needs of avoiding structural deficits, rebuilding educationai services for our students and providing a fair contract for our teachers."

Press Release from Framingham School Committee Chair Beverly Hugo issued Friday morning, May 10: The Framingham School Committee is pleased to announce that the vote for ratification of the teacher's contract resulted in favor of ratification 7-0. This concludes the contract negotiation process for the Fiscal Years 2013-2015, which took over a year to complete. The collective bargaining process is a complicated one that attempts to resolve many conflicting concerns in view of the realities of cost and the best academic interests of our students. Under Massachusetts law, this process is to be carried out in a confidential setting. In this case, public announcements - while they allowed for transparency  ultimately slowed the pace of our …

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The Westboro Baptist Church is (Still) Not in Westborough

As the picket-happy church threatens to come to Boston, we thought it's worth clarifying that it has absolutely nothing to do with Westborough.

Editor's Note: This story originally ran in February 2012, when the Westboro Baptist Church was planning to picket Whitney Houston's funeral. We are republishing, lest someone reading about the church's threat to picket at Marathon bombing victims' funerals be confused about where the church is located. Whatever your politics or religious beliefs, chances are you have heard of the Westboro Baptist Church.  One reader had asked Westborough Patch last year about this church, which she presumed to be in Westborough, MA. However, to be clear, the Westboro Baptist Church is located in the western suburbs of Topeka, KS. In our poll question today, we want to know how you feel about Westborough, MA sharing a name with the Westboro Baptist Church…

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Letter to the Editor

Chasan Endorses Colten and Ortiz for Planning Board

Chasan: "Send a message that Framingham values the jobs and tax revenue that businesses provide to our community. "

To properly fund our schools, public safety, etc., Framingham needs responsible growth and the tax revenue that comes with it.   Framingham’s current leadership talks a good game but the votes and policies of the town have driven long time businesses out of town and prevented new businesses from investing in our town.   Neighboring communities have departments and staff that welcome, attract, recruit, and work diligently to retain companies, while here companies leave town due to overburdening regulations.   There are 2 seats in the April 9th election, where we have an opportunity to elect new members to the Planning Board that will help to encourage businesses to invest in and remain in Framingham.   We all live here and want Framingham …

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Social Worker: 'My Moral and Ethical Standards Will Not Allow Me To Stay'

Fox: "No one should be intimidated into silence - educating students goes beyond test scores, statistics, spreadsheets and college admission rates."

Framingham Patch received a copy of the resignation letter of Framingham High Social Worker Kevin Fox. He gave his resignation Wednesday. The full letter, which was cc'd to the Superintendent of Schools also, is below. *** "Each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." - Robert F. Kennedy Funny, I'm not one for using the computer to communicate but I want to make sure I reach all my colleagues at Framingham High School. I abhor facebook, social media, etc. because I think it creates an "as if" world void of human connection. If I could, I would speak to each of you directly. Today is my last day as an employee in the Framingham Public…

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: 'We Love this Town and Care Deeply About Our Students'

Framingham High history and social studies teachers: "As the School Committee continues to delay the settlement of a fair contract, the morale of the teachers continues to dwindle."

The teachers of the Framingham Public Schools have been without a contract for over 190 days. As the School Committee continues to delay the settlement of a fair contract, the morale of the teachers continues to dwindle. However, we know that the parents and greater community have incredible respect for the work we do. As dedicated professionals, who work passionately to guide the learning of your children, we need your support in reaching a fair contract with the School Committee. We are committed to the academic and social success of our students. We work every day both inside and outside of the classroom to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve academic goals, gain meaningful employment, go on to a bright …

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: 'Our Students Have Been The Only Real Victims'

McElwain: "Miskin, and to whatever degree they are involved, the FTA board, the MTA, and indeed any individual, who took part in authorizing, authoring or supporting this 'stress plan' has done a great disservice to our teachers and our community..."

This community’s response to the outing of Mr. Miskin’s message and survey, sent to more than 1,000 FTA members, was completely proportionate to the threats he poses. There is absolutely no misunderstanding, unless it’s his.  The fact that he has not retracted his letter and his survey has not been taken down, only modified, removing the request for School Committee member’s place of worship, and their children’s names and schools, continues to infuriate anyone with the sensibilities to recognize these kinds of tactics. (And in fact, the survey may have been modified only because a number of us reported it to Google yesterday, as a clear violation of their policy on hate, violence and illegal or offensive activities.)  Further, this has …

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Teachers Union President: 'For Any Misunderstanding ... I Apologize'

Framingham Teachers Association President: "We have made very little progress."

The recent communication that has become controversial has been blown out of proportion – our focus has been on making connections. For any misunderstanding about the intent, I apologize. We are teachers – we put kids first every single day in our classrooms and schools. We are not out to hurt anyone – and we are certainly not going to involve children. EVER. Period. We have been in lengthy negotiations for a contract and we are looking for ways to ensure the committee, as elected officials, is as invested in and feeling the same levels of urgency that our membership has felt. We asked about children, social groups and places of worships, not because we want to picket a church service or “stress” any particular child, but because our …

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Brad Evans

12:41 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

@FramTeacher 2013 - you cant leave it to the Kindergerten process to fix the class size issues.. It only fixes it for that year - at a certain moment in time. Imagine if you will all Middle school classes at 25 students in all schools.. Now, it is October and 3 new families move in to Framingham, one with twin 12 year old boys (7th grade) and one with a 6th grader. As soon as you assign these …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Teachers 'Do Not Give Up Your Fight'

Zide: "I am a parent of former Framingham students and I am appalled at the way in which the teachers are being treated!"

I am a parent of former Framingham students and I am appalled at the way in which the teachers are being treated! I still live in Framingham and pay taxes here and still very much care about our schools. In fact, we have a real estate business in Framingham, so are directly impacted by this. When my son was in first grade at Brophy, 24 years ago, there were four first grade classes. We were constantly getting letters telling us that our children, as classes, were exhibiting immature behavior and several children were not meshing well together. What did they do? They made three second grades, larger classes! Brilliant, don't you think?!! For the rest of my son's elementary years, they had only three of each class. It was NOT to the benefit …

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What Do You Think About Gov. Patrick’s Travel Ban?

Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?

All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …

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OMG PD

Wanted: Male (Not Female) Cop to Assist Damsel

Our strange police news round-up this week includes a 911 caller who made an inappropriate request.

I'm guessing I know where this woman falls in the "women serving in combat" debate... A woman called Milford police to report her car would not start outside of Kohl's. A dispatcher told her several times that she needed to call a tow truck. A female officer responded, and reported back that the caller requested a male officer. The woman was advised that 911 is for emergencies only, and provided her with a business number for police. They may have gotten away with it, if not for the suspicious behavior... Workers at the Shaws Supermarket in Shrewsbury called police after seeing two women "acting suspiciously near the coin return machine." Officers found the women were drunk, and trying to cash out coins they'd allegedly stolen from an …

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