Thursday, April 11, 2013
Following Tuesday's Annual Town Election, the Framingham School Committee and Framingham Selectmen both held meetings on Wednesday and elected new chairs.
Beverly Hugo will chair the Framigham School Committee for the next year after the board's annual reorganization Wednesday night. It will be the third stint as chair for Hugo, a three-term member of the Committee. Across town, Framingham Selectmen elected Dennis Giombetti as the new chair. He takes the gavel from recently re-elected Selectmen Charlie Sisitsky. Hugo takes the gavel from David Miles, who was elected vice-chair. Carol Phelan will continue as clerk. "I will do my best to run efficient and effective meetings and to keep the focus on how the board can help support student achievement and district growth," Hugo said. Framingham Selectmen elected Laurie Lee as vice-chair and newly-elected Selectmen Michael Bower as clerk. …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Framingham School Committee will ratify the contract after teachers vote; Framingham Teachers Association members are expected to vote after school vacation week.
After a year of sometimes contentious negotiations, Framingham Public Schools and the Framingham Teachers Association have reached an agreement on a new contract. Superintendent Stacy Scott announced during Wednesday night's School Committee meeeting that a memorandum of agreement had been finalized earlier in the day, during a mediation session. Framingham Patch reported early Wednesday, that the two sides were at 99 percent agreement before its scheduled Wednesday morning session. "With the contract settled, we look forward to providing undivided attention to student achievement for our district once again," Scott said, citing the need to focus on addressing rising enrollments, develop facilities and reenergize programs such as …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Framingham Voters can vote between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. today; the only town-wide contested race is for Planning Board where four individuals are vying for two seats.
Today is election day in Framingham. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town's 18 precincts. If you are not sure where to vote, click here. Framingham has about 37,000 registered voters. In last year's Town Election, only 10% of registered voters voted. Officials are predicted about a 10% turnout today, too. Probably because there is only one town-wide contested race. Four candidates are running for two 3-year seats on the planning board. They are incumbents Susan Bernstein and Andrea Carr-Evans, and challengers Lew Colten and Victor Ortiz. Framingham will have a new selectman Tuesday night, as incumbent Ginger Esty withdrew from the race, citing health reasons. Incumbent Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky and current School…
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Framingham High students and parents told Framingham School Committee change is needed after the report of two sexual assaults last spring; and the School Committee unanimously adopted a proclamation in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
For the first time, School Committee members reacted to reports of two sexual assaults within the walls of Framingham High by one male athlete last spring. "It sadden me and shocks me, that there were incidents at the school," said School Committee Vice Chair Beverly Hugo, who has had three children graduate from Framingham High. She told students and parents who came to speak before the School Committee she was unaware of the sexual assault reports until the protest outside Framingham High last Wednesday. (Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to report on the allegations of sexual assault and the public protest last week. Read that report and subsequent reports here.) "From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry this has taken place…
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
There will be a budget hearing and presentation tonight at the Framingham School Committee meeting in the King Administration Building at 7:30.
Framingham Public Schools will be asking Town Meeting members to approve a $100 million-plus budget for the 2013-14 school year. Tonight, the Framingham School Committee will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7:30 in the King Administration Building. As part of the public hearing, Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott will make a presentation, followed by a public comment period. This year, Framingham Public School has a budget of $97.557 million. A level-service budget for next year would be $100.915 million. Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott told Framingham School Committee members last Thursday that after consulting with Town Manager Bob Halpin and Framingham CFO MaryEllen Kelley, he is proposing a $102.115 million budget for …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Several parents and one Town Meeting member told Framingham School Committee members they are unhappy with the report of two sexual assaults at Framingham High last spring and want a better response from school leadership.
Framingham parents told School Committee members and Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott they are angered by the report of two sexual assaults at Framingham High last spring. They demanded a better response, answers and more than talk of re-written policies. "I have never been so embarrassed to be a resident of this town," said Jackie Meninno, who has lived in Framingham for 20 years. She cited the FTA leadership's stress attack and the recent events at Framingham High School as her reasons. "The incidents at the high school are troubling. I'm literally embarrassed too," said Andrea Dunne Adrian, a Dunning Elementary parent. "We are better than Penn State and we are better than Steubenville, Ohio. This is not okay," said Gina Fishman, a …
Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott talked about the sexual assaults reported at the high school last spring at Thursday's School Committee meeting and issued a written statement.
Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott talked about the sexual assaults reported at the high school last spring at Thursday's School Committee meeting and issued a written statement. Framingham Patch videotaped his statement at Thursday's School Committee meeting, after several parents spoke and expressed outrage over the report of two sexual assaults within the walls of Framingham High School last spring. (The videotaped statement is attached to this report to view.) Below is Dr. Scott's written statement, in its entirety: "In the fall, upon hearing about a report of a sexual assault last spring, I requested a review of the events at the high school and held meetings with some of the involved parties, local law enforcement and …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Proposed Framingham Schools calendar reduces early release days at elementary level, increase early release days at middle school level, creates 2 night time parent-teacher conferences and schedules the first day of school on August 28.
Framingham Public School students may get four weeks of vacation next year instead of three, with the proposed 2013-14 school calendar. The calendar is still in draft form and will need a vote by the Framingham School Committee before it is finalized. With Christmas 2013 falling on a Wednesday, Framingham Educational Operations Director Sonia Diaz suggested schools close on Friday, Dec. 20 and not re-open until Monday, Jan. 6 2014, a 2-week break. School Committee member Beverly Hugo favored the two-week break saying it would allow for "incredible family time." School Committee member Michael Bower said closing the schools for that two-week period, in the heart of winter, could help the school district save money in fuel costs. The …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Framingham Superintendent of Schools is hopefully for a contract to be ratified in April.
UPDATED: 2:30 p.m. A 9-hour mediation session was held Monday into Tuesday morning between the Framingham Public Schools and the Framingham Teachers Association. Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott described the session as "productive." "We accomplished a lot yesterday," said Framingham Teachers Association President Sam Miskin. "We came to agreement on all the main issues with only the topic of supervision and evaluation remaining," said Scott to Framingham Patch. "We worked until about 12:30 am and were able to work out many of the details of the proposals," said Miskin. The Framingham Teachers Association has been without a contract since August. They are seeking a new contract and want three key items: A fourth item …
Delayed openings at town building, trash collection update, schools closed and cancellations and postponed events all featured in today's storm central edition of our 5 Things column.
Our daily column, 5 Things You Need to Know Today, will help you to get your day started and offer you some fodder for water cooler conversation. 1. There is NO school for Framingham public school students, as well as Marian High, McAuliffe Charter and St. Bridget School students. As Framingham Public Schools are cancelled, so are all activities at the schools for students. On Monday afternoon, Framingham public schools announced a two-hour delayed opening for Tuesday, but by 11 p.m. had abandoned that idea for the sixth snow day of the year. Framingham High principal Michael Welch said the 2-hour delayed opening would have been a first for the district in more than 20 years. Many believe it would have been the first-ever for the public …
Director Matt
12:47 pm on Friday, April 12, 2013
Derek, do you really have a clue? What are your hours at your job? 9-5? Would you work till 6pm for free? Would you? Walk into a school sometime and see how many teachers stay late. Teachers get paid for the days they work. They don't get paid for the summers. It is better to remain silent and look like a fool then to speak and remove all doubt. more ›