[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6288525,"mediaKeyId","2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5","parentId",2538297,"title","Superintendent reports student safety and support work, MSBA enrollment milestone and interim DEI update","audioSeconds",1438,"startMs",1455000,"endMs",2893000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5&start=1455&end=2893","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5/thumbnail_1455000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6288525/Massachusetts/Superintendent-reports-student-safety-and-support-work-MSBA-enrollment-milestone-and-interim-DEI-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288525-af8cd47c57d053940f1dd0815ae777b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604566&Signature=SZXzpploqMDsJA98Gl10~JMaQP-xn0tMTEqiKcL865j5j7t51POThtnSe42FAhhpHHyiDqWGjUu66kOh2AswXKNML9anLesBJwdapiR3OpfARPmDpkJlHTeeVemWJz6krQ8gwAzPyTpJOAFyHkZXQtGsAEfhHG350BgcxbR~dUS9bOVrz-uySgLFt76ti5yz0i24Ipziwped7H8jQdh4Sze-G~3l6UkTGPgIUHwXVD9UO7hVpi4PgFQGaa6ma1nzxBKAEWC~17d~wJB8obe21czotzh4HCxm~V8vIXgekmmrx8zFlzgoQPNzOZderIr0-1wFiwX9IGVAJWyw93QnCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Framingham Public Schools, MA","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","Superintendent Patrick Tremblay delivered a multi-part report Wednesday on student safety and support initiatives, an enrollment milestone tied to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and an interim staffing update for the district equity office.

Tremblay said the district has revised the code of conduct matrix to reduce repetitive categories and add examples to help implement a consistent approach across schools. He told the committee the district has \"tightened up\" Title IX alignment and clarified consequences for cutting class or leaving school without permission, and that the district has added explicit bus consequences, including short- and long-term suspensions and removal when warranted.

Why it matters: The district has faced public concern about student behavior and transportation safety; the updates are meant both to clarify expectations for students and to make enforcement more consistent across schools.

Key safety and support actions described:
- Code of conduct revisions to simplify categories and add examples for consistent implementation.
- Expanded data transparency: the superintendent said suspension data — in-school, out-of-school and bus suspensions — is now available on the district’s Transparency Center.
- Bus behavior: Tremblay said the district has worked with bus drivers and provided cue cards in multiple languages as part of driver training; the district clarified bus consequence options in policy and practice.
- Threat assessment: A district threat-assessment process has been deployed and will be used to convene a rapid-response support team when students show signs of crisis.
- Program evaluations: Social-emotional program evaluations (including FAIR, Phoenix, RISE and TLC programs) are underway; district staff expect initial evaluation reports in March–April with implementation recommendations.
- Peer mediation: The high school has launched iterations of a peer-mediation program the district piloted previously.

MSBA enrollment milestone: Tremblay reported the MSBA provided an enrollment and design certification for the Hemingway project, closing out module 1 and moving the district closer to the MSBA feasibility stage. He said the MSBA’s enrollment finding was \"better than we expected\" and that district leaders view the milestone as a positive step for pre-K expansion that the MSBA is supporting.

Office of Equity update: Tremblay announced that Dr. Anthony Pope resigned effective Dec. 30, 2024, for family reasons. He said the district will continue equity, inclusion and accessibility work and that department duties are being covered by existing staff while administrators consider next steps or a replacement. \"DEI, diversity, equity, inclusivity, as well as accessibility continues to be a priority of this district,\" Tremblay said.

Questions from committee members focused on evaluation timelines, clarification on how equivalencies will be handled for special-education programs, and whether district behavior measures will be sustained. Administrators committed to follow-up briefings and to returning with implementation details where committee members requested them.

Ending: The superintendent’s report covered both operational changes and planning items; administrators said they would post the student-safety summary to the district website and return with evaluation results and any recommended policy language changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Framingham School Committee Open Session (January 22nd at 7:00 pm)","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Patrick Tremblay told the school committee Wednesday that the district has revised its code of conduct and launched a threat-assessment protocol, expanded transparency on suspensions, and advanced an MSBA enrollment milestone for the Hemingway school project.","taxTitle","Framingham Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",64399,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6288526,"Superintendent presents $190.4 million initial FY26 school budget; committee set to refine request",1449,3855000,5304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5&start=3855&end=5304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5/thumbnail_3855000.jpg","/articles/6288526/Massachusetts/Superintendent-presents-1904-million-initial-FY26-school-budget-committee-set-to-refine-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288526-09b61bb655f25e5a0cbc0bb9b1585137/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604566&Signature=BqcBStvVe9p3ZmodzDppSWvg-7XSB49stUUqHNpE5PIEb9niqsjipZWgddyICgQjFCFgeTf-Tpc65FGhzOna9UQ-66WXtEU8HET-xKdEVxVAd9fsSFviXj2NKOclfRLp3xsIV9njv9p8dpB3ztayE06U5k8iOUwGcnMyU9UVE6aWYjEHof3EaNk3~8C8KGNshSMJ9y-jgdteTj4sAVjXdtYzs~OTVTVreahoBrDuIpIFzeR7Xq5OCGEbGPIPlglEs8E21ovaqyOJ-M6b1WkXGEsSqByCLGCetfYSrfHAFMJGdwf6HULLVni~3uJwxb9wPHi2dode3BjD9ZhES2cN8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Framingham Public Schools presented its first draft of the FY26 operating budget Wednesday, asking for $190,400,000 — a 10.31% increase over the current year — and said administrators will work with city finance officials to pare that request before final submission.

Lincoln Lynch, executive director for finance and operations, described the document as an \"initial budget\" that includes current positions, proposed new positions and negotiated salary increases. Lynch said the increase is driven primarily by personnel costs: roughly $17.8 million of the increase and about $14.6 million attributable to salary increases and steps. \"So at this point, we are at a 10.31% increase,\" Lynch told the committee.

Why it matters: The budget outlines how the district plans to fund mandated services and several new initiatives. Early numbers from the state — the department’s Cherry Sheet estimates released the same day — project an additional $6.5 million in Chapter 70 state aid tied to enrollment, a development Lynch described as encouraging and which will be factored into later drafts.

Key elements in the FY26 initial request:
- Total initial operating budget: $190,400,000 (10.31% increase).
- Personnel: Most of the increase; 51.7 new FTE requests ($3.13 million) with 17 listed as compliance positions required mainly for special education.
- Turnover savings: Lynch included a turnover savings estimate of about $5.75 million to reflect staff retirements and hires at lower starting salaries.
- Special education: Projected tuition and transportation costs for special education total roughly $30.8 million; total tuition shown at $24.4 million. Circuit breaker carryover was not assumed in the FY26 ask.
- In-house busing: The initial budget includes a phased in-house busing plan (leasing buses through a vendor while hiring district drivers/monitors) with an initial projected cost of about $7.2 million in year-one operations (including leases and salaries). Lynch cautioned the committee that in-house operations typically take multiple years to reach full capacity.
- Preschool expansion and partnerships: $992,000 included to expand seats through partnerships with Framingham State University, the YMCA and private providers.
- Utilities and other operating costs: Utilities were projected at $3.2 million; telecommunications and other district operating costs are included.

Discussion and next steps: Committee members praised the level of detail and said they wanted clearer prioritization of the requests before the March budget book deadline. Several members urged administrators to identify lower-priority items to cut if required and to return with a prioritized list. Lynch said the district will refine the proposal as local revenue estimates from the city are finalized and after additional analysis of the state Cherry Sheet numbers. The final budget book and a public hearing are scheduled before the March submission to the mayor per the charter timeline.

Ending: The presentation sets a starting point for negotiations with the city and the school committee. Officials said they will continue to meet with the school committee finance subcommittee and the city’s finance staff and expected to return with a revised budget informed by updated revenue figures and priorities.","Framingham Public Schools presented a $190.4 million initial FY26 operating budget Wednesday, driven largely by personnel costs, in-house busing startup and special-education needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6288531,"School committee approves FHS program of studies and new competency determination",865,2996000,3861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5&start=2996&end=3861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2538297-dab6498f32cb18ccececdca9d5dfafb5/thumbnail_2996000.jpg","/articles/6288531/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-FHS-program-of-studies-and-new-competency-determination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288531-1ad5b989a5a328dd03a1e1a93a42f10a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604566&Signature=oEgb9mIvohk8LlAkQkxMoNVnXgkzynN3K5V6xrpj39HivV1bfJu7sL2IJktV5lBIVqsCGZlezRxJ7fzLWOpYGyx8FvIkpWwixVCTlIWyzkbYfbsFlSeq1SqDdIzhq0iYOydIYqA5hE3XU8mFtzld3lxh3ahfveg8IpphYIlp3H4Fv870PqmMMoxQIRmd~iso~FrwJk9RUJUikDJHTrVKAhIXJbHMLBHb1B7gb2f5OYyaCucSkXSmhRErzTggWXS8iqEHoFFjw~ZyRvwnKr5rbVVF-wao30CgxkZ87xqOQNcf3dDq0cdzWTMf1KzUFfdJuJPOz8tUr6TE3oSDd2XUTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Framingham School Committee members voted 8–1 Wednesday to approve the Framingham High School Program of Studies for 2025–26 and a competency determination that replaces an MCAS-only graduation requirement.

The vote implements the changes authorized by a voter-approved change to state law (Ballot Question 2) and sets local criteria by which students will meet the competency determination required to graduate. \"In order to graduate and earn a high school diploma from Framingham Public Schools, each student must accumulate a total of 22 credits and receive a competency determination,\" Teaching and Learning Subcommittee Chair Judy Steyer told the committee during her summary of the proposed changes.

Why it matters: Massachusetts voters removed the requirement that passing MCAS be the sole path to a competency determination. School districts must now specify local pathways. The committee’s action establishes the courses and equivalents FHS will use to determine whether a student has met state-required competencies in English, math and science.

What the committee approved: The Program of Studies updates course offerings and formats for 2025–26 — for example, senior English courses returning to mostly full-year formats, new electives in computer science (game design and web design), additions to early college offerings with MassBay and Framingham State, and world-language expansions that include Portuguese 1 and Heritage Portuguese courses. The competency determination approved by the committee allows students to meet graduation competency by either a passing MCAS score (for those who completed MCAS under the previous rules) or by successful completion of specified course equivalents. The document presented to the committee lists required ELA courses (English 1 and English 2 or equivalent), mathematics (Algebra 1 and Geometry or equivalent) and science (biology, chemistry, physics or equivalent).

Discussion and dissent: Several committee members asked about exemptions and how students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans would be evaluated. Principal Mark Albright said individual situations can be reviewed by department chairs and school leadership and that the competency determination intentionally includes \"equivalent\" language to allow case-by-case reviews. Ms. Steyer and Mr. Albright said they would review whether clearer exemption language should be added to the printed document and report back; the vote moved forward without adding additional exemption language.

Vote details: The motion to approve the FHS Program of Studies and competency determination was moved by Valerie Adaviani and seconded by William LaBarge. Roll call recorded eight yes votes and one no vote (Judy Hermani). The committee recorded the motion as approved.

What’s next: School staff said course recommendation materials will be published to families and teachers on Monday so students can select courses for the coming year. Administrators also said they would follow up with the committee if they propose amendment language to clarify exemption or appeal procedures for students with special education needs.

Ending: The committee’s approval sets the district’s local pathway to align with the statewide change and enables counseling and course-planning to proceed for upcoming course selection cycles.","The Framingham School Committee voted 8–1 to approve Framingham High School’s 2025–26 Program of Studies and a locally defined competency determination that responds to Ballot Question 2 by allowing course-based equivalents in place of MCAS scores.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent reports student safety and support work, MSBA enrollment milestone and interim DEI update

Superintendent presents $190.4 million initial FY26 school budget; committee set to refine request

School committee approves FHS program of studies and new competency determination