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School committee moves Harmony Grove IB question to full committee and backs exploring a Framingham High virtual academy
Summary
Committee voted to send a motion to reconsider Harmony Grove's IB designation to the full school committee and gave staff a green light to develop an application to DESE for a district-run virtual academy at Framingham High, with Amy Bright to lead the planning team.
At the meeting, district staff said Harmony Grove has been identified by DESE as a school of concern. Staff told the committee the district has already implemented DESE'recommended steps, but the committee debated whether to continue Harmony Grove's International Baccalaureate (IB) designation.
Committee member Miss Moshe moved to send a request to remove Harmony Grove's IB status to the full school committee for a vote; the motion was seconded and the item was forwarded to the full committee for consideration. The committee did not vote to remove the IB designation at this meeting; rather, it approved moving the matter to the full committee for a future vote.
Separately, staff presented a proposal to explore a Framingham High virtual academy that would replace the evening academy and expand seat capacity over time. Staff described the plan as a multi-month application process to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that would require school committee backing before submission; staff estimated DESE could take about four months to respond after submission. "The ask tonight was, would you be in support of us pursuing this option?" a district presenter asked, and committee members indicated interest while requesting more detail about enrollment criteria, staffing, special-education and bilingual services, and cost.
Dr. Tremblay and other members referenced existing virtual programs in the Commonwealth and suggested the district could partner with experienced programs or invite representatives to present. Staff said Amy Bright will lead the application team and that the district will include special-education, bilingual, technology and high-school staff in planning. Committee members agreed that a locally administered virtual program could preserve access to extracurriculars such as athletics and arts while offering a different pathway for students, but some members urged caution about enrollment criteria to prevent the option from becoming an inappropriate default.
The committee asked staff to form a planning team and return with a fuller application and timeline for the full school committee to consider.
