Framingham Public Schools Robert A. Tremblay, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools SCHOOL COMMITTEE Adam Freudberg, Chair • Tiffanie Maskell, Vice Chair • Priscila Sousa, Clerk Jessica Barnhill • Geoffrey Epstein Beverly Hugo • William LaBarge • Scott Wadland Yvonne M. Spicer, Mayor Fuller Middle School 31 Flagg Drive Framingham, MA 01702 Telephone: 508-626-9121 Fax: 508-877-4240 TO: City of Framingham Stakeholders FROM: Adam Freudberg, Chair of the School Committee CC: City Clerk Lisa Ferguson City Solicitor’s Office DATE: Friday, February 12, 2021 RE: District 2 Vacancy Background and Process City Charter Article IV, Section 4: Filling of Vacancies: “Upon notice of a vacancy on the school committee, board of library trustees, and board of cemetery trustees, the city clerk shall immediately post the vacancy on the municipal bulletin board. The notice shall include directions for submitting an application, and the date when applications are due. The notice shall be posted for a minimum of twenty-one (21) days, but no longer than thirty (30) days. After the period for submission of applications has expired, the city clerk shall provide the applications received to the board or committee where the vacancy exists and the council for review. A joint meeting of the council and the board or committee where the vacancy exists shall be held within forty-five (45) days following the receipt of applications from the clerk. The council may schedule such joint meeting during a regularly scheduled council meeting or call a special meeting for this purpose. Upon the election of a resident by a majority of the combined membership of the council and board or committee to fill the vacancy, such person shall be sworn to office, and shall complete the remainder of the term of the vacant seat.” Our Appreciation: Thank you to the City Clerk Lisa Ferguson, the City Solicitor’s Office, the City Council Chair and Vice-Chair, and the Board of Library Trustees for their assistance throughout this process. The recent effort by the City Council and Board of Library Trustees to fill a vacant Board seat, Board meeting minutes, and the advice from Board Chair Ruth Winett greatly assisted the School Committee. To City Clerk Lisa Ferguson, thank you for working with the School Committee to ensure that translation of the vacancy notice and call for applicants occurred. Additionally, for respecting and balancing the timing of the necessary posting of the vacancy notice with the family funeral plans and City Council and School Committee’s respective remembrances for Karen Foran Dempsey. And to the Framingham Public Schools Media & Communications and Translation & Interpreting Services offices, thank you for so quickly translating the City Clerk’s vacancy notice and call for applicants, and for promoting the opportunity for applicants throughout the community. Applicants for the School Committee District 2 Vacancy: There are four applicants to the District 2 School Committee vacancy: Richard Finlay, Kelly Garofalo, David Gordon, and Brandon Ward The City Clerk has confirmed the eligibility of all four applicants as District 2 Framingham ​ registered voters. Contact information for applicants will be made available upon request by emailing Executive Assistant to the School Committee [email protected] or by calling 508-626-9121. ​ ​ Timeline: December 24, 2020 - District 2 School Committee Member Karen Foran Dempsey passed away ​ unexpectedly January 5 and 6, 2021 - City Council and School Committee Remembrances for Karen Foran ​ Dempsey January 8 - City Clerk notification of District 2 vacancy to the City Council and School ​ Committee. Vacancy Notice and Call for Applicants posted on City and School Committee websites February 3 - The School Committee voted 8-0-0 to schedule a special meeting on February 17th ​ to interview all applicants, offering an introduction followed by a Question and Answer period where each applicant would be asked the same questions. The additional meeting was scheduled and timeline set to seek a joint meeting with the City Council in order to fill the vacancy before the School Committee’s March 3rd meeting where Fiscal Year 2022 budget discussions and Return to School agenda topics are expected. February 5 - Deadline for applicants to apply to the City Clerk’s Office ​ February 6 - The City Clerk provided application materials from five applicants to the City ​ Council and School Committee. Each applicant was emailed with an invitation to the February 17th School Committee meeting. February 9 - Applicant David DiGuardia withdrew from consideration ​ ​ ​ February 11 - Each applicant was emailed the February 17th meeting agenda and offered a ​ discussion on meeting logistics and a Zoom connection test upon request February 17 - School Committee Meeting at 7 p.m. The agenda can be found here. The meeting ​ ​ ​ ​ can be watched live on The Government Channel, on Facebook Live on the FPS Facebook Page, on Zoom, or by audio through the phone. March 2 - Joint Meeting of the City Council and School Committee scheduled for 7 p.m. to fill ​ the vacancy per City Charter Article IV, Section 4 March 3 - Swearing In of the new District 2 School Committee Member before the School ​ Committee Meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Attachments: 1. City Clerk District 2 Vacancy Notice and Call for Applicants 2. Application forms provided to the City Clerk for four applicants CITY OF FRAMINGHAM MASSACHUSETTS NOTICE OF VACANCY January 8, 2021 School Committee Member – District 2 (Precincts 3 and 5) Summary: The City of Framingham is seeking a resident and registered voter from District 2 (Precincts 3 and 5) to serve as a member for a term ending December 31, 2021 on the School Committee. Powers and Duties: The School Committee shall have all powers which are conferred on school committees by the general laws and any additional powers and duties that may be provided by the charter, by ordinance, or otherwise and are not inconsistent with the grant of powers conferred by the general laws. The powers and duties of the School Committee shall include, but not limited by, the following: 1. To appoint a superintendent of the schools who shall be charged with the day-to-day administration of the school system, subject only to policy guidelines and directives adopted by the school committee and, upon the recommendation of the superintendent, to establish and appoint assistant or associate superintendents as provided in General Laws, chapter 71, section 59; 2. To make all reasonable rules and regulations for the management of the public school system and for conducting the business of the School Committee as may be considered necessary or desirable; 3. To adopt and to oversee the administration of an annual operating budget for the school department. Additional Responsibilities and Duties: 1. To become familiar with the General Laws of the Commonwealth relating to education and School Committee operations, regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, policies and procedures of the Framingham School Committee and the Framingham School Department; 2. To keep abreast of new laws and the latest research in education; 3. To have a general knowledge of the goals, objectives, and programs of the city’s public schools; 4. To work effectively with other School Committee members without trying either to dominate the School Committee or neglect his/her share of the work; 5. To respect the privileged communication that exists in executive sessions by maintaining strict confidentiality on matters discussed in these sessions, except that which becomes part of the public record, once it has been approved for release; 6. To vote and act in School Committee impartially for the good of the students; 7. To accept the will of the majority vote in all cases, and to remember that he/she is one of a team and must abide by, and carry out, all School Committee decisions once they are made; 8. To represent the School Committee and the schools to the public in a way that promotes interest and support; 9. To refer questions and complaints to the proper school authorities; 10. To comply with the accepted code of ethics for School Committee members. Prohibitions: No member of the School Committee shall hold any school department position for which a salary is payable from the municipal treasury, except positions receiving a stipend. No former member of the School Committee shall hold any compensated school department office until at least one (1) year after the date on which the member’s service on the School Committee has terminated. Eligibility: Shall be a resident and registered voter from District 2 (Precincts 3 and 5) in the City of Framingham, MA. To locate your district, please click HERE Compensation: The members of the School Committee shall receive a stipend for their services. This position pays a stipend of $5000 per year. It will be prorated from the date of the Oath of Office through December 31, 2021. Interested candidates should send resume to: Lisa Ferguson, City Clerk [email protected] 150 Concord Street Room 105 Framingham, MA 01702 Applications are due by Friday, February 5, 2021. Please visit our website: www.framinghamma.gov/jobs The City of Framingham is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer. CIDADE DE FRAMINGHAM MASSACHUSETTS AVISO DE VAGA 8 de janeiro de 2021 Membro do Comitê Escolar - Distrito 2 (Precinto 3 e 5) Resumo: A cidade de Framingham está buscando um residente que tenha título de eleitor registrado no Distrito 2 (Precintos 3 e 5) para servir como membro do Comitê Escolar por período que termina no dia 31 de dezembro de 2021. Poderes e deveres: O Comitê Escolar terá todos os poderes conferidos aos comitês escolares de acordo com as leis gerais e qualquer outro poder e dever adicional que possa ser previsto pelo estatuto, por ordem ou de outra maneira, e que não sejam inconsistentes com a concessão de poderes conferidos pelas leis gerais.