Communications Director Paid 'Modest Amount' Says Framingham Superintendent

The newly-created communications director for the Framingham Public Schools held his position for less than 3 months.

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott announced on March 27, that Justin Martin, hired on Dec. 31, 2014, was “no longer” with the school district.

Martin, who was offered employment with the pubic school district at $60,000 a year for 20 hours per week, was not with the district long enough to even apply for health benefits, according to his offer letter.

The offer letter, which Framingham Patch requested, stated Martin could apply for health benefits as of March 1, 2015. He was eligible for other benefits and insurances, effective his hire date.

Martin, was hired by Scott, as an employee and not as a consultant.

Martin, a former journalist and a former public information officer for the Cambridge Public Schools, founded Martin & Associates, a non-profit strategic communications firm dedicated to helping schools and non-profits share their story.

Scott told Framingham Patch he “expended a modest amount of money on the position.” He said for the weeks Martin was employed he was paid between $13,000 and $14,000.

“Effective immediately, we will place a hold on the position of communications director while we clarify our strategy and increase funding for this position,” announced Scott, in a press release on Friday afternoon, March 27.

“We must redefine and enhance the position of the communications director and leverage other resources that we can access. Our parents, employees, and community members deserve to be well informed about our school system,” said Scott, in last week’s press release. “During our current budget process, we will work hard to identify funds to augment this position for the coming fiscal year. We will refine our communications plan by taking time to audit our current internal and external communications.”

Scott told the School Committee Monday night, he would like to have the position be full-time in the 2015-16 year, at a salary of $120,000 a year.

Martin’s short stay with the Framingham School District was not a smooth one.

Martin’s first official press release, annoyed the Framingham Town Manager, the Framingham Board of Selectmen, and the Department of Public Works, as it implied the municipal side of government did not consider the schools a top priority during snow storms.

Framingham’s Town Manager responded to the release, as did Framingham Selectmen.

A press release issued by Martin about how the district would make up snow day, required a clarification hours after it was issued. The release implied a decision had been made on snow days. A decision, had not been made, as it required a vote of the 7-member elected School Committee.

During Martin’s tenure he spent time working with the School Committee’s newly-formed Communications and Public Relations Task Force.

While working with the task force, he spent time trying to identify the sources of leaks to the media, specifically Framingham Patch, on school issues; and he possibly violated the state’s open meeting law by trying to conduct business with the task force via email.

Framingham was not the only school district to hire Martin.

The Cumberland, R.I. school district hired Martin’s firm as a consultant in January 2014. In December 2014, his contract was extended. The new contract increased his pay to $3,200-a-month instead of the previously approved $2,000. And his hours were increased from 20 to 32 hours per week, reported the Valley Breeze newspaper.

School administration in Lincoln, R.I. was considering hiring Martin at a $24,000 contract, but voted against it due to budget issues, reported the Valley Breeze, in another report.

Before budget cuts, Martin was making $89,928 a year for the Cambridge Public Schools, working full-time as its spokesperson, according to the Cambridge FY2011 budget document.

Communications has been an issue for the Framingham school district. It was also noted in the Superintendent’s review that one area he needed to improve in was communications.

In January 2014, the Framingham Public Schools hired a Virginia-based public relations firm to better communicate with parents and the community. No cost was included in the press release. Framingham Patch made a request for the bids and discovered the firm was to be paid $40,000. That contract was not renewed.

Before Martin was hired, the Framingham Public Schools posted the following job description for that position:

1. Directs the implementation of an integrated communications strategy for the Framingham Public Schools incorporating podcasts, media broadcasts, written materials, social media trends and applications
2. Reviews and revises district and school websites in collaboration with Technology Services in an effort to promote school activities and initiatives
3. Coordinates publicity for the Superintendent of Schools and schools by arranging press conferences, preparing, reviewing and evaluating press releases
4. Assists Superintendent of Schools in overseeing development and completion of professional communication materials such as annual reports, professional image brochures and progressive communication materials
5. Oversees the creation of in-depth multi-media productions to highlight the Framingham Public School’s services, activities and special promotions through website development, television and social media
6. Collaborates closely with the school and district leaders on website content and design, social media outlets and other communication initiatives to enhance community and business relationships
7. Participates and plays an active role in all neighborhood and community meetings hosted by the Superintendent of Schools and or School Committee
8. Cultivates relationships and maintains contacts with external public relations representatives to foster a collaborative effort in promoting Framingham Public Schools as a premier district challenging every student and staff member to exceed expectations.
9. Identifies school department projects and programs for positive media coverage potential and facilitates deliberative strategies to promote these activities
10. Works with schools and departments to develop methods of communication to be most effective with stakeholders
11. Monitors and reviews school departmental communications to FPS all and external audiences to ensure that all departments are sending a consistent message to our targeted public
12. Works in partnership with the Chief Human Resources Officers on promoting the Framingham Public Schools as a leading employer through various outlets including: website, social media, newsletters, employee testimonials, podcasts and special events
13. Integrates District and school web sites and offsite content (Facebook page, Twitter feed, Socrata Open Data Service) to create a unified “portal” for information access
14. Focal point for implementing new channels of communication which involve new technology (mobile apps, RSS feeds, podcasts) to communicate with citizens and officials
15. Maintains and creates content for subscriber list distribution
16. Works closely with the school departments to streamline and automate posting of materials.
17. Participates in special projects and other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.