Family Forum Tonight in Response To 'Rising Tensions' at High School

A family outreach event will be held tonight, May 28 at the Greater Framingham Community Church in downtown Framingham, after an incident at Framingham High and a second incident on Tarelli Terrace, due to ”rising tensions” between two groups of high school students.

Last Monday, a very public fight took place at Framingham High between the two groups of students.

Ten students were involved and 4 were injured in the May 18 incident. Police responded and were given all 10 student’s names.

School administration disciplined the students and “all involved in the altercation are being required to complete conflict resolution classes as part of their re-entry to the high school,” said Principal Elyse Torbert, in an email to parents.

Since the incident school administration has been working with Framingham Police and the community to ”resolve these conflicts in a sustainable manner that makes sure to address any root causes for this behavior,” said Torbert.

A bilingual police officer was stationed at Framingham High, a 24-hour Spanish-speaking hotline for families that need help was provided along with in-home family services.

Tonight’s 7 p.m. outreach event for families is another example.

“We are hopeful that these efforts will help affect meaningful change so that everyone can move forward in
a safe and productive learning environment,” Torbert wrote to high school families. “Our goal is to continue to be as open and transparent as possible in regards to communication of school safety issues while still protecting the privacy rights of those students involved and also not losing sight of the fact that 99+% of the students at the high school have been making positive choices that contribute to a vibrant school culture.”