Finlay Wants Back on Framingham School Committee

Citing administration issues, staff turnover, and need for better communication former Framingham School Committee member Rick Finlay has decided to run for a seat on the 7-member Committee.

Finlay plans to pull nomination paper Monday, the first day they are available, for the town’s 2016 spring election.

The father of two, said he has been asked by residents and parents to get back into politics and represent them on the School Committee.

There will be two, 3-year seats available on the School Committee on the March ballot. Current School Committee members Heather Connolly and Eric Silverman, are both up for re-election.

In 2009, Finlay was elected to a one-year seat on the committee. A year later, he was re-elected to a 3-year term.

But in December 2011, he resigned from the Committee.

Finlay said he accepted a new job in 2011, and he couldn’t devote the time to the position as he was working nights. Since then, he has been promoted and now works 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and can balance work and the School Committee position.

Finlay, who works for the Wellesley Public Schools, has attended School Committee meetings and spoken on issues, but he said when not present at the meetings, he has watched them on cable television. Finlay is also a frequent visitor at the Framingham School Committee’s subcommittee on buildings and grounds.

Finlay, a father of two has a daughter at Stapleton Elementary and a son at McCarthy Elementary, said he has seen the school system change since he served on it.

He said the strength of the Framingham Public Schools is its ”teachers and staff.” He said he is also happy to see an increase in the SAGE program, since he served on the Committee, but said there is work to be done and he can help.

First, he cited the rapid growth of the administration of the public school district over the last three years, under Superintendent of School Stacy Scott.

Second, Finlay said there has been a lot of turnover of high profile positions in the administration, under that same three years.

“We need to find out why that is happening,” said Finlay, who said he would call for an independent study of the human resources department and the hiring practices. ”We need an audit.”

He also suggested a survey of employees leaving would give insight into “what is going on, so we can fix it.”

A third major issue is still the lack of communication from administration to stakeholders, said Finlay.

“Communication needs to improve,” said Finlay. “People feel shut out. They don’t feel like anyone is listening to their concerns. Parents don’t feel like their opinion matters. The public doesn’t feel like they are heard.”

Finlay said the School Committee can help with that communication issue by having more discussion of topics at their meetings.

“Lately, the Committee votes with little or no discussion,” said Finlay, who said if he was elected he would bring back more dialogue during public meetings.

Finlay said if elected he would “advocate for students, teachers, and parents.”

He said he would be a “fiscally-responsible” Committee member, and “keep all stakeholders educated and informed on all the issues and why decisions are being made.”

Finlay, when he served on the School Committee from 2009-11, was on the Building and Grounds subcomittee and even served as chair. That Committee is charged with dealing with the overcrowding facing the public school district.

Finlay said his experience will be helpful as Framingham makes decisions on how to deal with the increase enrollment.

“I will bring experience and knowledge to the Committee,” said Finlay. “We need to have a solid plan in place and communicate to the public.”

Finlay said Framingham is known for its special education programs, but even that department could using some tweaking. As a parent, I know there have been some changes to the program, that need to be looked at, he said.

Finally, Finlay questioned why special programming is happening in just one school and not all schools in Framingham.

“Not all the same programs are run in all the elementary schools,” said Finlay. “That is a major problem. Every kid should have the same opportunities no matter which elementary school they are at. We are one district and we should strive for one education for all.”

Finlay cited the new mandarin classes and some STEM classes offered only at select elementary schools. Framingham has nine elementary schools in the district.