UPDATED: Framingham Staff: Elementary Schools Not Equitably Treated

Staff from McCarthy Elementary School came before the Framingham School Committee meeting Wednesday night to complain about an “extreme inequality” in the public school district.

Kindergarten staff told Framingham School Committee, during the public comment portion of the meeting, it is unfair that the district’s two other “level 3” elementary school have full-time kindergarten aides in its classrooms and McCarthy Elementary, another “level 3” school has just part-time aides.

The Framingham teachers union filed a grievance because of the inequality, between the three “level 3” elementary schools, but it was denied recently, said Framingham Teachers Union Co-President Sarah McKeon, who also was in the audience.

“McCarthy Elementary is currently the only level 3 school without full-day kindergarten aides,” said Laurand Bryant, a kindergarten aide at McCarthy and a longtime Framingham resident Wednesday night. “When Brophy and Wilson became level 3 schools, the kindergarten aides became full day in the classrooms. There was no discussion of budget funding or contract language - it was the corrective action taken towards closing the achievement gap. Unfortunately, McCarthy received level 3 status two years ago and since that time McCarthy administration has been working towards having full day kindergarten aides for their students - with no success.”

McCarthy elementary has four kindergarten aides, said McCarthy Assistant Principal Jean Nolan.

The aides work 19 hours per week, compared to full day aides at Brophy and Wilson elementary schools.

Such an inequality amongst the level 3 schools prompted the filing of a grievance by the Framingham Teachers Association. The grievance reached level 4 and was rejected by the School Committee.

“What I found interesting was that it was not rejected on the concept or the need for full day kindergarten aides to support our students but on the weakness of the contract language,” said Bryant. “However, when Brophy was faced with their level 3 status, they were given full day support through past practices.”

Nolan said to bring the aides to full day status for the rest of the 2014-15 school year would cost the district about $8,000.

McCarthy students “deserve the right to have the same support as any other level 3 school in the district,” said Bryant. ”This important resource can play a major role in closing our achievement gap. There should be consistent resources provided to all level 3 performing schools. Why is education of students at Brophy and Wilson valued higher than our students? McCarthy students need to be valued at the same level. We are only asking for the same resources afforded other level 3 schools. Our students should be provided an equal opportunity for success.”

Bryant was not the only McCarthy staffer to speak Wednesday night.

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott said the district does “support the need to increase the hours” for aides at McCarthy.

Scott told McCarthy staffers, and its assistant principal, sitting in the audience he would make “every effort to support” the school in the 2015-16 school budget.

Scott apologized for the district being “slow” to meet the needs of McCarthy Elementary.

Later during the April 8 School Committee meeting, the Committee heard an update on the proposed 2015-16 school budget from Scott.

He is recommending a budget of $116.5 million to Framingham Town Meeting.

The Town’s CFO is recommending a budget of $114.9 million, which is a $5.5 million increase from the current budget. Scott said that amount is not enough and wants an additional $1.6 million more.

During the budget discussion last night, School Committee Chair Beverly Hugo asked if the $116.5 million budget included moving the aides at McCarthy from part-day to full-day

Scott said yes.

It was then asked where in the budget the money was?

Scott’s reply was that it was under the “other” line item, which was listed as $300,000.

According to the FTA contract, aides in the Framingham Public Schools are paid hourly between $18 and $30 an hour.

Nolan said it would cost Framingham Public Schools an additional $35,000 for the four aides to be full day at McCarthy Elementary in the 2015-16 school year.

Framingham School Committee members agreed to Scott’s recommended 2015-16 budget and voted 6-0-1 to ask Town Meeting for $116.5 million. Newly-elected School Committee member Jim Kelly abstained from the vote.