UPDATED: Parents Frustrated With Lack of Communication, Transparency

Parents at a Framingham Middle School expressed frustration with the school’s principal and leadership on how they have handled a ”spike” in “physical aggression” at the school.

At the end of last year, there was an “increase” in assaults and fights at the school, as well as a BB gun was found in a student’s locker.

Administration surveyed students, and 10 percent of the students in grades 6-7-8 at Fuller Middle School “do not feel safe at all.”

Wednesday night, Fuller Middle Principal Sharon Seyller held an “administrative chat,” with one of the largest crowds of parents since she began as principal in 2013 attending the meeting.

“This is a great turnout for an important topic,” said Seyller to start the meeting. “The purpose is to acknowledge the recents pike in physical aggression at the school.”

But parents were looking weeks after major incidents for more than acknowledgment of the issue.

The more than 75 individuals in the audience wanted answers to what caused the spike, and what administration was doing to make their kids feel safe to come to school each day.

Parents also complained about a lack of communication and transparency, over several major issues and demanded administration communicate better what is happening at the school.

Parents noted that they are hearing about the incidents of violence from their kids and Framingham Patch and not the from the school.

“It was in the Patch before we all knew,” said parent Hilary Andrews.

During a presentation, administration said about 5 percent of the school’s 450-plus students is causing the disruptions or about 24 students.

Parents also demanded to know what administration is doing to discipline students, a couple of whom left other students hospitalized and “traumatized.”

Seyeller and Vice Principal Michael Stevens said it was spelled out in the handbook and that the behavior system in place, called PBIS, is working. They also mentioned the implementation of a new yoga/meditation program and a bell system between classes.

The bell system, explained Seyller, allows for an increase in adults and staff in the hallways, cafeteria and at the buses. The school has about 70-80 staffers, which was the equivalent of the attendees at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“Kids behave better when adults are present,” said Seyeller.

The responses did not impress parents, who called for specific details on punishment, lockers to be swept, additional staff to be hired like a behavioral specialist, and even the possibility of metal detectors installed in the school.

Seyeller said they were all good ideas and she would consider.

Also in attendance Wednesday night during the 2-plus hour meeting was both Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott and Assistant Superintendent Frank Tiano, but two School Committee members.

Scott said he had not considered metal detectors and said he would look into the suggestions. He also said her would review the district’s budget to try to add additional staff and resources to the Level III school.

Parents said anytime a weapon is found in a school they wanted to know.

“We don’t expect to see anymore weapons in school said,” the principal.

But that was not reassuring to some parents in the school’s library, including one who asked if all the lockers were checked for weapons after the BB gun was found in one locker.

The answer from the principal was no.

Seyeller when pressed by parents, whose daughter or son has been attacked or assaulted, for how the students were being disciplined said she would not talk specifics. But the questions persisted.

Some questioned why those students who caused bodily harm were still in school.

Scott explained the state has rules and it is hard to expel a student from school.

Seyeller said the handbook addressed how they discipline those students.

But several parents said “handbooks and PBIS” were not good enough answers.

“Consequences need to be swift, certain, and consistent,” said parent Jill Murphy.

Police have been added at the school. There are now two police officers at the middle school each day.

The district is also creating an “administrative intern”position for Fuller’s office, which had three major ”physical aggression” incidents in 2015 since school started. A grade 8 math teacher will be moving into the position, and a long-term sub will replace her by month’s end.

Seyeller said the problems would not be “fixed overnight” and said that she wanted to hold another meeting with parents next month before the vacation break.

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Originally posted on January 7. Updated with photos and more details for the January 8 newsletter.