Framingham Superintendent Planning 'Listening Tour' at PTO Leaders' Homes

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott wants to hold small, private talks at the homes of PTO leaders this year.

His office emailed about 20 PTO leaders in Framingham on Sept. 11, asking if they would be interested in hosting the Superintendent in their homes. The email included seven specific dates for the talks, with the first scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

“I hope to enhance my opportunities to listen to parents by creating some intimate opportunities to hear feedback from parents on topics that interest them,” said Scott to Framingham Patch.

“Dr. Scott would like to hold meetings with the community throughout the year and is looking for a more personal setting than if he were to have it a school building or the Desmarais Room at the King Building. Since you meet with him regularly, we were wondering if you would be willing to host one of these evenings. We would ask that you invite your neighbors, friends, family or any other members of the community that might like an opportunity to meet the Superintendent and ask any questions they might have about the School Department,” wrote the Superintendent’s office in the email to PTO leaders.

PTO leaders are invited to a monthly meeting with the Superintendent and his leadership the first Wednesday of each month.

“The stories that parents can share in these environments hopefully will go beyond what parents can share in open forums, which we will certainly also have,” said Scott to Framingham Patch.

Scott told Patch he plans to send out a letter on what he calls his “listening tour” ASAP.

A couple of PTO leaders questioned the need for a private meeting in their home, suggesting it might be better for Scott to meet with the PTO membership and attend one of the PTO’s monthly meetings.

Scott said “I do plan to attend PTO meetings and I will continue to value my regular meetings with TWPTO.”

Dates suggested by the Scott administration for his “listening tour” are:

Oct. 2, Nov. 20, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9 and May 7. All at 7 p.m.