Framingham Switch To Online Classes Leads To Dozens Of Furloughs

FRAMINGHAM, MA — About 41 Framingham Public Schools cafeteria workers have been temporarily furloughed as the district prepares begin school on Sept. 16 fully remote.

The furloughs will last until at least Oct. 5, when Framingham expects to bring students with higher learning needs back to buildings. More high-needs students are set to return by Oct. 26.

The district has plans to enter a hybrid learning model, but that may not happen until early November, depending on coronavirus conditions.

"Employees are guaranteed to continue with their own healthcare coverage, and they will be welcomed back as soon as the public health situation allows," the district said in a statement Wednesday. "We wish our furloughed employees the best during this unprecedented time and are working hard to return our affected employees to the workforce as quickly as possible."

However, the planned start of hybrid learning hinges on local coronavirus rates. Framingham was designated one of a few red "high risk" communities on Aug. 26.

Framingham's coronavirus status has only worsened since then. The rate of cases rose from 8.7 per 100,000 on Aug. 26 to 10.9 per 100,000 on Sept. 2.

Meanwhile, coronavirus continues to ravage the economy in Massachusetts. The state had the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 16.1 percent as of Aug. 21.