Framingham Teachers May Work Remotely When School Starts: FTA

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham teachers will likely get to pick where they work when the school year begins in September in an all-remote format, according to a statement released Friday by the teachers union and district officials.

Framingham students will begin school in mid-September learning remotely, with a goal of entering a hybrid model in November. But the district and the teachers union have been in negotiations over working conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks.

"Given that our new school year is quickly approaching, the Framingham School Committee and the Framingham Teachers Association are continuing to negotiate a return to school agreement," said the Friday statement signed by Chair Adam Freudberg, Superintendent Robert Tremblay and Framingham Teachers Association President Christine Mulroney.

"While specific health, safety, and other issues continue to be discussed, there has been significant progress working on a draft policy that would allow Unit A, S, and T members flexibility to work from a location of their choice either home or school, with mutually agreed upon parameters, during a remote phase of the school plan," the statement continued.

The statement also said that teachers will have until Aug. 18 to submit applications for work accommodations. The deadline had been Aug. 17.

Worcester teachers have won a similar concession. They will get to teach from home at the beginning of the school year if they chose. Worcester elected to enter the school year in an all-remote format, giving some students the opportunity to choose to enter a hybrid model in November.