Majority Of Framingham Teachers Have Been Vaccinated: District

FRAMINGHAM, MA — As teachers in Framingham prepare to head back to school buildings full-time in April, close to 500 educators have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus so far, according to the district.

This week, Framingham teachers agreed to a contract amendment ahead of a full return to middle school buildings on April 28. Framingham sent elementary school students back to buildings full-time on April 5.

In the amendment, the teachers have agreed to in-class social distancing of 3 feet between each masked student. They won't be required to be less than 6 feet from students and other adults, except in some specific circumstances, like in hallways and during physical interactions with students.

The amendment also provides continued pooled testing, nasal swab testing for staff and teleworking arrangements for staff who need to quarantine. The amendment also asks the district to support getting teachers vaccinated — but does not mandate vaccinations.

As of Thursday, 462 of the district's 700 teachers had been vaccinated, according spokeswoman Rochelle Santos. Another 54 teachers have told the district they will not get the vaccine. There is no requirement that teachers report if they've been vaccinated. Teachers in Massachusetts became eligible for the vaccine on March 11.

"Thank you to Superintendent [Robert] Tremblay, Assistant Superintendent Inna London, the [Framingham Teachers Association], and all who stepped up to work out the essential updates to this agreement to comply with state rule changes and help kids who wish to return to in person school the ability to do so,” School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg said in a statement about the contract amendment. "An extra thank you and appreciation to Jessica Barnhill, District 8, and Beverly Hugo, District 1 for leading the School Committee’s portion of the negotiations."

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has mandated that districts return elementary and middle school students full-time. A mandate for a full high school return has not been set.