We are frustrated with the numerous transitions we have had to undergo this year and the lack of leadership at Franklin School.  We are writing to Dr. Fleishman to voice our concerns and request a change.  Please read the letter below.  If you agree, please add your name to the letter by filing out this form.  The letter will sent to Dr. Fleishman prior to Thursday night's PTO meeting.  Please sign by Wednesday morning, March 3rd, by 9:00am, so that we can forward this allowing ample time for it to be read before the meeting.  


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March 1, 2021
 
Dear Dr. Fleishman,

We hope this email finds you well. As parents of children who attend Franklin School, we have come together to ask you to take into serious consideration a permanent change in the leadership at our school.  Please spare us a third administrative transition in what has already been a very frustrating and rocky school year.

Over the past several years, we have all grown frustrated with the problems that have repeatedly surfaced with the Franklin administration. First and foremost, there is a major lack of communication between Mr. Jocelyn and the school community.  Information is seldom shared with families in a timely manner.  We often receive major updates or changes right before their inception.  Additionally,  our emails and phone messages go largely unanswered.  When he does respond, his correspondences come well beyond a 24 hour window, are vague, and do not answer the questions or concerns posed.  
 
Additionally, there is inconsistency in the way that issues are dealt with across the school; at times, they are not dealt with at all.  One example of this was Mr. Jocelyn’s rollout of the hybrid plus/extended day program for the children of educators. There was no identified staff in place for over one month, technology was unavailable to students for their participation on Zoom, and there was no response as to when or how these issues would be solved.  Classroom teachers ultimately took their assigned students on their non-cohort days, made plans for their learning, secured technology, and communicated with parents.  This example highlights the additional burden that has been placed on teachers to compensate for our principal’s ineffective leadership.  It also highlights why the current atmosphere at Franklin is the way it is; teachers are stressed out, unhappy,  frustrated, and don’t have a leader they can turn to.  
 
For several years, we’ve hung in there with various interim principals while Mr. Jocelyn has taken leaves of absence.  But, in a year that has been all but normal, filled with the unknown and unprecedented, we deserve consistency and continuity.  Instead, we have been faced with a school leader who has all but abandoned ship in the midst of a global pandemic, creating constant struggles and confusion.  There are children and families at Franklin that are hurting and are in need of a better support system; they are not getting the help they need right now.  Given our frustration, we can’t even begin to imagine the challenges our beloved teachers and staff have faced without consistent leadership. The staff deserves total support to help them navigate this constantly changing year — especially now that they are faced with the new challenge of bringing hybrid students back into the building full time.
 
On the other hand, from the moment Dana Bennett walked through the doors at Franklin, she has shown true leadership skills. Her communication skills are superb and she is responsive and available to staff, students and families. Her talent in an administrative role is obvious and the children have grown to love her. We have only heard positive reviews and praise for her performance.

We understand that replacing a principal is a process that can take up to a year, and sometimes longer. However, we demand that the numerous issues detailed in this letter be addressed for the sake of the children. Among us are parents who grew up in West Newton, parents with older children who attended Franklin, even those who attended Franklin School themselves, and educators who teach in Newton and other districts.  We are aware that the leadership at Franklin has for many years been problematic. It is time that Franklin’s leadership is brought up to par with the other schools in our district.  The teachers, staff, parents and, more than anything, our children deserve it.
 
It is because of all these reasons that we request that you keep Ms. Bennett as our interim principal through the end of the current school year. We do not think it is fair or equitable for our school to go through a third administrative change in a single school year.  
 
Going forward, we strongly request that a thorough evaluation of the state of Franklin School be made with regards to the needs of the teachers and staff, the Franklin community and above all, the students.  We believe that a plan for a new, strong administrative leader needs to be put in place soon for the fall.  Franklin deserves a fresh start.
 
We expect that these requests will be addressed on the evening of March 4th when you and members of the School Committee attend the Franklin School virtual PTO meeting
 
We thank you for your time and consideration and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday night.
 
Best,