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FRAMINGHAM – In the weeks leading up to the full in-person return of our elementary and middle school students, the Framingham Teachers Association (FTA) and the School Committee met to discuss the plan for ensuring the safety of
our community.
Among other risk-mitigating factors, such as maintaining a minimum of 3 feet of social distance and voluntary PCR testing for staff, we all agreed on the importance of offering weekly pooled testing for students.
The School Committee also agreed to publish the number of students participating in pool testing per building in order to maintain transparency.
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After strongly encouraging families to consent to pool testing, we have been thrilled to see the rate of participation increase. We appreciate the dedication of the district’s COVID team, which has been working behind the scenes to support this endeavor.
Pool testing provides an important piece of information that will help to minimize the spread of COVID in our community and adds a sense of security for staff and families.
On Thursday, April 8, staff and families were informed that pooled testing was not available in several schools due to staffing issues with the vendor.
This is unacceptable.
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The Framingham Teachers Association is disappointed in the vendor’s inability to provide consistent access to testing for our students just one week after our full reopening. We need a reliable solution that will last until the end of the school year.
The FTA requests that the committee address this issue and secure pooled testing or an alternative, such as individual PCR testing, for students immediately.
Framingham Teachers Association Executive Board
Christine Mulroney
Lori Brockway
Lisa Zanella
Kevin Lynch
Sarah Guernsey
Ilana Wyner
Jill Weller
Am Cecil Fuoti
Colleen Gazard
Judy Dagg
Emily Viti
Linda Renault
Ann Devito
Sarah McKeon
MetroWest Medical Center 
SMILE Mass