OP-ED: Hayes Announces Write-in Candidacy For District 9 Framingham School Committee

By Scott Hayes

FRAMINGHAM – My name is Scott Hayes and I am running as a write in candidate for my District 9 School committee seat.

My daughter is a senior at Framingham High and has been in Framingham Public Schools since 4th grade. I have had the distinct opportunity to live on both the north and south side during our time here in Framingham.

I can tell you there is a very palpable difference in the education and equity on this side of the tracks.

Why I didn’t decide earlier on as to run for the position was simply I wasn’t at the point where I felt I needed to be heard. That changed during an august school committee meeting and I announced my run in the comments. I was fed up with the focus on all things COVID and not on the education of our children. COVID is real and a danger but science wasn’t being followed. People were making too many decisions with their hearts and that led to a wasted year of education that we conducted online. The failure rate, absentee rate were higher during at home learning.  Continually the committee and administration said it was waiting for guidance and then when guidance was issued it wasn’t followed. We as a city failed our children last year. 

Closer to home here in District 9 our committee member is an empty seat.  He hasn’t done anything to improve the abysmal scores across the board at Harmony Grove. He hasn’t been an active member of the school community. These are things that a school committee member has to do. If you don’t have a finger on the pulse of the school its going die and you won’t know it. That is what has happened here in D9.

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The teachers are being pushed to the limits of what they can handle. Between having over 80% not native English speaking and over 90% high needs students we aren’t allowing the teachers the opportunity to teach properly.

I have walked miles already in this District handing out my flyers and talking to the residents. I have some miles left to walk before November 2nd and you can be assured I will be out and about regardless of the weather talking to the actual members of the community I want to represent.

Today I filled out my CORI request so I could take part in the walking school bus program that is unique to the south side as it seems the only buses they couldn’t find drivers for in the city this year were all in D9.

I don’t have all the answers but I do know how to problem solve. I know how to put my nose to the grindstone and get results. I will include parents, students and teachers in my decision making because those are the ones affected by what goes on with the school committee. I will be a voice for the citizens of District 9 with a children first mentality.