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Tonight, the Lowell School Committee meets in Council Chambers, beginning at 7 p.m. and televised live on LTC cable station 10. The agenda includes two motions by me and two by Committee Member John Leahy. My motions are: 1. Request the Superintendent provide a report on the use of early-release time at Lowell High School, including specific activities, objectives and measureable results from last year as well as plans for the upcoming year. 2. Request the Superintendent provide a report updating the committee on the status of development of a new instrument for evaluating teachers, including copies of both the proposed and current evaluation instruments in the report.

John Leahy’s motions are: 1. Request that the Committee block off all Wednesdays for School Committee business whether it be a regularly scheduled School Committee meeting or a Subcommittee meeting. 2. Ask the Superintendent to set up a meeting with the appropriate department/departments for discussion on the hiring of a school maintenance position.

This morning I witnessed a moving tribute to the victims and heroes of 9/11 at Lowell High School. The annual event includes the entire school via live broadcast on Lowell Educational Television. (You can watch the rebroadcast on cable station 22 during the following times: Tonight at 7:30 and 10 p.m., tomorrow at 8 and 11 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m., and Monday at 5 p.m. ) Most of us remember where we were when we first heard about the hijacked planes crashing into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and later a field in Pennsylvania. But there is something especially poignant about reliving those somber memories in the company of respectful young people. The Jr. ROTC honor guards, in particular, who surrounded us in the high school courtyard this morning, are always impressive. They stand straight and proud in smartly dressed uniforms, and are precise in their motions, whether it is marching in slow synchronization or unfolding and raising the flag at half mast. It is particularly poignant to consider the 9/11 tragedy in their presence, perhaps, because of their youth and diversity, and because they are a beacon of hope for a better tomorrow. We remember the day, the tears, and the pain. We remember those who lost their lives trying to save others, those who continue today without their loved ones, and those who work each day for a better world for us all.

I was surprised by the ferocious controversy surrounding President Obama’s speech to students today. (Here’s the text and video of the address.) In my idealistic world, I actually thought a “work hard and do your best” message from the president was a good way to start the school year. I liked how President Obama could speak from his own experience and act as a role model, especially for many of our minority students who lag behind in test scores, graduation rates, and income levels. Regardless of the adult static around the issue, what did Lowell kids hear the president say? I happen to live with Lowell students, both of whom saw the address today in social studies and history classes respectively. My younger child, a 13-year-old who has always been a conscientious student, found Obama’s speech “interesting and inspiring.” The point that most stuck with her: “even if you come from a bad neighborhood, you should try your hardest and you can succeed.” My son, a junior at LHS who finished Obama’s Audacity of Hope for a summer reading assignment, had a more pragmatic reaction: “He must be a really strict parent, and I felt kind of sorry for his daughters,” he said, adding that it was “cool” how Obama challenged us to think what a president 50 years from now would say about our contribution.

Of course, the perspectives of my white, middle-class children do not represent the majority of Lowell’s students, many of whom are below the federal poverty level and learn English as their second language. That’s why Obama’s message on education is so important. Here’s one part, in particular, I hope resonates with our young people: “…But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying… Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.” Now that’s worth repeating; let’s hope they heard it.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, at noon, President Obama will address students across the country with a welcome-back-to-school message. Lowell Public Schools will broadcast the address live for all schools to access on Lowell Educational TV (L.E.T.) Channel 22. In addition, educators may access suggested classroom activities via Obama’s website for further opportunities to engage students in discussion about education. I’m not sure if past presidents have made such a concerted effort to connect with our youth, but I applaud Obama’s recognition of how important it is to make that effort and the significance of his leadership in this area. Any attempt to make young people aware of the relevancy of their education and its role in our collective success makes sense and is good for the entire nation.

In her article today, reporter Jen Myers leads with the Lowell school department’s decision to centralize food preparation at the Rogers School, the new home for central administration. This decision along with reductions in temporary staff will enable about $300,000 in savings for the food service program—a first step toward solvency. What Myers doesn’t mention, however, is that the Rogers School will also house a community precinct for the Lowell Police Department. In a collaborative move, the school committee voted last night to provide space for the police at the former middle school. The space is near the gymnasium and has its own access to the building. This partnership will benefit the city in many ways as the district looks to expand use of the Rogers School to community partners and youth groups, and the police build a positive presence in the neighborhood. (According to this Sun report, the Lowell Police had to close three of its nine precincts due to June budget cuts.) In other news, the committee voted to defer a decision on the early-release program recommended by the superintendent until more information is forthcoming about childcare options and the professional development planned.

Several issues are on the agenda for tonight’s Lowell School Committee meeting, but one with an immediate impact on students, families and staff is a proposal by the administration to conduct a pilot allowing four early-release days for K-8 schools through the upcoming academic year. (The proposal will be addressed as part of the Curriculum Subcommittee report.) According to school administrators, the days will occur on the same schedule as the high school, which has had an early-release program for several years, and will provide much-needed time for professional development and collaboration between grade-level teams at the elementary and middle schools. Early release for professional development is a practice used by many neighboring school districts, but due to childcare concerns for working parents and other issues, it has not been an easy option in Lowell. The proposed pilot, which is designed to improve teacher communication and quality of instruction, would reduce students’ time on learning by 7.5 hours, increase parent-teacher conference time by 2.5 hours, and result in a savings of about $40K in substitutes for the year. The proposal calls for students to be released after lunch on four Wednesdays, with exact times varying by school. The first release day is planned for Oct. 28; the second one, on Dec. 16, is slated for parent-teacher conferences across the district.

During reports from the Finance and Safety Subcommittees, the board will also receive updates on savings in the food service program as well as plans for flu shots in the schools this fall. The meeting, which is held in Council Chambers and begins at 7 p.m., will be televised live on cable channel 10.

Yesterday’s Sun has an article about Alison Laraba, the only challenger for a seat on the Lowell School Committee in the upcoming election. I met Alison Laraba through the Friends of Lowell High School (we’re both members) and especially noticed her during school budget hearings last spring. She is an outspoken parent with good ideas and I welcome her to the race for school committee. If you suffered through our budget hearings, you may recall Laraba as the speaker at the June 17 meeting who took issue with four members of the committee leaving council chambers while Sullivan School Principal Edith LeBran spoke about the importance of library media specialists. Laraba impressed me then as someone willing to take a stand for her convictions, and I look forward to an interesting campaign with her involved. Note:This LINK just in from LTC streaming video. (You can fast forward past Principal LeBran’s speech to see Laraba’s brief comments on the absent school committee members, but they are not shown leaving chambers due to the camera’s tight focus on the speakers.)

The number of candidates for school committee has steadily declined over the past six years, and quotes from my colleagues hypothesize why in yesterday’s article. As my earlier post on the issue reveals, “WANTED: Lunatics to run for school committee,” I have a few ideas of my own why more folks aren’t pulling papers for school committee. I also posted here why appointed school boards are not the solution. How do we get candidates interested in running and how do we overcome voter apathy? Given my slanted perspective, education seems key: not only education of our youth, but also consistent education of our community about the importance the board and our public schools play in the success of our city.

I first met Senator Ted Kennedy at a National Schools Board Association (NSBA) meeting in Washington years ago where he was the featured speaker. Before the meeting, those of us from the Bay State got a private audience with the Senator. We numbered about 20 folks from the Commonwealth, and I’ll never forget the sheepish grin on his face when he walked into the room and softly asked, “Massachusetts?” We nodded enthusiastically and clustered around him to shake his hand, make eye contact, and share a few words. Later, we were escorted into a huge auditorium where the front rows had been reserved for us. We had the best seats in the house as Senator Edward M. Kennedy entered behind us to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. I was proud to be from Massachusetts, to sit at the front of that huge auditorium with my colleagues and know that our Senator was a national champion for public schoolchildren. The cheers and adoration from thousands of school committee members from across the country felt like a personal accomplishment: he’s our Senator, he belongs to us!

A few years later, I got it in my head that I wanted Senator Kennedy to visit Lowell and see firsthand the good work being done in our schools. Federal resources for education had steadily declined under the Bush administration, No Child Left Behind was under-funded and over-mandated, and we needed help. I was a Lowell delegate at the upcoming Massachusetts more »

By the end of last week, the results of the state budget via the Conference Committee’s Report were public although we’re still getting final numbers on what that means for the Lowell Public Schools. (See Dick’s post for a breakdown.) Because our school budget was based on $4.2 million from the stabilization fund and that number was reduced by $500,000, it’s not clear if the shortfall will have to come off the backs of Lowell schoolchildren. By the end of the day on Friday, we still didn’t know final numbers but heard that the superintendent was in conversations with the city manager regarding whether a state increase to the city would impact the school budget. (School administrators indicated that the city’s increase was $1.5 million, but I’m not sure what that’s based on or if it’s a final number.) Besides the possibility of the city providing additional school funds, there still exists the potential for concessions from school unions. After eliminating positions and programs worth more than $7.5 million, it’s safe to say there isn’t a committee member who wants to cut any deeper into the education of our children.

Cutting millions of dollars from the school budget is not my idea of a good time, nor is it the reason I ran for school committee. But if there has been a bright glimmer of light in this whole dark process, it has been the people—especially the students—who have come to the podium and spoken so eloquently in support of our schools, staff, and programs. Last night was no exception. When Patrick Chhoy, a recent LHS graduate who will attend UMass on full scholarship, spoke last night, there wasn’t a dry eye in the chambers. Chhoy’s emotional plea was in support of the high school overall, but particularly his guidance counselor who helped him and many of his friends with the college application process. Chhoy’s point about the difference his guidance counselor made in his ability to attend college speaks volumes about how important a good education is to our children, not only for the individual lives that are impacted, but for the future of our community. One caring adult can save a child, and that is the work being done every day in our schools. As school leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure the structure that allows that to happen continues despite tough financial times. The fact that our young people, from current middle school and high school students to alumni, were active members in this process makes me incredibly proud and hopeful. I am proud of their willingness to engage and how well they represented themselves, proud of the people in our schools who gave them the skills and motivation to be involved, and proud of the support network that is our community. In the end, those students keep me hopeful that despite these tough times, this important work will continue.