jackiedoherty.org

I caught City Councilor Joe Mendonca on UML Sunrise (91.5 fm) this morning and finally got a clear, concise understanding of the tax levy—something I’ve been hazy about for some time.  He confirmed that Lowell is not up to its allowed tax levy (the levy is the amount that a community can raise through property taxes, limited since 1980 to 2.5% of the previous year’s total property value). The levy is cumulative, so that the amount a community doesn’t tax is added to the next year’s amount.  Joe also explained that one of the reasons we are under the levy is that the dramatic rise in property values in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s caused the “ceiling to open up.”  Now, with the depression of property values, the levy will most likely contract or at least not increase.  This does not bode well for city services; already somewhat diminished from the need to balance the budget and improve our bond rating (Joe also explained why a better bond rating is so important as we will get better interest rates on debt to fund big projects).  So, it seems to me the reliance on property taxes (besides placing an unfair burden on property owners who are on a fixed income, usually senior citizens) ties communities to the fickle ups and downs of the real estate market, and it is my fear that the cities, who do not fare as well when the market rises, are likely to be the hardest hit when it falls.  Joe, being a numbers guy, also gave a great explanation of net-school spending – another budget mystery, which I’ll talk about in another post.

Sunrise is interviewing all of the candidates for all three races (congress, city council and school committee) and podcasts of the interviews are available on their website (see above link).

Clearly, Jim Ogonowski didn’t think through his positions on social security and immigration. Although Niki Tsongas held her own in those areas, it was candidate Patrick Murphy who shined a bright light on Ogonowski’s flawed positions. Regarding social security, Ogonowski said he would not raise taxes, not repeal Bush’s tax breaks, and not raise the retirement age–he also promised to protect social security for those who depended on it. At that point, Murphy jumped in (it wasn’t his turn) and wanted to know how can that possibly happen? (Think about it: without new revenue or cost cutting, how can you pay for more social security? It makes no sense.) Regarding immigration, Ogonowski’s position was clear: enforce the law. (Imagine, if you will, deporting 12 million people and putting a huge, electric barbed-wire fence outlining our borders. Inside, with us, are millions of parent-less, American-born children living in squalor surrounded by rotting, unpicked food.) Niki, however, did a decent job on immigration, explaining how folks would get in line and wait their turn, and how earned pathways, including paying back taxes and learning English, would get them to citizenship. Ogonowski and the other two balked that a pathway to citizenship IS amnesty. Again, it was Murphy who took it further when he agreed we need an earned path to effectively deal with people here, but we also need to look at the reasons why people come here, and we need to rework trade policies. Overall, it was an interesting debate, and the hour flew by, Whatever happens next week, Patrick Murphy is a young man with fresh ideas, who has made a lasting mark on this campaign. I’m betting we’ll see more of him, hopefully without the distracting accent. 

It was 7 in the morning when I left WCAP after my radio interview last week, and I was feeling a little shaky. Maybe it was the caffeine from the coffee or an adrenaline surge from the verbal fistfight I’d just had with hosts George Anthes and John McDonough. For those less stout hearted, predawn pugilism might have been enough to call it a day. For me, it was just the beginning. I headed to the Memorial Auditorium to settle my nerves by having breakfast with the Lowell Plan and about 350 local business, media, and community leaders. As soon as I walked in, I ran into Fred Faust, broker, co-board member at LTC, and apparently radio listener. Fred greeted with me an exceptionally excited (and I thought somewhat sympathetic) hello and immediately steered me toward a table and “someone I had to meet.” It turned out to be Clark Smidt, soon-to-be co-owner of WCAP. I was excited to meet Smidt, not only because I had just survived radio bullying, but because I had a few thoughts to share with him. We found out we had gone to sister schools in Boston’s Back Bay—Smidt to Boston University and me to Emerson College. I bragged about Emerson’s great radio station (WERS). He agreed and mentioned by name a former station manager we both knew. I reminded Mr. Smidt that LHS students were in walking distance and to keep Lowell High in mind for student internships. We talked about whether radio had to be nasty to attract listeners. He said you can have “provocative” radio without being overly negative (wouldn’t that be something). On the way out, I ran into Mark O’Neil, Sun publisher, and he said: “They were mean to you today.”  As I walked to my car, I couldn’t help thinking how ironic and hopeful life was sometimes—then again, maybe it was lack of sleep.

Kudos to the Lowell Sun (can you believe I actually wrote that) for an editorial written by Sharon Flaherty and published on Sept. 25, which reads, in part: “Although she did not receive her $5,000 bonus this year, Lowell Superintendent of Schools Karla Brooks Baehr did achieve three of the five challenging goals set for her and, equally important, set a tone of accountability for those whom she supervises… We applaud Baehr and the School Committee for placing real accountability measures into her contract and hope it inspires the committee to push for similar standards in the department’s union contracts…” Once in a while, the paper actually gets it, and for that, I am grateful (no sour grapes here). For the full text, check their website.

There’s been much media attention lately about the hiring practices of the Lowell schools. Today’s Sun actually features an article, “Milestones Achieved,” by Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr where she discusses the progress the district has made in recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers as well as “career ladder,” educational, and mentoring programs. Here’s the conclusion of her article: “Achieving these milestones has taken a lot of hard work and imagination on the part of many people. We know we have more work to do. If you have questions or suggestions about any of the eight steps we’ve taken so far, please don’t hesitate to contact me at kbaehr@lowell.k12.ma.us or 978-937-7646.” To read the entire article by Dr. Baehr, check out today’s Focus section.

Lowell school children are getting a better education today due to the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and students—all under the leadership of Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr. If you’ve paid attention to local media, you know the superintendent has been under intense scrutiny regarding the high school headmaster’s upcoming retirement. State law gives Dr. Baehr the right to choose her team, and the Lowell School Committee holds her accountable for that team’s performance. (She didn’t receive her bonus this year partly due to unmet goals at the high school.) Aside from the view of powerful malcontents upset with Baehr’s unwillingness to accommodate their friends, there are other, more important, aspects of her leadership. In addition to her role in providing strong curriculum and instruction, Lowell has benefited from Dr. Baehr’s reputation as a well-respected educator. Lowell is the only district other than Boston to receive funds—about $1.8 million so far—from EdVestors, a clearinghouse for private donors. Also, Governor Patrick has appointed her to do important work on pre-k through higher education as co-chair of his Accountability and Assistance Subcommittee with Paul Grogan, president of the Boston Foundation, a group that distributes millions of dollars in grants annually. Despite state and national recognition of her abilities (she was one of a dozen educators nationwide chosen to receive students from Harvard’s superintendent internship program), Baehr remains committed to Lowell kids. A few years ago, then Education Commissioner Driscoll told about 500 Lowell teachers that he offered Dr. Baehr his more »

Now that the state has released the MCAS results from last spring, it’s great to see the progress being made in Lowell Public Schools demonstrated in our test scores—one measure of success taken quite seriously by the state and the federal No Child Left Behind law. The efforts of school administrators and teachers to provide strong curriculum with excellent teaching are paying off with substantive improvements in students success. To help put that success in perspective, compare what’s been accomplished in Lowell to state results: First off, the overall average rate of improvement in Lowell was 10% while the state achieved 5%. (State results obviously include progress made in wealthy communities, as well as suburban and urban schools.) Lowell’s ability to double the state’s progress is especially significant when you consider that our student demographics include the highest percentage of second language learners in the commonwealth, not to mention poverty levels at about 65%. Some middle-school scores, in particular, were astounding. For instance, 14% more Lowell sixth graders scored advanced/proficient in math while the state average jumped only 6%. On the other end, the number of sixth graders who scored in the warning category was reduced by 15% in Lowell while the state reduced only 5% on average. Lowell eighth grade math results showed a 13% reduction in students who received warning scores while the state warning category reduced only 4%. These advances are significant, but there is still much work to be done. It is encouraging, however, to see test scores that affirm the focus on high-quality curriculum and excellent instruction are paying off in substantive ways. Congratulations to the administrators, staff, teachers, and especially the students. Keep up the good work!

I was panicking because I thought I had missed my chance to see the original scroll of On the Road, by Jack Kerouac.  A call to LZ Nunn, the Director of COOL (Cultural Organization of Lowell) reassured me that the scroll is still in town and will be on display at the Boott Cotton Mills until next Sunday, October 14th.  (The Boott Mills are open from 10-5, daily.) 

Why am I so anxious to see the scroll? First of all, NOT seeing it would be one of those classic examples of neglecting to visit the remarkable sites in your own backyard — like living in Lowell and never going on a mill tour, or if you live in Boston, never going to the top of the Pru’ or walking the Freedom Trail (I have done all of those things, by the way). And with the scroll being here all summer, I was kicking myself for not making the effort to see it and could imagine lining up to see it in some other city someday, when seeing it right here in Lowell will be so much more meaningful. Also, I am a Kerouac fan. I’ve read several of his books since moving to Lowell and I admire his lyrical, passionate writing. According to LZ, the scroll

has drawn tens of thousands of people into the city, and has been an international media event with the BBC, National Public Radio, Danish Television, Italian Vogue and the Rolling Stone all coming to Lowell to capture the energy around this exhibit. 

During this last week, members of the UML English department are planning ‘a stroll to the scroll.’  LZ is hoping that some Lowell High teachers will do the same and not miss this chance for their students to “see a one-of-a-kind literary document and learn about a legendary Lowell High graduate.”  Sounds like a good plan.

If you’re up with the birds tomorrow, you might consider turning your radio dial to 980 AM from 6-7 in the morning when you can listen to the show’s hosts, George Anthes and John McDonough, interview Jackie regarding her candidacy for school committee. The first half hour of the show will be limited to a discussion between the radio hosts and Jackie. During the last half hour, the phones will be open for calls from listeners. So, if you happen to be awake, tune in and feel free to call in with questions or comments.