School committee meeting tonight—no fooling
The Lowell School Committee will meet tonight in council chambers at 7 pm. Since there’s only one motion on tonight’s agenda and it’s from me, I’m including it here: “Request the Superintendent determine whether the Commissioner of Education would waive the physical education requirement for high school students who participate in school-sponsored sports programs. If allowed, request the Superintendent explore the feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks of instituting such a waiver system at the high school, providing a report with recommendations to the Lowell High Subcommittee.”
As I will explain during my remarks, under former Education Commissioner Dave Driscoll these waivers were allowed. Also, since the high school has very large physical education classes—upwards of 40 students, which was a criticism noted by the re-accreditation team—it makes sense to explore the opportunity. As we examine class scheduling and options for students to take electives under future budget constraints, it is especially worth considering the state’s physical education mandate given the fact that our student athletes practice about two hours a day, six days a week.
Tonight’s meeting, which is televised live on channel 10 (with replays and streaming video offered on demand through LTC), will include a Spotlight on Excellence for the Daley Middle School, winner of this year’s Knowledge Bowl, as well as reports from the Superintendent on an update of student enrollment projections over the next decade, professional development spending, a comparison of teacher attendance, and costs for using our facilities among other things.