Left In Lowell

The Next Big Thing?

9 Responses to “The Next Big Thing?”

1. Paul@01852 Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 4:47 pm

   Isn’t this just “typical Lowell?” Sounds familiar to me — like the “secret” bridge recommendation that CM Cox tried to shove through the Council. And now seems the Sun is on board too. Wouldn’t be surprised if they already have a site picked and a “community committee” to help raise funds for it… just like the Lock Monster’s non-Committee. The city needs to stop and think and focus on one or two projects at a time. Look at Shaunnessey Terrace! Look at the mismanagement of the Stoklosa School project. And soon I am afraid I will be able to point at the *former* Lock Monsters. And does anyone get the chills when they think of the Jackson St project yet? God help us all!

2. Mike Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 6:27 pm

   Snow getting you down Paul?

   Something tells me by the spirit of this post no matter what happens with the Lock Monsters, for instance, you’ll blame the city. If they stay with the help of the city, you’ll get on them for “corporate welfare!”. If they go, you’ll get on them for letting something great for families walk out the door!

   Just a hunch.

3. waittilnextyr Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 7:52 pm

   Let’s hope more conservative heads prevail on this, as Lowell is already heavily committed with capital projects, and needs to undertake another one of this magnitude like it needs a hole in the head. Only a short time ago they put $40M into upgrading the high school, and we are certainly still paying on that. Too many irons on the fire already, and those projects are nowhere near completion.

   When I read the announcement, I couldn’t believe it was the thing being touted by the Sun last week.

   Maybe there is nothing to it, just a bunch of “movers and shakers” getting together for coffee and pastries to talk about what they may do for us next!

4. K-R-S Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 8:03 pm

   Well…I did here rumblings of this last Fall..not much was said on the issue as money & space is an issue.
   However, it is worth examining. I would think, more likely, if it were to go forward, it wouldn’t happen for a significant amount of time.
   We do have ALOT going on right now. I do think it’s good to keep our eyes on the next “big thing”, to constantly be looking forward.
   As I understand it, our HS population will decrease in another 10 years (if I remember correctly from the most recent census).
   So, this might mean that expansion or relocation may not be necessary nor cost effective.
   As for the LockMOnsters…if CM Cox and the Sun can galvanize the business community for everything else, I am confident they can do the same for the hockey team.

5. Renee Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 8:33 pm

   My oldest is just in pre-school so she’ll be entering high school around this time. Right now she is in a Catholic school, with the understanding that my children be apart of the larger diversity of Lowell once in high school.

   The quotes in the Lowell Sun were really vague regarding the concerns of the building itself. I know it is cheaper to knock down and rebuild, but with wireless and technology being smaller and smaller older buildings can be revamped for student’s needs.

   I have great concerns in creating two public high schools, with the population of Lowell divided, a sense of identity and community could be lost. Any idea of trekking my children all the way down 38 when I live off Bridge Street doesn’t sound fun when the high school is currently walking distance.

6. K-R-S Says:
   February 12th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

   Renee, we are also in a similar predicament as your family. My kids are in Pre-K and Kindie..eventually they will enter the
   Public High School. I also share your concerns regarding division, however, as it stands right now (in the HS), the population
   is so large, I would think many of the students are limited to their own group of friends and in the “academies” that are offered.
   I could be wrong, this is just my impression.

7. No one you know Says:
   February 13th, 2006 at 1:46 pm

   If our city “leaders” (you know, the self appointed ones, not the elected ones) are looking at
   a new high school it probably should be in addition to the current high school. There are how
   many middle schools in the city that are feeding into this one high school? From reading the
   article in the Column it’s probably not going to happen since Samaras was talking about transporation
   issues to the stadium and alumni field. That sounds to me like they are considering putting a
   new high school in the Douglas Rd area and there’s no way the resident’s would put up with that.

8. Renee Says:
   February 13th, 2006 at 2:14 pm

   I realize this is a mere generalization, but I just don’t like high school campuses to be isolated from the rest of the community. I grew up in the suburbs a decade ago, and even though my parents worked only fifteen minutes away in Lowell, the sense of nothing else exists but high school in a student’s daily life isn’t a way to raise a young adult for the world.

   Many communities talk about their school system, as if people who do not have school age children or children at all even exist. Teenagers especially with the direct marketing of a consumer culture, are mislead into believing that they are the center of the world as they spend all their direct and indirect time being influenced by their peers, and by marketing directed to them. Teens need to spend more time around adults, not just their parents and teachers but indirectly seeing adults do adult things like walking to the office or being social with each other.

   I don’t believe teenagers actually as bad as people make them out to be, if anything they just play out the stereotypes we give them because they don’t know any better. Isolated campuses means that students don’t have to show accountability and responsibility to the entire community on a daily basis, some the of these suburban high schools look more like correctional facilities then places of education. I know security is an issue, but all some of these institutions are lacking is barbwire.

   I know a student can’t know everyone in their class, but I do believe there is a sibling-hood, that does exist between members of a community who have had the same education experience. It gives people who might be from two different sides of Lowell with different cultures and beliefs to have something in common with each other.

9. Anonymous Says:
   February 13th, 2006 at 5:14 pm

   Let me guess, a new High School for Belvidere, the Upper Highlands and Christian Hill. Everyone else keeps going to the dilapidated downtown HS.

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