Left In Lowell

If you watched the School Committee meeting last night and were as confused as I, you may want to read Dick Howe’s post on his blog. I, along with many other residents in Lowell, was anxious to hear the School Committee discuss and then decide on the process they will utilize to select the new School Superintendent. Last night’s meeting provided no debate, very little discussion and most importantly a lack of transparency. Dick, who attended the SC meeting wrote the following;

The complete lack of any debate or discussion by committee members of these motions – or even a reading of them so the public knew what they contained - suggested that the committee had agreed in advance (and out of the public eye) that nothing of substance would occur tonight.

Troublesome is an understatement. I thought last night the School Committee was going to decide the make-up of the “search committee.” Instead they voted on two separate but similar motions and deferred the discussions to a future Sub-Committee meeting. (If you want to read the background story on those two motions, here is the link to last Sunday’s Sun Column.) The good news is that all of the School Committee members participate in their Sub-Committee meetings; the bad news is that their Sub-Committee meetings are for the most part held out of the public eye. They will need to make sure that this meeting is held in a room or hall where access to local cable is readily available. The School Committee did not announce when and where this initial meeting will take place. I am sure once those plans are finalized, they will be made public.

I do agree with Dick that newly elected Mayor Bud Caulfield kept encouraging the large number of members of the public to get up and give their opinions. But it was a fait-accompli. Apparently, these motions outline which community organizations and representatives will make up the “search committee.” I read the list in the Lisa Redmond article in today’s Sun. (cannot link to the particular article yet; it will not be posted until mid-day).

I do not think last night the School Committee got off to a good start. But it is not too late to make the necessary adjustments.