Left In Lowell

First they shove Dr. Karla Brooks Baher out the door and now are they trying to do the same to a prominent Lowell non-profit , ONE Lowell, whose sole purpose is to assist Lowell’s immigrant community.

Last night at the High School Sub-Committee meeting, by a vote of 2-1, recommended to the full School Committee to have ONE Lowell activities suspended at the High School. Jackie has all the details on her blog. She writes:

For the last few years, the nonprofit agency has worked with the school district regarding student attendance (they are currently involved with truant students and their families from all but one of our middle schools as well as the high school). Funded completely by grants, the group improves student attendance at no cost to the district on a referral basis—schools refer severely truant students, parents sign waivers to allow the agency’s involvement, and ONE Lowell’s bilingual staff visit with families and refer them to other programs and services as needed to get their children to attend school.

So what did ONE Lowell do that required such a drastic move? Although the organization has provided a report, it seems that 2/3 of the Sub-Committee would like to have regular, prepared narrative on each student. I think it would have made sense to pass a motion formally asking for this information; isn’t suspension pretty drastic?

If you read the High School’s report presented to the Sub-Committee, you will notice that the school has a number of programs in place to combat truancy. However, the “home visit” component has run out of funds for the year. I would think that the School Committee realizing that fact would welcome a partnership with a non-profit and be eager to work out any communication issues they may have.

Stay tune for next Wednesday’s School Committee meeting to see how the vote goes. We need to start paying just as much attention to the School side of government as we do the City Council; otherwise our School system will remain in the hands of the politically motivated.