I won't go over what I said because, well I kind of do that a lot. What I do want to talk about is what PARENT - CHARLIE LOPEZ said. He talked about the deplorable, UNSAFE conditions at COBBETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
The normal, RESPONSIBLE answer to these allegations would have been to apologize, promise to investigate and then rectify any problems thereby insuring the safety of ALL 700 STUDENTS. Stories of kids being forced to wear their coats in class to keep warm. (Funny at FORD in the winter on the third floor they have to keep their windows open while the snow flies).
SO WHAT IS THE RESPONSE HE GOT....?
Pardon me if I interpret here, he did speak in SPANISH.
TRANSLATION --
If you keep quiet we will look to move YOUR kid somewhere else. Our PARENT INFORMATION guy DAVE HEGEN just happens to be in the audience and he will see about geting someone to drive the BUS for your kid.
LPS'S PAYOFF'S COME IN EVERY CURRENCY.
Excellent job as usual Cleo!! Unfortunately, the outcome was as expected (almost) I actually expected the usual 4-3 vote, but it looks like only Donna came through for the parents, children, schools and district this time!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say as a parent also trying to move her child out of a school that is both underperforming academically as well as falling apart, I was rather disgusted at the whole scene at the school committee meeting in regards to the Lopezs. Why is it that in this day and age is there still race discrimination going on ? Because they are Hispanic they basically have the first right to any vacant seat available in any school whereas the white students are last on the list. ( and yet we are the minority ) They ( the Mayor and Dave Hegen ) were jumping threw hoops to accommodate them yet I ( and many others ) are treated with zero respect. I do think they were trying to quell the situation as quickly as possible as the Item was there. Maybe that should be my next move. Make a huge scene in front of the local paper at one of these meetings and threaten to expose this fraud of a school department we have. Tricia
ReplyDeleteIf the policy suddenly favored you because you're a minority in Lynn as a white person, wouldn't that still be racial discrimination? You can't have it both ways - it's either discrimination to base the decisions on race or it isn't. The policy's changed - then what? You move to a lottery and people will still find reasons it's unfair when they don't their school of choice. The only solution is to improve all schools period. I won't hold my breath waiting for people to fight for the system as a whole instead of what's good for them - apparently that's just the way it works these days.
DeleteI agree with you that the solution is to fix the schools, period. But until that happens the racial deseg policy needs to go. There are numerous ways other then a lottery to do school assignment, not to mention that I do believe it is illegal to be doing it the way we do. The supreme court ruled in 2007 that public schools could not use race for assigning or transferring children to schools. Will everyone always be happy ? no. But to be using race this day and age is just uncalled for. And as far as school improvements..?? You're right, i'm not going to hold my breath ! I'm just fighting for ALL students to have equal access to any school of their choice. Tricia
ReplyDeleteBOTTOM LINE IS THAT NO MATTER YOUR RACE, every child is entitled to a public school education to be in a safe, nurturing environment. Unfortunately, we as parents have to continue to fight for the schools to be repaired and our children to recieve and get the best!
ReplyDeleteSHOEMAKER, DREWICZ parents have also complained about similair things to the current school committee, NO RESPONSE, NO CHANGES!
The fact that NO ONE ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE has a child in the Lynn Public Schools is a BIG problem! They vote and do not care becasue it does not affect them!
LETS MAKE CHANGES THIS YEAR: NEW SCHOOL COMMITTEE, NEW MAYOR, NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
You are all right to be angry, but what are we going to do about it together?
The key word is " together " The biggest problem I see is the lack of parental involvement. We can all sit here and complain on these blogs but until we get a lot more parents involved, nothing will ever change. Like you said, we need new faces on all the above. I will say there are a few good people on the school committee that truly do care
ReplyDeleteand are as frustrated as we are. Every time they are trying to make a positive change they get out voted by the other four evils. I think we need to actively campaign against them as well as vote for new faces.I did vote for Charlie Gallo for that reason however that sure back fired. Lesson learned, do a little more investigating prior to voting ! ( I wasn't the only one he fooled obviously ! ) Tricia
Well said Tricia! I agree, lets campaign against them! I am glad I did not vote for Gallo. But, I think you are right, many were fooled. He is a waste of space and vote. Disappointed in him, mayor judy and maria.
ReplyDelete