Save Lowell School
>> Monday, March 2, 2009
Dear Andy: My son is supposed to attend Lowell School in Bellingham next year. But the school, which has been closed for a year for seismic upgrades, may remain closed next year as well due to the current economic situation. Some parents in the neighborhood have started a group to save Lowell School. I am torn, should I join the group to save Lowell School, or be fiscally responsible and accept that keeping the school closed for one additional year may be the right thing to do? - Brian in Bellingham
Dear Brian: No one wants their school to close. This reeks of the “not in my neighborhood” plague that has been sweeping the nation over the past couple decades. I would bet my left nut that you live in an upper middle class neighborhood with nice views, lots of foreign cars, and kids that will never know the hurt of lower middle class. If Lowell was an intercity school in another part of town, would your neighbors be up in arms? I think not. Stand proud and support the additional year of Lowell School closure. Think globally, not locally.
4 comments:
schmoooe, where is the list of all 100 ways to save cash?
Would you like to go for double or nothing? The Advisory Budget Committee did suggest on the initial list a one-year delay in reopening Lowell Elementary. Now there is a new draft budget list by the District Superintendent that reads "postpone reopening Lowell." The "one year" text is gone from the Superintendent's list. The State of Washington is facing two to three or more years of budget shortfalls. Once Lowell is closed, it will not reopen. We all want to be fiscally responsible, but no one wants to be duped.
It's too bad we are in this mess to begin with, but we are. Lowell School is not slated for permanent closure. The report is here: http://www.bham.wednet.edu/staff/documents/DraftBudgetSavingsPlanRecommendationFeb.27.09.pdf and states "This closure will be temporary and Lowell will reopen". If this were about a permanent closure it would be a different story. But delaying the opening for a year, or even two, may be necessary. No one loses their job, the kids get a great education, and the school will reopen.
I live in the Lowell neighborhood. By postponing Lowell's reopening one year, the District saves $450,000. I'd rather have them keep a school nurse (There are currently six nurses for the entire district!)and avoid cuts to curriculum budgets, both which would serve all the children in Bellingham, not just the kids at Lowell. I think Lowell parents should think about kids other than their own and buck it up for one more year.
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