I know this will make parents “feel badly”

Last week I was criticized for my negativity about the Lawrence Public Schools by Jasmin García-Escoto, spokesperson of the school system saying that I make parents feel badly because, “Sadly, most of them can do nothing to provide their children with another type of education, and just have to conform themselves to send them to these schools…”  So, go ahead, shoot the messenger!

On January 22, 2008, the SLES Middle School received written notice from the Department of Education that because it was an underperforming school for so long, it has meet the requirements to be called a Commonwealth Priority School.  Designation as a Commonwealth Priority School is not good; it’s one step away from state take over.

My friends in the schools tell me that, “This is very serious.  This is one of the worst things that could be happening to our school system.”  The other schools who have met the criteria to be designated as a Commonwealth Priority School are the Wetherbee, Guilmette Middle, Guilmette Elementary, Tarbox, SLES Elementary, SLES Middle.

On January 5, the Arlington Middle School was designated a Priority One School. It is designated for state take over. Laboy may not be able to talk his way out of it. He won’t take the blame; the principals will.  The principals are under a lot of pressure from the Lawrence Public Schools administration and the Department of Education.