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It's Election Time Again
Peter Larocque, Lawrence School Committee
(03/06/07)

Next month marks the beginning of another election season for us in the great city of Lawrence. Monday, April 2, 2007, nomination  papers become available to all Lawrence residents who want to participate and make themselves candidates. They can pick up their papers at the election office at the Lawrence City Hall.

If I may, I would like to say to all registered voters in District E, that it has been a privilege and a honor to serve and represent you and the parents and the children of the District on the Lawrence School Committee.

This has been an experience that I will always cherish as long as I live. I’m well aware that in my case it has been just a short time of service, but I will be asking you to send me back so that I can continue the work that I have begun.

As I’m sure some of you remember, I ran two years ago which afforded me the wonderful privilege of meeting many of you along the campaign trail. I so look forward to seeing you again, along with the new residents, as I go around the neighborhoods of District E. Many of you told me last time that if you were not already voting for Ms. McGovern, that you would have no problem voting for me.

Well, I’m counting on your word! I’m also well aware of what some are saying around the District, that since I ran against Ms. McGovern two years ago, that this automatically disqualifies me from running again. This kind of logic is absolutely absurd! Some have even said that due to my years of volunteering on the P.T.A. of the Lawrence public schools and being a past president of the P.T.A. of the Lawrence High School, that this makes me a rubber stamp for the superintendent and the mayor.

This is the kind of rhetoric that stops others from coming forward and placing their names on the ballot and participating in the election process.

Two years ago, my campaign was not an anti-Amy McGovern campaign as some others were. What I said then and what I am still saying today, now with even more conviction, is that the Lawrence School Committee must change how it conducts its business.

I advocated that the School Committee take a lesson from the Lawrence City Council and establish sub-committees, similar to how our City Council operates. Imagine the City Council without the availability of sub-committees to do research and studies in areas of concern. The job of a city councilor would be overwhelming. Well, the position of School Committee in Lawrence is just as important and crucial to our city and especially to the future education of our children.

Since I was appointed to the School Committee in October of ‘06, we have established two sub-committees in addition to the finance sub-committee. We now have a sub-committee on school safety made up of principals and assistant principals, central office personnel, parents and students.

I have the wonderful privilege of chairing this sub-committee with Patricia Sanchez-Reyes as the vice-chair. We now have two School Committee members involved at the discussion table concerning school safety issues that effect the entire school district before they come before the whole School Committee to be voted on and adopted.

This is a new procedure which has not been done before. Also we now have a sub-committee on school uniforms for the new Lawrence High School which will open September of ‘07. This sub-committee has the same make up of members as the school safety sub-committee. Again involving parents along side of school personnel and School Committee members. This was another point I made before and still highly in favor of and that is the School Committee being more parent friendly and inclusive.

There are more sub-committees needed, for instance, we need a Sub-committee on academics and curriculum and another one on buildings and new construction.

These are just some of the key areas that I believe the Lawrence School Committee should be involved in at the discussion table. There is always more room for others. I also am a firm believer in having parent and community forums on subjects that concern the entire school district.

This was the first action I took as a School Committee member, at my first School Committee meeting: I recommended to the School Committee that we should conduct a city-wide community forum on the subject of school safety which we held on October 24, 2006 at the Lawrence High School.

I was also given a wonderful privilege again this year of being appointed by the mayor to the FY08, CDAB, the Community Development Advisory Board. This is my second year on the board and this experience has afforded me a look at the inner workings of the city and the organizations that exists to help our low to moderate income citizens. Many wonderful programs are available to Lawrence citizens and to be a part of this process has truly enriched my life and allows me an opportunity to help others. Having said all this, I know that the citizens of District E are well informed and knowledgeable of the issues that face our city and school district. They are used to having a School Committee member very involved in these issues and asking the right questions and not just at election time.

I am committed to being that person. I ask for your support as we go forward in this new election season. I remain committed to being a voice for parents, always keeping in mind the strong family values that we all hold dear in our lives. I am really looking forward to seeing you around the District.

Peter Larocque is a member of the Lawrence School Committee. He was elected by the Lawrence City Council to fill the unexpired term of Amy McGovern. You can email him at pamelalarocque@hotmail.com.



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The March 2007 Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007
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