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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. Im 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 Im 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, Im counting on your word! Im 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.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The March 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
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All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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