With a report due in a few weeks regarding the Lowell High Lyceum some parents had expressed concern that a letter sent home by High School Headmaster Edward J. Rozmiarek was changing the admittance policy by allowing current Freshman who did not live in Lowell prior to Nov. 30th 2010 the chance to test and gain admittance as a sophomore.
The letter (LyceumLetter2011 pdf.) went out last friday dated Sept. 23rd 2011
LyceumLetter2011
However, when I inquired about this issue, Supt. Franco was kind enough to respond and has informed me that this policy has been in effect since Headmaster Samaras and shared a copy of a letter he sent in 2009 (Invitation to test 2009) and that no policy change was put into effect.
Dear Gerry,
I hope all is well. The addition of tenth grade students who have moved into Lowell for Sophomore year to Lowell is not a policy change. I have attached a letter that was sent by Bill Samaras that indicates that his process was in place at least back to 2009.
I hope this response answers your questions, If not please call me.
Thank you,
Jean Franco
Some families apparently were not aware of this because a few had thought this was a change that required the School Committees approval and thought the Headmaster was making a change without consulting anyone. Glad to see that was not the case.
I am looking forward to the full report in the next few weeks. The Lyceum should be a high visibility and respected program and hopefully the report offers ways to make this possible.
I looked back at the archives, there is no discussion of this by the SC in 2009. Was the previous Headmaster allowed to do this unilaterly? Can today’s, or a future, Headmaster make such changes, e.g. waiving the Latin requirement?
Also, this “policy” is known to who? Does every member of the SC know of this? Odd that this is a surprise to so many folks?
How many Lyceum students have entered the program as Sophomores?
I’m left with two lingering questions:
1) Can Headmasters make such policy adaptations?
2) If the Lyceum curriculum is flexible enough to allow students in, then why can’t we open the door to any 9th grader to “test in?”
I’ve been told that the Lyceum loses a bunch of students after the Freshman year. If the program can carry a full compliment, why not back fill the loses with those that may wish to step up?
I am looking forward to the report.
Disclosure: My youngest is a Freshman in the Lyceum.
If we want more students in the Lyceum what’s the issue? This I would think is a small number of students who didn’t live in Lowell prior to last November so what’s wrong with giving them the opportunity to join the program?
You seem to have an agenda? Is it the Headmaster you have an issue with or the fact that a few School Committee members may not have recalled this?
If Supt. Franco has no Issue, Dr. Jack is involved and aware and at least 1 member verified he knew about it, what’s the problem?
Maybe people should wait for the report and see what recommendations are suggested.
Gerry, read what I wrote carefully. I am not challenging students getting a shot in life. The Mitchell’s do not put up fences and yell, “MINE!” Did you notice I was suggesting the policy be expanded?
I’m concerned about potentially rogue actions by higher ups within the Admin. As a parent, as you are, and all Lowellians are due a full explanation of how this all came about.
These matters are not so sophisticated that they cannot be fully explained to the SC and to all. We entrust educational professionals to do so many things. For some reason, my interest is piqeued when the answer to a question is “trust me.”
We should know if this adaptation was fully vetted by the SC or if the Headmaster can act unilaterally. That answer stretches past this specific question.
If a Lowell child does not pass the test in eighth grade are they able to re-take it for entrance their sophomore year too?