Lowell teachers, parents confront school committee with concerns

LOWELL, Mass. — Lowell School Committee members were confronted with concerns while entering Lowell City Hall for Wednesday night’s meeting.

A passionate protest, attended by about 100 people, was held to voice concerns about the already approved hybrid learning plan.

Lowell families have been given the choice between remote and in-person learning.

Those who demonstrated on Wednesday said they are not convinced it’s safe for anyone to be returning to the classroom.

“Our schools are not safe and they refuse to test them. I bought a bus and will be teaching from a bus for my classes,” said John King, a teacher at Wang Middle School. “There’s no transparency!”

Boston 25 News set out to get answers from the Lowell School Committee.

School committee member Andy Descoteaux said he feels there “has been an awful lot of transparency.”

“Sometimes the information has not gotten out properly,” said Andy Descoteaux. “There are some parents who feel like we’re never going to be ready. It’s an unknown. This is uncharted territory.”

Boston 25 News Reporter Drew Karedes asked about demands from the Lowell Teacher’s Union to have all school buildings inspected by a third party.

“It’s not in our hands. All of the buildings are owned by the city,” said Descoteaux, who doesn’t think third party inspections will be happening. “It doesn’t look like it.”

The school committee said the district will be installing air purifiers at every school.

To offer in-person learning, the district’s plan promises a “stringent sanitizing plan”, a protocol for students and staff experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and a protocol for potential school closures.

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