Although the Lowell City Council canceled last week’s meeting because it was school vacation week, the Lowell School Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday night. The first motion on the agenda was by Mayor Sokhary Chau was in response to School Superintendent Joel Boyd’s recent announcement that he would leave Lowell this June at the end of the academic year:
Motion 6.1 – Mayor Chau - Request the superintendent work with the chair of the personnel subcommittee to poll all committee members for a meeting during the week of April 24 to discuss options and timeline for the hiring of either an interim superintendent or permanent superintendent and the necessary steps for a seamless transition of leadership.
Before the motion was taken up, Mayor Chau moved to amend the motion to make it a special meeting rather than a subcommittee meeting. The Committee passed the amended motion on a voice vote with the only comment being that the special meeting will likely take place on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in the City Council Chambers.
As the too-frequent process of hiring a new Superintendent of Schools gets ready to begin, here’s a look back at the circumstances involved in the hiring of the last seven Lowell School Superintendents:
JOEL BOYD – 2019-2023
When hired by Lowell, Boyd was an academic superintendent in the Boston Public Schools with responsibility for closing “opportunity gaps” for students. He was hired in Boston in 2017. Prior to that, he served as Superintendent of the Santa Fe, New Mexico, schools from 2012 to 2016. Prior to that he worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Miami, Florida; Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania; and Smyrna, Delaware.
Lowell had 23 qualified candidates for the position. A Blue Ribbon Committee narrowed that down to three finalists who, besides Boyd, were Sergio Paez (Director of equity, empowerment, and excellence for English language learners at Central Falls School District in Central Falls, Rhode Island) and Stacy Scott (former school superintendent in Dracut).
After interviewing the three finalists, the Lowell School Committee (Jackie Doherty, Robert Hoey, Connie Martin, Dominik Lay, Andre Descoteaux, Gerry Nutter, and Mayor William Samaras) voted unanimously for Boyd.
JEANNINE DURKIN – Acting Superintendent 2018-2019
Assistant Superintendent Jeannine Durkin was named Acting Superintendent in July 2018 when the Lowell School Committee placed School Superintendent Salah Khelfauoi on leave and began the process of terminating his contract. (Then-School Committee members Jackie Doherty, Connie Martin, Gerry Nutter, and Mayor William Samaras moved to terminate the contract; Members Robert Hoey, Andre Descoteaux, and Dominik Lay opposed the move). However, in January 2019, when the School Committee voted to conduct a search process for a permanent Superintendent, Durkin announced she would not be a candidate and retired from the school system.
SALAH KHELFAUOI – 2015-2018
After School Superintendent Jean Franco retired, the Lowell School Committee selected Dr. Salah Khelfauoi to be the next Lowell Superintendent. Khelfauoi was elected on the third ballot by a four to three vote. On the first ballot, Khelfauoi, the superintendent in Winchendon, Massachusetts, received votes from Kristin Ross-Sitcawich and Mayor Rodney Elliott. Committee members David Conway and Kim Scott voted for Kriner Cash, the superintendent in Memphis, Tennessee. Committee members Steve Gendron, Connie Martin and James Leary all voted for Lowell Deputy Superintendent Jay Lang. The three stayed with Lang on all three ballots. On the second ballot, Scott switched her vote from Cash to Khelfauoi. On the third ballot, David Conway did the same, giving Khelfaoui four votes.
In the 2017 city election, voters re-elected school committee incumbents Jackie Doherty, Robert Hoey, Connie Martin and Andy Descoteaux. Joining them were newcomers Dominik Lay and Gerry Nutter. Incumbent Steve Gendron did not run, and Robert Gignac ran (unsuccessfully) for city council. William Samaras was elected mayor.
In July 2018, committee members Jackie Doherty, Connie Martin, Gerry Nutter and Mayor Samaras voted to begin the process of terminating the contract of Superintendent Khelfauoi who was placed on leave. Voting to retain Khelfauoi were committee members Robert Hoey, Andy Descoteaux and Dominik Lay. In November 2018, by the same vote, the school committee terminated Khelfauoi’s contract and named Assistant Superintendent Jeannine Durkin to be interim superintendent.
JEAN FRANCO – 2011-2015
When School Superintendent Chris Augusta Scott announced she would leave Lowell when her contract expired in June 2011, the Lowell School Committee (David Conway, John Leahy, Jackie Doherty, James Leary, Connie Martin, Alison Laraba, and Mayor Jim Milinazzo) unanimously selected Deputy Superintendent and longtime Lowell School Department employee Jean Franco to be the next Superintendent. Other finalists for the position were Attleboro Superintendent Pia Durkin, Sandwich Superintendent Mary Ellen Johnson, and education consultants Ferdinand Fuentes and Charles Wilson.
In June 2014, the School Committee offered Franco a two-year contract extension. She accepted, but later that same month the committee voted six (James Leary, David Conway, Connie Martin, Kim Scott, Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, and Mayor Rodney Elliott) to one (Steve Gendron) to delay ratifying the contract. The committee then reduced the contract to one year which would end in June 2015. In November 2014, Franco informed the committee that she would retire when that contract ended.
CHRIS AUGUSTA SCOTT – 2008-2011
In the 2007 city election, voters re-elected Regina Faticanti, John Leahy, Jackie Doherty, Jim Leary and Connie Martin to the School Committee. Joining them was newcomer David Conway. Incumbent Kevin McHugh lost. Bud Caulfield was elected mayor. As a result of that election, School Superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr announced she would not seek an extension of her contract which would expire in June 2008.
On March 24, 2008, the School Committee selected Chris Augusta Scott, the superintendent in Norfolk, Massachusetts, to be Lowell’s next School Superintendent. Scott received votes from Jackie Doherty, Connie Martin, Jim Leary, and Mayor Bud Caulfield. Regina Faticanti and Dave Conway voted for LHS curriculum director Wendy Jack. John Leahy voted present, arguing to reopen the search. Scott took over on July 1, 2008.
When the School Committee did not offer Superintendent Scott a new contract by January 2011, she announced that she would leave Lowell when her current contract expired that June.
KARLA BROOKS BAEHR – 2000-2008
In August 1999, Lowell Superintendent George Tsapatsaris announced he would retire effective June 30, 2000. The School Committee convened a Blue Ribbon Panel to recommend candidates to succeed Tsapatsaris.
On April 20, 2000, the School Committee elected Basan Nembirkow, the Superintendent in Greenfield, Massachusetts, to be the next Lowell Superintendent. Voting for Nembirkow were Mayor Eileen Donoghue and School Committee members Joe Mendonca, John McQuaid, and Connie Martin. Committee members Regina Faticanti, Timothy Golden, and Kevin McHugh all voted for Lowell Deputy Superintendent for Personnel Helen Flanagan. Other candidates were Karla Brooks Baehr, Carol Kelly, Lowell High headmaster William Samaras, and Lowell Assistant Superintendent Rosemary Leblanc-Considine.
However, after meeting with the School Committee in May to negotiate his contract, Nembirkow revoked his acceptance of the job, citing “internal strife” on the School Committee as one of his reasons. The School Committee reconvened on May 17, 2000, and unanimously selected Wellesley superintendent Karla Brooks Baehr to be the next Lowell Superintendent.
Baehr served as Lowell Superintendent until June 2008. She chose not to seek a new contract.
GEORGE TSAPATSARIS – 1991-2000
In the summer of 1990, the Lowell School Committee reached an agreement with Superintendent Henry Mroz to end his tenure as Superintendent. The Committee appointed a community panel to assist in the search for a successor. This group eventually recommended that the School Committee (Regina Faticanti, Mary Anna Sullivan, Kathleen Janas, George Kouloheras, Steve Panagiotakos, Raymond Riddick, and Mayor Richard Howe) first consider Assistant Superintendent George Tsapatsaris for the position of Superintendent before any search for additional candidates was conducted. On November 14, 1990, the School Committee unanimously elected Tsapatsaris as the next Lowell Superintendent of Schools to begin on January 1, 1991.
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This past Friday, April 21, 2023, the city of Lowell finalized the sale of LeLacheur Park to the UMass Building Authority. This conveyance closes an important chapter in Lowell’s recent history.
The Lowell Spinners were born in 1996, however, they played their first two seasons at Alumni Field on Rogers Street. LeLacheur Park, which was funded primarily by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a big contribution from UMass Lowell and a smaller chunk of money from the city of Lowell, opened for the 1998 baseball season. The Spinners played there through the 2019 season. The 2020 season was canceled due to Covid and the Spinners then were disbanded in the baseball-wide contraction of minor league teams.
The Spinners caught the minor league baseball boom that swept America a quarter century ago. They set records for consistently selling out every ticket for every home game for entire seasons beginning in 2000. The team also was the starting point for numerous major league stars including Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, and Mookie Betts. Going to LaLacheur Park was a great and affordable night out for individuals and families, and it helped put Lowell back on the map of well-known American places. That was Paul Tsongas’s objective when he led the effort to bring minor league sports to Lowell. He frequently said at the time that having a minor league team helped separate midsized cities on the rise from those in decline.
The determination by Lowell’s current leadership to rid the city of LeLacheur Park stands in contrast to what has happened in Worcester in recent years. There, the community enticed the Red Sox to move their Triple-A affiliate from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Worcester, where the team plays at Polar Park which opened in 2021.
Polar Park seats 10,000 and features luxury suites, a kid’s play area, and many food and beverage options. The stadium is part of a larger development project that includes retail, office, and residential space, all within a short walk of the center of downtown Worcester. The Woo Sox opened their 2023 season several weeks ago and have games through the end of September. By all accounts, they and Polar Park have been a great success.
As for baseball in general, the rule changes this year that are intended to speed up play have revived interest in the game. If that continues, it will be of great benefit to the city of Worcester and to UMass Lowell, which now owns a professional-quality baseball stadium here in Lowell. While the residents of Greater Lowell may once again get to see professional baseball played here, the city of Lowell will be watching from the bench.
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A great new biography of Lowell’s Ben Butler was recently published. Benjamin Franklin Butler: A Noisy, Fearless Life covers Butler’s life from birth to death with particular emphasis on his post-Civil War political activities. This week I wrote a review of the book on richardhowe.com.
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In recognition of Earth Day 2023 which was yesterday, an essay by John Wooding called “No More Silent Springs” appears on richardhowe.com this weekend. The essay is also included in the just-released The Lowell Review 2023 which is available at Lala Books at 189 Market Street and also via print-on-demand from Lulu.com.
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My guided tours of historic Lowell Cemetery return next weekend. On Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, both starting at 10 am from the Lawrence Street gate of the cemetery, I’ll lead a 90-minute walking tour that will feature plenty of Lowell history. The same tour will take place on both days. It’s free and requires no advance registration and there’s plenty of parking within the cemetery.
If you want an additional jolt of Lowell culture on April 29, you’ll have 30 minutes to get from Lowell Cemetery to the Pollard Memorial Library for the noontime start of a Moses Greeley Parker lecture that will feature Paul Marion reading some of his poems from books like Union River and Lockdown Letters.
Ah, baseball, interest has been revived by the rule changes, where 4 hours of mostly boredom has been compressed into 2 hours of action. But there is still a sour taste in our mouths when major league ball abandoned the lower minor leagues. As for LeLachuer park, it is still in the City, and may be better operated by UML.
For a little baseball history and trivia (for Paul) —- in 1939 the Red Sox arrived in Massachusetts to conclude Spring training with an exhibition game against Holy Cross at Fitton Field in Worcester, with 20 year old Ted Williams making his first appearance in the State. And he came through with a first inning grand slam! The trivia question is the names of the 4 who scored, all of whom are in the Baseball Hall of Fame?