The Lowell High School PTSA supports Community Engagement & Student Success
**10/19/20 UPDATE**
The SF Board of Education meets on Tuesday, October 20th at 3pm to vote
on the proposed change to the Lowell Admissions policy
More information and Zoom details
The SF Board of Education meets on Tuesday, October 20th at 3pm to vote
on the proposed change to the Lowell Admissions policy
More information and Zoom details
LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL PTSA STATEMENT ON UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION ON LOWELL ADMISSIONS FOR 2021-2022
The Lowell PTSA would like to address the upcoming Board of Education decision on Lowell admissions for the 2021-2022 school year. As you may already know, the Board will vote on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 about whether to admit incoming freshmen on a lottery basis, instead of using the current admissions policy tied to academic achievement.
We are seeing so much passion and energy in the Lowell community about the admissions issue. Unfortunately, this heated discussion couldn’t come at a worse time. The pandemic continues to isolate us. Ongoing racial injustice angers us. The toxic effects of climate change hang in the air we are trying to breathe. We all are enduring a difficult -- perhaps the most difficult -- chapter in our collective history.
We recognize that now, more than ever, kindness, understanding, and patience are necessary to work together. We owe it to our students to model behavior that emphasizes collaboration and respectful dialogue, especially when we disagree. We have an opportunity to bring our better selves to necessary, courageous conversations. Given the need for such leadership, it is incomprehensible that our Board of Education would attempt to bypass any meaningful conversation about Lowell’s admissions policy with the students, teachers, administrators and parents it will affect the most.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Board of Education did, introducing the topic by press release on a Friday afternoon leading into a 3-day weekend. The opportunity for public comment was a mere 4 days later. Despite the lack of notice, many members of the Lowell community went to the meeting -- many more than could be heard during the 30 minutes per side allotted by the Board. Commenters were forced to “pick a side,” setting up a divisive dialogue instead of a productive discussion. Previously, a Board member described Lowell High School using the culturally insensitive term “sacred cow,” while another Board member during the meeting dismissed everyone who disagreed with her as “a bunch of racists.”
The debate around Lowell admissions has been a long-standing one. We have heard many of you express concern that the change could become permanent, instead of just for one year. This distrust of the Board is entirely understandable, given its failure to engage the Lowell community in the discussion, and the fact that most Board members appeared to regard the “public comment” as a nuisance, having already made up their minds. When the Board describes Lowell as a “sacred cow” and people who disagree with them as a “bunch of racists,” it cuts off all meaningful conversation, and flies in the face of inclusivity. We are better than this, and our elected leaders need to be better than this.
LPTSA position on the Board of Education decision for Lowell Admissions for the 2021-2022 School Year
The Lowell PTSA, like every other PTA, has a mission -- to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities. We advocate for our students’ education, health, safety, and well-being. In short, we speak for every child, with one voice. This is the PTA creed and motto, and has been our guiding principle for over a century. The Lowell PTSA seeks to support ALL of our students and families, however they came to be at Lowell.
Because of our commitment to the PTA mission, the Lowell PTSA remains neutral on the issue of whether to change Lowell admissions policy for the 2021-2022 school year.
Wherever you stand regarding the decision about Lowell admissions, we encourage you to take action:
- Let your voice be heard and reach out to the BOE, your district supervisor, and other local leaders.
- Attend the Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, October 20th (begins at 3pm).
- VOTE!
Long-Term Plans For Lowell Admissions
Many in our community feel that the Lowell admissions policy has room for improvement. We also recognize that we must prepare students from kindergarten to 8th grade for success at whichever SFUSD high school they choose. Lowell High School is a treasured, nationally recognized institution, but we have other amazing public high schools in San Francisco with teachers, administrators, and staff who want their students to be successful, and more can be done to support them. Let’s figure out a plan to prepare all students in elementary and middle school, and to adequately resource all of our SFUSD high schools. Many in our community have shared ideas and alternatives.
The Lowell PTSA would like to invite the Board of Education and our larger community to have a discussion about the long-term plans for Lowell High School admissions. We would be happy to coordinate with the BOE Board members and find a date that will work with all of us.
We have the opportunity to lay the groundwork for intentional, informed decision-making for the long-term plans for Lowell admissions. We would like the opportunity to move past divisive communication structures, to build a collaborative process, and to build better.
In community,
The Lowell High School PTSA Board
The Lowell High School PTSA is a registered non-profit charitable organization. Every year, in partnership with dedicated volunteers and generous donors, the Lowell PTSA provides opportunities for community engagement, college readiness programs, wellness education, and funds grant requests from students and teachers to pay for enrichment opportunities, improve academic programs, and help enhance the Lowell community.
Do you shop online? Please visit our cyberfundraising page to see if your purchases can translate into Lowell PTSA donations!
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