Timing is right to vet Rourke’s motion

IMAGINE THE reaction of thousands of Lowell families and school children upon learning last week that just before students were expected back in the classrooms all learning would be virtual due to an alleged lack of air purifiers.

The pandemic has already upended family life since late March and through the summer. If Lowell families were hoping for some stability, as September usually brings, they got a rude awakening from the Lowell School Department.

Except for Mayor John Leahy and School Committee member Mike Dillon, there didn’t appear to be much outrage toward the administration of Superintendent Joel Boyd.

City Manager Eileen Donoghue, however, is boiling.

So is Councilor Bill Samaras, and Councilor Dan Rourke, who rose above the fray last week by filing a motion, which, at the very least, should serve as a wake-up call to the School Committee:

“Request that the law department prepare an advisory opinion as to whether the city, through its city manager, can assume the power and duties of the School Committee as set fourth in state laws and further prepare the necessary votes to effectuate such a change in the event it is permissible.”

The motion will be discussed by the City council Tuesday evening.

“The air purifier delay is only part of the equation,” said Samaras, the former Lowell High School headmaster.

Samaras said he has talked to dozens of teachers and has been told that classrooms simply were not ready to accept students. The high school’s schedule, a Herculean task in good times, still wasn’t set.

“I feel for the families and students,” said Samaras. “I also feel for all the teachers, administrators and others.”

As is usually the case, Rourke’s motion will be referred to a subcommittee for study. Typically when a councilor files a motion, they ensure they’ve got the votes for favorable action. Rourke broke from tradition with this filing. The councilor put it out there and said he is not actively lobbying his colleagues.

What’s transpired over the last few days, however, and what’s likely in store, should be all the impetus that’s needed to at least discuss the latest developments and the future.

“Lowell families and children will be not be collateral damage. They will be damaged and their futures permanently affected unless we take serious action and we do it soon,” Rourke told the column Friday.

Boyd, late Friday, said he has spoken to Rourke and several other council