Butler Middle School brings laundry in-house
Carr Foundation donates washer, dryer for pilot laundry room
LOWELL >> Starting next week, reading, writing, arithmetic — and laundry — will be part of the curriculum for students at Butler Middle School. Principal Jaime Moody, along with Community School Program Manager Justien Martin and others, helped cut the ribbon on the brandnew laundry room Friday morning, the first of its kind in Lowell Public Schools.
“As we cut the ribbon for our new student laundry service, it is a testament to the strides we’ve made in fostering an inclusive and thriving educational environment,” Moody said.
The event was attended by students and staff at the school, as well as city and school district leadership, and federal and state representatives.
Butler is home to a diverse staff and student body, serving 530 students in grades 5-8. More than 80% of the student body identify as students of color, 15% as homeless and 32% as multilingual learners, with 27% being new to the country.
Martin helped spearhead the effort at bringing the new laundry facility inhouse, saying that individuals deserve the dignity of clean clothes.
“Our journey began with the recognition of this need,” she said. “A need that compelled us to take action and to rally the support of our community partners and stakeholders.”
Those partners included Butler’s National Junior Honor Society students, who took on the project as part of their leadership and community service development.
“We know that 15% of students identify as homeless, and when we saw that we wanted to take a step to help them,” Alex Griffin, a seventh grader, said. “This gives kids a chance to show up and focus on their academics and not how they’re looking that day.”
Moody thanked the Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation for turning the laundry room into a reality. The foundation donated the washer and dryer and stocked the room with laundry detergent and supplies.
Daughter Michelle Carr Harris attended the ceremony, and said giving back to the community was a “hand up, not a hand out.”
“We paired up with Jaime and her vision and her leadership — she’s amazing,” Harris said.
The laundry service will combine home economics with self-care education, and will be accessible to students before and after school.
“We will also ensure that students have access to additional garments and essential supplies through our continued partnership with organizations like Catie’s Closet and other community partners that will help us further enhance the well-being of all our students,” Martin said.
Well-being is top of mind for district leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated chronic absenteeism and a rise in dropout rates at secondary schools throughout the commonwealth, including in Lowell.
A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 10% or more school days due to absence for any reason — excused, unexcused absences and suspensions — in the 180day school year. That means a student would miss about 18 days of school per year.
The Butler School’s absenteeism rate hit 32% in 2022, but by 2023, that number had dropped to 21%. Districtwide, absenteeism dropped by 14%.
The turnaround was attributed to the staff’s strong implementation of the district’s attendance intervention plan and a schoolwide culture of support.
Part of that support includes innovative programs like the pilot laundry program, which Moody called part of the school’s “holistic support to our incredible students.”
According to statistics cited by Martin, only 62% of renters have access to
a washer and dryer and the lack of access to clean clothes can be a barrier to consistent school attendance, a factor that state Rep. Rodney Elliott referenced in his remarks.
“Clean clothes leads to better attendance,” he said. “Making it convenient and making it accessible will
make kids feel better when they come to school. I hope it’s the first of many across our district.”
Somong Rattanayong, head of constituent services for U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, presented Moody and Martin with a citation, as did the State House delegation of Reps. Vanna Howard, Rady Mom and Elliott, all of whom were in attendance.
“What you’re doing with the in-house laundry service
is leveling the learning field and bringing equity to students,” Rattanayong said. “Learning should be just about learning and not what you are facing economically and financially.”
Before touring the new laundry space, Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner said, “This is a school providing leadership for the district.”
Parents and students will have access to a Google form that they can fill out at
home to schedule laundry time. The laundry schedule can also be accessed via the website, as well as QR codes posted throughout the school.
“This space is not just a place to wash clothes,” Martin said. “It represents our unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of all of our students, especially those who might face challenges accessing basic amenities such as a washer and dryer.”