The condition and future of the Lynn Public Schools (LPS) have emerged as top issues in the mayoral race this year.
Both candidates have identified the physical state and age of the buildings as a top priority with different solutions offered. My intention here is to discuss another aspect of the system that I’ve encountered while campaigning for the candidate for mayor I’m supporting: Jared Nicholson.
The influx of Latino and other immigrant children is viewed as a problem by some and an advantage to the system and city, by others. You can count Nicholson and me as definitely in the latter group.
Fear is a factor that informs many. It’s an old emotion that caused generations before us to direct their ire at newly-arrived Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish, and other immigrant groups who turned petty prejudices into articles of faith against each other.
(For the record, I am married to an Irish immigrant.)
History seems to be repeating itself again as the LPS educates pupils in an environment where 30-40 languages and dialects are spoken at home, arousing similar misgivings.
In particular, efforts to improve conditions for English-language learners are seen as acting as a magnet to draw similar families, further stressing city services and taxpayers.
As I have had the pleasure of getting to know and campaign for Nicholson, it has become clear to me that he believes that the plethora of languages spoken in the schools and the city is an undeniable strength for our city.
Of course, the schools are focused on all students learning English as soon as possible (and creating opportunities for their families to do the same).
But they are also celebrating the value of other languages, including a special recognition for graduates who demonstrate proficiency in another language, and working to overcome language barriers as a district to better work with families.
Lynn is at an inflection point as we emerge from COVID-19 and the municipal finance nightmare Mayor Thomas M. McGee’s administration has significantly turned around. The prospect of additional federal and state funding for education will be wisely utilized by Nicholson.
The selling points of Lynn we’ve heard for years, including close access to Boston and the airport, great beach and woods, and many developable locations in the city, remain.
They are enhanced now with a workforce fed by a Lynn Tech that is emerging as a key economic force for the city. Its students are in the enviable position of being able to immediately work in well-paying jobs while having the fundamentals to continue onto college or junior college with North Shore Community College and Salem State University within easy commuting distance.
Nicholson sits on the board of the Lynn Community Enrichment Program at Lynn Tech and on the Lynn School Committee.
He has been deeply involved in bringing enhancements and opening opportunities for all at Lynn Tech.
This includes after-school programs for students from the other high schools and even night programs for adults, including course offerings in Spanish-teaching job and technology skills.
It’s critical that college preparation also be a key component of the curriculum, along with vocational training. The early-college program, a partnership with Salem State University and North Shore Community College, continues to expand.
Early college can position students for success after high school by giving them a jumpstart on the credits they need for a college degree and demystifying higher education. Nicholson is a staunch supporter of this program.
This election is about the future and how the next mayor will lead the city through significant economic changes.
The Lynn Public Schools, capably led by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and a new School Committee chaired by Nicholson, will be in the enviable position to produce multilingual, tech-savvy graduates who can fill both the blue- and white-collar workforce ranks.
Nicholson will have the added advantage of being fluent in Spanish, which is the second most-spoken language in Lynn.
The next mayor will prove his leadership chops by showcasing a multilingual, relevantly educated, student population along with the other assets mentioned to attract high-paying jobs to the city. Jared Nicholson’s work on the School Committee gives him the undeniable edge.
Victor L’Esperance is a political activist with local, state, national, and international campaign experience.