The official web site of the Lowell Alumni Association

Status of 2003-2004 Academic Programs/Services
Program Band Choir Orchestra Piano Italian Physical Education electives Couseling French Library Peer Resources	Status Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Reduced Reduced Reduced Reduced

As the Lowell community had feared, the multi-billion dollar state budget deficit has translated into significant cuts to programs and services at Lowell. Lowell's $9.5 million budget for the coming school year is roughly $1.1 million short of what is needed to maintain all current programs. As a result, the Lowell school site council -- an elected body with student, parent, alumni, faculty and administration representatives - has had to make some very painful decisions in order to balance the school budget. The most immediate effect of the council's decision to lay off 9 classroom teachers is that average class sizes throughout the school will increase (math classes will grow from 29 to 34 students; world languages classes will grow from 25 to 30 students), but it also means that several programs will be eliminated entirely and others reduced substantially (see accompanying chart).

Most of the programs selected for elimination or reduction are elective courses that are not necessary for Lowell students to qualify for admission to the University of California system, but these programs are important to Lowell students nonetheless. "With cuts in the arts, students will no longer be able to unleash their creativity in such a stressful environment," said Lowell senior Christine Chai. And the effects of the budget cuts are being felt in other areas as well. Lowell's library staff of four will be slashed by 60 percent while the counseling staff is cut by 25 percent to six and a half counselors.

Once the magnitude of the Lowell budget shortfall became clear, the Lowell community mobilized quickly. The Lowell PTSA immediately launched an emergency fund-raising effort, dubbed the "Budget Crisis Fund." Your alumni association joined the effort by pledging $50,000 to offset the budget cuts, contingent upon the parent community raising a similar amount. To date, Lowell parents have raised over $250,000, with more money arriving daily, thus more than satisfying the alumni association's initial challenge. As Bonnie Jones, the Lowell parent responsible for the PTSA's Budget Crisis Fund efforts, recently remarked, "We are indeed fortunate to have such a strong alumni organization working beside us to make this campaign a success."

The LAA's board of directors is fully supporting this effort and has decided that the theme of the association's 2003 Annual Fund Campaign will be "Preserving Lowell's Unique Curriculum," with a significant portion of donations directed to restoring Lowell programs and services. According to Lowell Alumni Association President Lisa Clay, "These budget cuts are just as big a threat to Lowell's continued existence as one of America's finest high schools as previous efforts to water down Lowell's admissions standards or to transform Lowell to a neighborhood school. I am confident that our alumni will rally to this cause just as they did to resist those earlier misguided efforts."

You should receive your 2003 Annual Fund Campaign solicitation letter soon.
The entire Lowell community appreciates your prompt and generous response!