The official web site of the Lowell Alumni Association

By Terence Abad '76

Status of Program/Services for 2003-2004
Program Band Choir Orchestra Piano Italian P.E. electives Counseling Library French Peer Resources Supplies/Equipment Non-AP Social Science Electives	Status Restored Restored Restored Restored Restored Restored Partially Restored Partially Restored Partially Restored Reduced 75% Reduction Eliminated

The full impact of the California state budget crisis landed with a dispiriting thud at Lowell earlier this year when the school site council was handed the unenviable task of cutting $1.1 million worth of staffing and programs from the site budget for the 2003-2004 school year - a 10% reduction from the 2002-2003 budget. For those of you who studied Latin at Lowell, the very definition of the word "decimate" is a 10% reduction - and it is no exaggeration to say that this budget cut threatened to decimate many fine Lowell programs, including Latin. But at the very same time that the site council was making these difficult budget decisions, the Lowell Alumni Association and Lowell PTSA began gearing up to raise as much money as possible to blunt the effects of the budget cuts on Lowell's unique curriculum.

To date, Lowell alumni, parents and other friends of Lowell have responded enthusiastically and generously. This outpouring of support, both financial and emotional, has made it possible to restore, in whole or in part, many of the programs and services affected by the budget cuts. With $175,000 from the Lowell Alumni Association and another $280,000 from the Lowell PTSA, Lowell has managed to offset almost half of the budget cuts.

Of great concern to many alumni was the threatened elimination of the band, orchestra and choir programs, along with piano classes. All of those programs have now been fully restored for the current school year. Even better news is that Lowell was able to re-hire our esteemed choir director, Lowell alumnus Othello Jefferson '90, who had been laid off earlier this year under the original budget cuts.

In the World Languages department, several languages were threatened with elimination, but the site council decided in the end to eliminate Italian completely while reducing the number of sections offered in other languages, especially French. Additionally, Hebrew was threatened with elimination due to a prior site council decision to discontinue that program due to declining enrollment. The LAA and PTSA funds have enabled Lowell to re-hire our dedicated Italian teacher, Judy Branzburg, and restore some sections of French. As reported elsewhere in this newsletter, the Hebrew program has been rescued, for this year at least, thanks to the generous support of the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund and the Koret Foundation.

In total, alumni and parent donations have restored almost 5 of the 7.5 classroom teaching positions eliminated from the site budget earlier this year, along with one counselor position and one-half of a librarian position (thus restoring Lowell's library staffing to two full-time librarians which allows the library to continue to operate the same hours as last year). Lowell's Advanced Placement program, sixth largest in the United States, has not been affected by the budget cuts.

So what's missing at Lowell this year? To begin with, class sizes are larger, due to the reduction in classroom teachers. In the Social Studies department, all electives (other than Advanced Placement classes) have been eliminated, so there are no course offerings this year in psychology, sociology, geography, world religions, Asian-American history or women's studies. The Peer Resources program has been scaled back significantly and the counseling department is slightly smaller. Lowell is currently operating with one and one-half Deans (down from two last year) and only three paraprofessionals (down from five last year).

Perhaps the most significant continuing shortfall is the supplies and equipment budget that was slashed from $200,000 last school year to less than $15,000 this year. This budget item covers everything from chalk, pencils and paper to photocopying of supplemental instructional materials, chemicals and other consumables for science classes and a bare bones allocation for minor equipment purchases. We anticipate greater demand by Lowell faculty for funds from the alumni association's grants program, given the nearly complete lack of site funds for even the most basic materials.

In an effort to address these urgent remaining needs, the Lowell Alumni Association is continuing our 2003 Annual Fund Campaign at full throttle through year-end in an effort to address these urgent needs. You will find a donation form as well as a reply envelope in this newsletter - the entire Lowell community truly appreciates whatever additional support you can provide before year-end. And for those thousands of alumni who contributed so generously earlier this year, please accept our most heartfelt and sincere thanks for your enormous support during these difficult times. Your continuing interest and generosity help make it possible for Lowell to continue to not only live up to but enhance its nearly 150-year reputation for excellence.