DISQUS

66 · 1 year ago

Law-School-Parent makes a good point about parents taking responsability, and I believe that what were seeing here with the kids from Lawrence is a direct reflection of their upbringing. These kids are growing up with parents that I wouldnt clasify as adults, nevermind calling them responsable.....And we want kids to be better people?
Remember that poem, "chilsdren learn what they live".

jon miller · 1 year ago

here we go- yet again. Welcome to another episode of ' Let's make Wilfredo T. Laboy Look Infallible Show' Yes, come on down and select from any one of a number of great prizes. First prize- jobs for your friends, family or anyone you need on the payroll so as to keep your mouth shut. Second prize- be shutted when you do speak out ( Nicole Shadeed) Third prize- have one of the Laboy stooges bring you up on criminal charges ( see substitute teachers) Fourth prize- do a good job, really care about kids and what happens to them , then get yourself arrested and fired without cause ( see Bob Fitz Jr.) Yessiree that is what over a billion dollars of state funds and Wifredo T. Laboy ' meglamania will get you. All these great prizes and an educational system that is the joke of the state.

john wayne · 1 year ago

This a community issue not a LHS issue. The school is a reflection of what takes place outside. The union president needs to become part of the solution not part of the problem

Noni · 1 year ago

If you believe that this is all of the crime - disruptions - that is happening at the high school and/or other schools in Lawrence - I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. So many things are not even reported/documented. The only reason you are finding out about the incidents in the paper today is that the police had to get involved. Discipline is a joke starting from kindergarten. Laboy doesn't want to know about what's happening - principals are afraid to report. I'm so happy that all of the money spent on this new high school is fixing all the problems - let's see what the scores are (another joke).

Jay B · 1 year ago

I grew up in Lawrence and now I am a Police Officer elsewhere in the state. Nevertheless, I have never heard a good thing about Wilfredo LaBoy. From the running boards on his car, so on and so on... Furthermore, I am furious that he doesn't have time for his teachers or more importantly the children of Lawrence. Lawrence High is a tough school and cooperation needs to be seen between the Teachers, Politicians and, most importantly, the Police who need to clean up a mess, that LaBoy and his cronies can't control. I work in a City of 40,000. We have the same amount of resource officers as Lawrence...c',mon Wilfredo. Care about the schools or find another job. Maybe you should work a week on security in LHS!

Dr. U. Fraud · 1 year ago

Great insight Jay. Supt. Laboy is also poised to receive a 6% raise at the next School Comm. meeting. The "rubber stamp" members owe Laboy + Sullivan a lot. Greg Morris was recently given a plum job as recycling Coordinator,and his wife works for the school dept.. Larocque"s son is now a teacher, Priscilla Baez is the sister of Laboys driver a n bodyguard. Reyes is the brother of Israel Reyes , Laboy is Godfather of his baby. One big happy family. ONLY IN LAWRENCE!!!!!

citizen · 1 year ago

Israel Reyes the next mayor of Lawrence?

tico · 1 year ago

Why not???? He is crooked enough.

AngryParent · 1 year ago

Greg works for the city again? How freaking Ironic. He's a piece of art work. I remember when my son had surgery on his knee and was on the 3rd floor on crutches (that he didn't want to use) and there was NO elevator service. I wrote Greg an email, I got NO RESPONSE back. Sadly the idiot is PRES of the SLE little league too, that my other son is part of and Greg is NO better there either. My son didn't get to attend the trophy ceremony and he did NOT get his trophy until the new season started.

ShadowHawk · 1 year ago

Beautiful new school. Millions spent. Beautiful new area near North Andover. Plenty of room, no overcrowding. New desks and lockers. Beautiful view out of the windows. Art hung on the walls........SAME KIDS.

!!!! · 1 year ago

Lawrence is a crime ridden town, so for members of the school committee to downplay this report---- SHAME ON YOU!!! What a waste of money the state pumps into this community, they always come up with excuses. For the school committee to even consider a pay raise for the so called leader is a joke, test scores are the worst in the state and that deserves a raise??? They should hang their heads in shame and the entire bunch should resign and Laboy should be fired! He's nothing but a self centered egomaniac!

personwithanopinion · 1 year ago

Honestly, no school system, by itself, can make children respect one another and want to better their current status by availing themselves of a free education. We ALL know that this type of lesson is learned at home and reinforced at school. While I'm not too familar with Laboy, no amount of money would I take to be in charge of this school system...the obstacles are insurmountable As far as the new high school goes, I wish all of our schools looked and had the amenities like this one does.....big business has beautiful buildings....why not for our children who are the future of this nation?

Concerned · 1 year ago

Laboy hands out jobs to his family and friends like they were his very own to give and not the Lawrence residents.

He brays that it's unfair when he is criticized. He lauds every tenth of a percentage in improvement and hides the numbers of the failing schools and it's only when the Commonwealth makes it public that he admits it and then says the state is being unfair.

Now he hides the number of arrests and violent acts and that's the real problem.

Laboy doesn't deserve a raise and doesn't even deserve what he gets now.

At least three School Committee members - James Vittorioso, Martina Cruz, and Sammy Reyes - have said they would not vote for a raise.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

they all say they won't vote for a raise and then willy promises someone in their family a job and oops he 's not only worth the 6% he should be president. He really has taken Lawrence backwards with "sucess for no one"
and all his other failed programs..He pays all these retired administrators 100 per hour to do the jobs people are already getting paid to do. he uses lawrence as his cash cow and does so with impunity..get with it Eagle Tribune investigate.......

Concerned · 1 year ago

Well, we'll see what Reyes does, but Vittorioso has opposed anything over the minimun and at times said no raise. Cruz has never voted for any raise.

66 · 1 year ago

its like the rise and fall of rome.......
They will suckle the fat cow till it dies...........

O.I.L. · 1 year ago

SUCCESS FOR ALL......architects and contractors,that is.

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Start a charter school funded by private industry.

No ties whatsoever to the government hacks.

A board hires all teachers and pays with results-based bonuses, and arranges for accreditation.

MyThoughts · 1 year ago

Lawrence High isnt the only place where the school officials are trying to cover up everything and anything negitive going on. Its happening at schools all across MA, like at Masconomet Regional High for an example, huge drug issue, classrooms are becoming more out of control, teachers have quit because they cant handle the students, and the fact that students are becoming more violent and showing very little to no respect at all for rules, teachers, and higher authority period. Now students at Masconomet may be considered "well off" and some may think well, thats just not possible but regardless of wealth, this is a huge issue at all schools across the board.

Parking Lot · 1 year ago

Lets just blow up Lawrence and make it a hugh parking lot.

redsoxsfaninthesouth · 1 year ago

I think the word you meant to use was huge not hugh

dan051967 · 1 year ago

No I know that guy Hugh... he's got a lot of cars and needs some place to park them.

~Boriqua 4 Lyfe!!~ · 1 year ago

hahhahahaha thats funny!!

Observer · 1 year ago

Parking Lot:
You are a true intellectual, Parking Lot! Why don't we turn your house into a "hugh" GED Center where you could learn to spell? And you believe yourself superior to the people you condemn? Why don't we have you holding the blasting cap when we blow up the City?
Sorry guys, I couldn't help it.....I had to respond.......

66 · 1 year ago

Well Well Now,
I have to admit that we wouldnt have any of this info if they wernt actually busting these kids, so at least we know someone is doing their job.....As for Laboy, Fire the bum and bring in the national guard !!!!

smack · 1 year ago

The city needs to take some of the millions they are currently flushing down the toilet and institute some form of program for its elementary students to emphasize civic responsibility and common decency. It is all too obvious that these kids simply aren't getting it at home. Uneducated, illiterate, absentee parents are the root cause of 90% of what's going on at LHS. Kids need to be taught at a young age the difference between right and wrong and what it means to be a good citizen and if the parents can't get it done, somebody damn well better. If not, we all pay the price.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

schools can teach all they want about these things but when the majority of the community lives this way they think the teachers are "whack" and backwards to believe these things ...who did you pout more stock in your teacher or your
parents???get it???

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Exactly... answer: privately funded charter schools.

Then you can hire/fire any damn teacher you want. No unions.

smack · 1 year ago

The "majority of the community" are hard working and decent people. It is a minority of kids creating the havoc going on at LHS. A program targeting these at risk children at an early age could play a role in reducing the criminal behavior we see when they reach adolescence. We can sit back and complain about the way things are or we can ACT TO TRY TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER. Get it???

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

i did not say it was the majority of the kids causing problems I said the schools can't solve what the cmmunity accepts..I worked there did you??? get with it just because you want a perfect world where the schools can solve everything does't mean there is going to be one...get it???

Alumni · 1 year ago

I grew up in Lawrence and decided to come back to teach here. I won't comment on Dr. Laboy, that's beyond my control. I will however say what I've observed in our school. 1-Kids are joining gangs because they're afraid or get intimidated into them. I truly believe that we need to be more punitive of the troublemakers in school. In my building there was a good 20 kids that were constantly in trouble, yet they could not get suspended too many times because the numbers are "frowned" upon. Honestly, if you expelled these kids (and I would say there's about 100 of them) you will save the other 3,000. 2- As great as our building is, we don't have books to teach! 3- We need to have buses for the kids who want to do after school programs. I've seen many kids walking home at 6, 7, 8 pm! 4- We need parents to be involved, and if they refuse to come to meetings or address their child's problems, get DSS involved. We have good parents, but the ones that we need help from are impossible to reach. 5- Lets work together. I've read many comments posted that are ignorant, and I will invite you to come work in Lawrence and try to come up with solutions before you make ignorant comments like "Lets blow up the school".

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

alumni there were not there was...

smack · 1 year ago

Instead of acting as self appointed grammar cop, perhaps you could dedicate that time to thinking about ways to improve the situation. You "worked there"? That leads me to believe you were dismissed or simply cut and ran because you couldn't stand the heat. The point here is that the community does not accept this behavior and something must be done to stop it. Throwing in the towel and accepting status quo with a "that's just the way it is" mentality is defeatist and what lead us here to begin with.

66 · 1 year ago

WRONG, Even if that person did work there, and even if they were let go, that doesnt mean they adopted any kind of "status quo". How do you know they dont stand for morals, a sense of right and wrong, or even may have been putting their foot down to stand up for more of what the schools need.......Responsable Parents to actually care about their childrens attitude and actions....or the police when necessary....We are talking about illegal activity and violence in the public schools after all.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

retired...get it?????

AngryParent · 1 year ago

I think I know who Alumni is. But seeing I don't really want to let people know exactly who I am, I can't say who (he) is. If it is a he.

Enough Already · 1 year ago

I'm not a teacher, but I agree with you 100%. If the parents won't come in to meet with the teachers, obviously they don't care about their kids, and it shows in their behavior in school. When you are in high school you should be old enough to respect your elders, even if your parents didn't teach you that at home. So you blow off 4 years of your life, then what? Don't the parents of these kids want them to succeed? And Laboy, what a waste. He runs a dictatorship. Get that guy out of there. He should donate half of his salary to the schools for supplies and security. Or better yet, spend a week there to see what really happens. Either way he doesn't care. He's a fat cat, getting a fat check. The teachers are not backed by him. He wants to keep the number of dropouts low, so he does not want teachers suspending a kid too many times or kicking them out. It's a lose lose situation until Laboy is fired. The problems won't go away, but at least get someone in there who really knows what's going on and isn't doing it solely for the money like he is.

Walter Winchell · 1 year ago

Sounds like that the Lawrence school system needs overhauling and rewiring just like the Mass. parole board. HELLOOOOOOOOO Mr. Sullivan, I think that it's safe to say that Mr. Laboy has worn out his welcome in the Lawrence school district and it's time to cut him loose. It's obvious of the fact that he's dumpiong his problems on all the other peopole under him and you are letting him undermine you. Innocent kids getting beat up, getting thrown down flights of stairs, drug dealings, punk thugs packing hardware on school property. What is this telling you anyway ?? Sooner or later some poor innocent kid is going to end up getting whacked on shool grounds and that's no good !! It's time to put your foot down and start cracking the whip Half of these clowns are there to just collect a paycheck, they don't care what's going on around them as long as they're getting paid. I'm sire that the parents of these kids in the Lawrence school system will agree with me on this. And if all comes down and some poor innocet child gets killed because of some punk thugs protecting their turf, it's on your head,not theirs.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

mr laboy is protecting the punk thugs because part of his state mandate is to lower the suspension rate....how do you do that without looking the other way at suspendable offenses.
the principals also work under that mandate..therefor the children also operate with impunity that is why the teachers
have no recourse...children are abusive to them say the N
word all the time use the f word at will get into fights serious fights and are told to apologize to each other...walk into rooms and punch out kids disrupt the teacher and we are told to "understand the poor child" anything not to up those suspension rates...they say suspensilon doesn't "work"
just like they say jail doesn't "work" but at least it keeps the poor innocent children and teacher safe..oh ya but who cares about them it's all about the numbers and wiilly's
IMAGE.

66 · 1 year ago

I knew the Lawrence public school system would bring about a lot of different opinions, I think this thread will be very educational.......I wish some high school students would give their opinion to this. After all, its their education we are all discussing.

O.I.L. · 1 year ago

If I had to cite only one example of Superintendent Laboys ineffective and malicious leadership. It would be the Nicole Shadeed affair.
Ms. Shadeed was an outstanding scholar/athlete who graduated from LHS,(valedectorian?) earned a scholarship to Harvard, and returned to teach at LHS.
During her years there she distinguished herself as an educator and extra curricular supporter, gaining the support of students,parents and her peers.
She cared enough to write an honest but critical letter to the editor in the Tribune.
Laboy gave her a "pink slip",she was laid off...incredible.

smack · 1 year ago

It is my understanding that there were a number of unreported personnel issues this year at LHS involving members of the administration. These included threats of dismissal, actual firing and subsequent rehiring when the employee in question saw the light (ie Wilfredo's way of thinking). LHS faculty: care to comment?

66 · 1 year ago

thats because the truth hurts and when the truth comes out, people look higher up to place blame....didn't look good for Laboy now did it?

ChairmanOfTheBoard · 1 year ago

yikes....

steve_s · 1 year ago

Wilfredo T. Laboy was " out of town" and asked Kevin Clement to comment. Kevin Clement School Safety Officer? What kind of a job is that? Is this the guy who was the energy czar in the early eighties? Then came back under Patty Dowling and was parachuted over to the school department? Does he have a degree? In anything other than schmoozing? ( even then he is not too good at that)

Only in Lawrence

66 · 1 year ago

But I bet he knows the students better then anyone of us.......

THAT'S HIM!!!! · 1 year ago

The one and only

Bob O · 1 year ago

Only in Massachusetts would a town like Lawrence get a state of the art high school. These thugs don't care about the school. Schools like Stoneham High where kids show up and want to learn and actually graduate and make a differnce in the world get nothing. Instead we waste tax money on 2010's new batch of drug dealers. The government keeps enabling these losers to live this way. I say no more handouts for Lawrence. Let it rot to the ground. Then and only then will residents realize a change is needed and it needs to come from within their community.

The Truth · 1 year ago

Luckily for all of us there are not too many people that share "Bob O's" view on Lawrence. I'm sure you know a lot about it Mr Stoneham. I would suggest you focus on what you do know.

Sure Lawrence has more thugs then some cities. But to say they don't deserve a school because they don't care about school is out of line.

There are thousands of youth growing up in Lawrence that want to get out of the area and move on to bigger and better things. They just need to be shown the way and get some encouragement.

Whats seems to be the issue is that Lawrence school system is not on the right page and appears to be split.

You have disgruntled teachers that are jerks to students, Great teachers that try to make up for those jerks, and a superintendent that is concerned on keeping the statistics at a comfortable level for his superiors.

My suggestion is get someone to take the job that is from the area and actually understands the concerns, feelings and needs of THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: It tells you a lot when Laboy needs a bodyguard / driver.

Who does this guy think he is Madonna?

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

more like Fidel Castro...he uses a few big words and
intellectually challenged Mayor Sullivan thinks he's Einstein..Like Abraham Lincoln said, "you can fool all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time"..I think willy and his chaffeur ,free gas free car, free insurance has been exposed for what he is.....just like the wizard of Oz he's a phony.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

while I'm thinking about it Laboy got the job by
saying he would move to Lawrence fromNY
after he signed the contract he told the schoo\
comm. he "could not find a suitable home in
Lawrence" so he moved to Methuen...
so now he has #1 dissed the city he is
getting paid by #2
dissed the people he is "serving"
#3lied to get the job
we should have know hisw true colors then...
HE IS AN ELITIST of the worst kind...

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

True, change can only come from within the community.

You can't legislate stupid.

portajuan · 1 year ago

Out of control behavior starts long before the high school years.
I know there are 6th grade kids in Lawrence on probation.

juana · 1 year ago

very sad the Lawrence High students are the problem not the people the run the school please look at the big MAN that problem (MR WILFREDO T LABOY AND HIS FAMILY)

smack · 1 year ago

Laboy isn't beating students in the halls. ESL classes available in your local area.

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

laboy isn't beating kids in the hall but he is condoning
this behavior by not addressing it..I bet Hitler didn't
personally kill any Jews yet he is responsible for the death of 6,000,000.

TooBadd · 1 year ago

Laboy isn't respected in Lawrence high. He went to the LHS ralley and got bo0Oo`d by the student's. Embarrassing !!!

and Funnie

smack · 1 year ago

By "the student's" what? I'm sorry but at the risk of being grammar and punctuation cop, a little more time in English class might help your chances of putting together a decent resume. You'll need it.

TooBadd · 1 year ago

Ha ha ha your funny, did u think of that all by yourself? If you did, a round or applause. I bet you feel special. Well i don't need Englishes classes i already passed them. ( with A's)

your just jumping to conclusions like an ignorent outsider would. Noticed i didn't call you any names. Guess am the bigger man.

sherlock · 1 year ago

He'd get booed by his teachers too if he didn't hold the threat of firing them!

Patsy · 1 year ago

I grew up in Lawrence. I graduated from LHS some years ago. No-one in my class was ever arrested. We never had cops in our high school back then. What a wonderful 4 years I spent there. We respected out teachers & anyone else who was an authority. Lawrence is RUINED & it will NEVER be the same & all us "former" Lawrencians know the EXACT reason why. At least we have our memories of a great city & a great school system. I shudder now every time I have to pass through. there. I always expect a drive-by shooting or some other tragedy.

WOWlol · 1 year ago

so sorry that it is not 1937 anymore.. class of '38 baby!

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Yup, Depression era students weren't spoiled welfare brats.

reprat · 1 year ago

it was not 1937, you ignoramus!!!! She is telling the truth and I applaud her. I too, went to LHS without police having to patrol the halls and all that. Things changed 30 years ago and yes, we all know it and know by whom. You can descecrate the city, turn it into a pigsty, you can build a 100 million dollar high school yet lack of pride shows when you see the crime rate inside increase, you can heckle all that was good BACK THEN, if it makes you feel good about yourself, but PATSY is correct, you can not and will not ever take away what we had and how good we had it back then. None of you will ever experience what great times we had because you have no pride, some do not care about the community and never will and at least you can not take away our memories of what is was to grow up in the Immigrant City with pride.

AngryParent · 1 year ago

Here we go!!!

smack · 1 year ago

What is the EXACT reason why Patty?

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Everyone knows the reason.

How could Lawrence have blossomed when it was populated by dirt-poor Irish, Italians, Greeks, Lebanese, French and Germans in the 1890s?

How could Lawrence tailspin into a dustheap after the 1960s?

reprat · 1 year ago

Duh!!!

SUNSHINE · 1 year ago

It's good to see the Eagle Tribune finally shedding some light on Lawrence School problems. Also check the archives @ rumbonews.com

AngryParent · 1 year ago

can you come translate for me? I'm not dling the paper though. lol

Lady · 1 year ago

I personally feel , as a parent children that come to school and starting trouble, cought selling drugs, or narcotics should be expelled from school for ever, and until something like this happens trouble teen s will continue to be trouble in the schools. the ones that suffer all of this are the students that really go to school to learn and get an education.. this is an issue that needs to be address IMMEDIATELY, this kids that come to school to be trouble and bother the other students and teachers should not be let back in school .. why should us tax payer pay for kids that only come to school to be a menace. the school personal instead of raising Laboy's paycheck they should increase that safety of the kids that do go to school to get an education..

a very concern parent...

kat333 · 1 year ago

You raise a good point but they would never expel a student permanently. They would say that every child has a right to an education. Plus, expelling a kid puts him/her on a faster track to nowhere.

Perhaps the answer is to take the problem kids and put them in a boot camp-like school where their attitudes are stripped down and rebuilt to teach respect, integrity, and responsibility. After a period of time, they can be placed back into the schools with the kids that want to be there.

SIC OF THE PLACE I CALL HOME · 1 year ago

want to see the city and school system run better make all pol. terms 2 years and your out for at least 4 years then you'll see how quick this hire my mother my brother my sister my aunt son godson and so forth goes away if these scum teacher and corrupts pols we have didn't get money or yard work done they would not make careers of it and maybe just maybe suspend these punks not 2 days but 10 for every offense have them do summer school maybe they would just quit and let the kids that want to learn learn a lot of if ands or but i keep reading but again none of it is of any help BURN IT DOWN THE WHOLE CITY AND START OVER

Long Time Methuenite · 1 year ago

0 Tolerance
Arrested = expelled
That'll drop the number of arrests.
Enough is enough
When I went to the vo tech in the 70's for 4 TEARS there were NO arrests....
Lawrence makes me want to puke!

ShadowHawk · 1 year ago

Don't puke. That would be seen as a hate crime!

Who Cares? · 1 year ago

Methuen makes me want to puke. You are part of the uneducated problem in Methuen. We can tell u wen voke.

Long Time Methuenite · 1 year ago

Damn typos

4 * YEARS
Is there no way to edit your post ??

9r9r · 1 year ago

You want to know what wrong with the HS kids...look no further than the parents...Disgraces...all (should say most) of them.

How sad it was to see the lack of community support...a community by the way, full of hispanics, not attend Sgt Jimenez's funeral. The streets should have been lined with people (they don't work anyway...that's a joke people) on both sides and the church should have been bursting at the seams...

But instead a few hundred show up...Are you kidding me??With 65,000 residents, most of whom are hispanics, you can't even show respect for a fallen hero?? What are you too busy sitting on your front stoop? Or collecting some of my paycheck?

Sad in so many ways..

So, why are arrests up at LHS.

1) Horrendous role models..their parents are jokes(most of them anyhow...Single Parent households living off the public dole.
2) Apathy in their own community
3) No direction
4) No alternatives.
5)No drive, work ethic, respect or motivation.

Don · 1 year ago

I live out of town, but I understand your point about Sgt. Jiminez. When you look at Iraq and Afganistan most of the deaths seem to be caused by people of their own ethnic culture, religous differences aside. In Boston the vast majority of violence against blacks is inflicted by blacks, their own people. You have a Pedro Martinez type come to Lawrence and everyone wants to be Hispanic. When one of their own dies in a foreign war how can they draw pride from that?

Walter Winchell · 1 year ago

HELLLOOO !!!!!!!! Mr. Sullivan, I hope that you are reading these comments here, the Lawrence school system is in disarray. It's time to lose the garbage and bring in some new blood. From what I can see here, it's gotten out of hand and if you don't make some changes, it will get to the point where the damage is unrepairable. Whatever you do, dont take any sympathy with these teenage thugs that are trying to take over the schools. What you should do is initiate a no tollerance policy on gang activity and track down all the thugs with criminal records in the school system and expell them all. If they don't want to learn, get rid of them. The safety of hundreds of innocent kids is at stake here. The world suffers at the hands of consrevative libralism and it's a joke and it needs to be brushed aside for the sake of these innocent kids and I'll assure you that the parents of these kids will agree with me on this. It's at the point that the laws are protecting these gang bangers in the school system and that is by no means an answer. I suggest that you watch that movie with Morgan Freeman, "Lean on Me." I think that will clue you into the fact of the measures you should take on this matter. and I'm speaking for the parents of the kids who want to learn and make something of themselves and not have to worry about being targeted by gangs, bullies, and drug dealing thugs. Do any of my fellow bloggers agree with me on this ??

e+m14 · 1 year ago

Nora will read it to Mr.Sullivan,he only looks at the pictures.

66 · 1 year ago

This is a really good point, but I doubt that you will ever see the doors locked as to keep out people that don't belong there.....One day of that and some parent would suffer a flash back of their prison days and be protesting with a corona or elpresidente in one hand and a civil rights petition in the other.

Alumni · 1 year ago

Can we stop overgeneralizing? There were "81" arrests in a school that has over 3,000 kids. There are many students who go to school to try to better their situation and it's not fair to them to put them in the small group of kids who are making their efforts that much harder. Also, most parents work at LHS. Now they don't glamorous jobs, but they work. Again, a few don't work-stop overgeneralizing.

mouse · 1 year ago

Buford Pusser
What do you mean, "you can't legislate stupid "
Do you live in massachusetts ?
our legislators do it every day !

mouse · 1 year ago

to Long time methuenite.
the only way I have edited my post is to proof read it and make the changes before i hit the post button
does anyone know a way to edit after posting ?

lawtownlady · 1 year ago

Everyone is claiming that these parents are not involved and how many of them sit on a stoop and collect a check. Really? Where are you getting these statistics? I live in Lawrence and I can tell you what the problem is: Parents are NEVER home but are instead at work. Most are working two jobs. They have a limited education which leads to minimum wage jobs which leads to having to work more than one job to support a family. When the kid turns 12 and you don't come home till 8 and leave at 6 a.m. what do you think that kid does? Shows up at school late and when they leave school they hang out with each other unsupervised. That's just asking for trouble. But what can the parents do? If they stay home and receive assistance they're accused of taking from the system. Work one job and you don't make enough money but you make too much to receive benefits, so you work two jobs and your kids run wild getting in trouble with each other. The Boys/Girls Club is a godsend but not everyone can get there, the Y has the same issue. The city needs more after school programs and summer programs.

smack · 1 year ago

I'm sorry but the bad actors at LHS aren't from great homes. These kids are cursed by the institutionalized and generational legacy of LBJ and socialist policies that continue to encourage colossal failure in minority communities. Generations of people were not meant to occcupy public housing. These people need to step up or step out.

Don · 1 year ago

I've always been curious what the term inner-city means. Is it the location or the population they're talking about. They didn't call Lawrence High an inner-city school 40 years ago. Are all people who live in the city inner-city people or just the less fortunate ones.

Law-school-parent · 1 year ago

Lawtownlady, let's not kid ourselves. Are you claiming that Lawrence's problem is that residents work too much? Let's assume this is the case. While I can barely say that with a straight face, I will humor readers with this assumption. These same people could suck it up for a year or two and get themselves educated and greatly increase their current salary - IF THEY WANTED TO. The state would more likely than not pay for their entire education.

Whatever your home situation (have a job, maybe two, on welfare, uneducated, etc), it is YOUR responsibility as a parent to raise your children. Figure it out or don't have children. Seems like the same people buy a car and have time to wash it 3 times a week at Haffners on Parker Street but they have children, neglect them and we make excuses for them? Perhaps I'm being a bit facetious but am I that far off? Is sending the kids to the Boys Club or the YMCA all day the solution to successful parenting? While those types of organizations/programs are good for kids with absent parents, they shouldn't be so necessary - nevermind we should have more of them. What we need is parents getting more involved in the lives of their children.

As for the crime stats of LHS, who really cares? 77 up to 81? Is that change not negligible? If it went from 77 down to 73 - would the Tribune be praising Lawrence for doing such a great job cleaning things up or would they say "Even with such a great security system, Lawrence still has high crime numbers"? What an absolute waste of ink and paper - typical Tribune bashing the city.
Imagine if Andover High students used drugs. Oh wait, they do. Does the Tribune perpetually miss that story or do they just choose to ignore the "snow" at Andover High?

You all should stop wasting your breath complaining about Laboy. While he's no Godsend, he's simply playing the game, no different than any other person in public office or position of authority. He has been empowered by the public officials WE elected. Quid pro quo, I guess.
Laboy's salary is around $200k with an enrollment of over 12k. Superintendent of Wellesley makes $185k with 4,500 (wealthy) students. Whittier Tech makes $150k with 1,100 students. Interesting! If he's not qualified - fire him. If he is - pay him what the job is worth. Either Laboy is qualified for his job and all his raises or the whole system is corrupt - you decide!

And besides, since when is it the superintendent's job to reduce/fight crime? I thought it was his job to educate our children. The security system and staff at the high school are second-to-none and they are making arrests. Maybe if the students (whose parents all work two jobs) would stop committing crimes...

got2 · 1 year ago

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!

tired of abuse · 1 year ago

many good pooints but off base with laboy...he is in charge
of who gets punished and who doesn't..to keep his problems ..on the down low he refuses to let the principals
discipline.. no paper work=no problems=good statistics
submitted to the state..this is why HE is the problem You
are so right about the Trib covering up andover and no andover...but their teachers are not complaining so they
must feel they are listened to..Law teachers are at a loss
as to how to address these issues with a dictator who feels
he is infalible.

jon miller · 1 year ago

Well said, well written, many good points. Regarding the point Laboy is only playing the system, I am in complete agreement. He is best arguement I have for additional education reform starting with the abolition of the school committee.

Let's take a look at the Lawrence School Committee. How many are educated? How many have prfoited from their public servents? Include immediate families too then you will see that education, which takes up so much time and money cannot be left to ametuers, even the well-meaning ones.

From a historical respect all superintedents have played yhe same game with the same disasterous results. may be we should draft the next superintendent from one of the big universities; a true professional with the expertize to run large, complex organizations. Either that or get an MBA with an ED.D, but the current crop is nothing to write home about.

benny · 1 year ago

Just send them to boot camp on their second time for 3days .third time is a week.let them now , or washing and cleanning the mess hallfor a week

LHSParent · 1 year ago

As a parent of a Junior in the PFA Academy at LHS I find alot of these comments ignorant and abusive. My child loves her school and is in the top 10 of her class! Her grades are the best they have ever been. She has wonderful teachers. There are probably over 3,000 kids in the entire school and there were 77 arrests? Not that bad a number. I 'm sure there were no arrests in Methuen, Andover or North Andover at school, right?? How about writing about the good things at LHS?? Was there anything in the paper about the wonderful Hansel & Gretel performance by the PFA Dance Group? How about the Christmas or Spring concerts?? NOPE nothing. If you write about the bad; write about the good as well!
I am proud of my LHS/PFA student!

m+jo · 1 year ago

How can we read about the good things if narrow minded dictators like Laboy forbid the newspaper RUMBO from setting foot on school property, or allow it in school libraries.
He is ruthless and vindictive!

paul walters · 1 year ago

Just wait until she goes to college. Then you will find out how 'good' her education was in Lawrence.

Can she add and subtract fractions yet?

Who Cares? · 1 year ago

Lets give the super a raise! Great Job! What a joke.

AngryParent · 1 year ago

"At the high school, 60 students were arrested on campus and 21 others were charged at dismissal time in Sullivan Park and the neighboring Stadium Projects. The report noted while that's "not actually on school property, they were within a block of the school and considered school related because they were actively dismissing from LHS"
My comment to this garbage also students that get in trouble after school are SUSPENDED. I've heard the stories and it was off school grounds, yet they throw out that they were in Sullivan Park or in the Stadium Projects? What a crock.....

The only person that I can say for sure was speaking the truth is Burke. From what I heard the gang unit has met with several students (without parents there) to try to control the gang problem. But you didn't hear that from me.

ramon · 1 year ago

kudos to the government for spending so many millions to build a school. First and foremost, what is a school? I think as much as a school is important, equally important is education. Education begins at home! In the modern world, a school is just for a select few that seek wisdom. For the rest, it is the stage to find fame and flames. Kids now go to school and discuss video games, clothing, i pods, phones and so forth. It is unfortunate that Lawrence "kids" face alot of media attention which is mainly negative. The sad part is that majority of these kids are immigrants and they all or most of them are wannabes. They have been brainwashed by the society as a whole. every home or household is playing a role in any community.

Commentard · 1 year ago

Well I sure am glad we spent all that money on the most expensive high school in state history.

WOWlol · 1 year ago

Not even close to how much we've spent in a ridiculous war.

Barry H. Obama · 1 year ago

I knew some anti-American, lefty, moonbat, rat-bastard would try to draw us off topic.....

WOW · 1 year ago

IM ANTI AMMERICAN YET I AM A FORMER MARINE? WOW..

Commentard · 1 year ago

I used to be an underwear model just before I discovered the cure for cancer.

Commentard · 1 year ago

So you're saying anything that the government does that is less expensive than the war is totally justified?

Sweet! Lets buy Lichtenstein!

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Yes, and give it to the Israelis so they can move out of that hell hole. Then the arabs can get down to some serious self-population control.