civil rights

Admissions system used by local vocational schools under fire

February 2, 2023 by pkzadmin

LOWELL — Two vocational technical high schools in Massachusetts are the target of a civil rights complaint regarding their admissions policies, which are practiced at nearly every other vocational school in the commonwealth.

The Vocational Education Justice Coalition — a collection of 20 civil rights groups, labor unions and community groups — filed a federal complaint Thursday with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights against the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state entity that establishes admissions guidelines at such schools.

The action takes aim at Montachusett Regional Vocational High School in Fitchburg and Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield for their use of a ranked admission system based on grades, attendance, recommendations and discipline.

All but two of the state’s 28 voc-tech schools use a similar ranking system. Marlboro’s Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School uses a lottery-based system, and Worcester Technical High School relies on a modified lottery, wherein applicants with 10 or fewer unexcused absences have the same chance of getting accepted.

At Greater Lowell Technical High School, 811 students of color applied for the 2022-2023 school year compared to 383 white students, according to admissions data. However, 64.5% of white students were accepted while just about 56% of students of color were offered admission, according to DESE.

That disparity is greater between low-income students and students who aren’t. A total of 715 financially disadvantaged students applied, 48% of whom were accepted. But 74.5% of their 479 wealthier peers who applied received an offer letter, according to that data.

Greater Lowell Tech Superintendent Jill Davis defended the school’s policies, stating they conduct blind admissions, offer tours and do not conduct interviews like other schools. The school uses criteria in a ranked admissions process including: attendance, grades, guidance recommendations and conduct.

When asked why there are particular disparities between certain demographics, as noted above, Davis said the data presented by the Vocational Education Justice Coalition is incomplete and should instead focus on the number of students enrolled.

For the current school year, Davis said 575 students enrolled, 378 of which are students of color and 197 who are white.

“We believe that our data and our student population is a diverse student population and it reflects our sending communities,” Davis said. “I think the real focus should be on that there are not enough seats to meet the demands for vocational education and we should be looking at other ways to expand the seats, or expand vocational technical education.”

Lisa Martinez, director of technology, enrollment and information at Greater Lowell Tech, said there are two times the school submits their admissions data, meaning there are “adjustments” that are made in the fall and errors that are corrected.

However, the numbers provided by the Vocational Education Justice Coalition and those on DESE’s website are exactly the same.

The data is also “skewed,” in part, due to COVID, Martinez said. The problem is that they can’t offer a spot for everyone — of the roughly 2,280 students currently enrolled, they have about 500 or so on the waitlist.

“We have limited seats, and we really make the best use of the resources we have and we try to make it as fair as possible for the students,” she said. “We have more students naturally applying and more kids applying than we can ever accommodate.”

Martinez said they can only speak on their own admissions policy, and neither she nor Davis commented on the complaint or other vocational schools.

Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, on the other hand, admitted 100% of students who applied, though just 308 students of color were eligible to apply in the first place, compared to 1,073 white students.

The data is similar at Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford — while white students, students of color, financially disadvantaged students and non-disadvantaged students were all admitted roughly 80% of the time, 398 students of color were eligible to apply while 1,036 white students were.

For financially disadvantaged students, 255 could apply, but for students who are not classified as low-income, a total of 1,179 were eligible. That proportion is roughly equivalent for special education students versus non-special education students, according to the data.

Shawsheen Tech received 59 applications from students of color and 343 from white students for the current school year, according to that data, and about 80% of both groups, as well as about 84% of financially disadvantaged students and 79% of non-disadvantaged students, accepted the offer.

The complaint states that DESE allows voc-tech schools “to use admissions criteria that disproportionately and unjustifiably exclude students from protected classes.” That includes students of color, those with disabilities and English Language Learners. Four students, two from Chelsea and two from Gardner, are named in the complaint.

Low-income students are also considered a protected class.

Josue Castellon, a 16-year-old junior at Chelsea High School and youth peer leader at La Collaborativa, said at a State House press conference Thursday morning that he applied to Northeast Metro Tech, despite his counselor dissuading him to do so, and was denied. Castellon called the admissions process “completely biased” and one that fails to “reflect your value as a student.”

“Why is it that our futures are decided on middle school grades, discipline records, attendance and recommendations from people that may not even know us, instead of judging us purely on our show of potential and hard work and determination?” Castellon said. “This needs to change.”

Officials are recommending the use of a lottery system, which they deem more equitable, and are requesting the Board of Education in Massachusetts change the admission policy.

Steve Sharek, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, wrote in a statement that vocational-technical schools can’t accommodate all of the students looking to attend — 6,000 students are currently on waiting lists for such programs, which enroll about 55,000 students.

The organization supports bills that would invest $3 billion to expand MAVA schools and construct new ones, he wrote, and they’re hoping to make those schools more accessible “to a more diverse population of students.”

“Nearly 97% of the regional vocational-technical and agricultural high schools in Massachusetts have made changes in their admissions policies, practices, or staffing (in the past two school years),” Sharek wrote. “We’re seeing improvement.”

To continue making said improvement, Sharek said MAVA needs time to analyze the impact of the changes in admissions and a bigger presence in middle schools to educate students on their educational offerings. The investment bills, filed by Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough, and Reps. Frank Moran, D-Lawrence, and Adam Scanlon, D-North Attleborough, would grant them “access to all students” in middle schools.

Shawsheen Tech and Nashoba Tech officials did not respond to a request for comment before this article’s publication.

Monty Tech named in federal civil rights complaint

February 2, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School is one of two vocational schools in the state named in a federal civil rights complaint over admissions practices.

The complaint was filed Thursday morning against the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with the federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights by the Lawyers for Civil Rights and the Center for Law and Education. It is on behalf of two students from Gardner, two students from Chelsea, and the Vocational Education Justice Coalition, which consists of 20 community, civil rights, and union groups.

According to the complaint, a student identified as Aaron Doe applied to Monty Tech during the 2019-2020 school year. The complaint states he is a student with disabilities and had an Individualized Education Program while attending middle school. He was determined to attend a school where he could thrive in a hands-on environment and struggled to envision himself in an environment where he was “glued to a desk.”

“Ultimately, he was denied admission. Ironically, his current teachers now note that he would benefit from a hands-on learning environment. Despite being denied admission, Aaron Doe remains interested in career and technical education, but he will now have to incur out-of-pocket expenses for a private specialized program if he enrolls in one after he completes high school,” the complaint states.

Similarly, Juan Doe applied to Monty Tech during the 2021-2022 school year. The complaint describes him as an English-language learner who believed he would benefit from being in an interactive learning environment. He has a particularly strong interest in carpentry and wanted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps owning a construction business.

“Juan maintained a B-grade point average and had no disciplinary or attendance issues. In the school year 2021-22, he applied to Monty Tech. Although he believed his interview process went well, he was ultimately denied admission to Monty Tech. He still hopes to obtain access to career and technical education during his time in high school and aspires to open his own business,” the complaint states.

When students are considered for admission to Monty Tech, they are given a “Total Rating Score” based on five criteria which informs who will fill the seats apportioned for each of the 18 source communities. Grades account for 25% of a student’s score; disciplinary history, attendance, and an interview each account for 20%; and a sending school recommendation accounts for 15%.

“All resident applicants are placed in order of their Total Rating Score and by town of residence. Resident applicants are then accepted in order of the Total Rating Score they have achieved. The resident applicant with the highest Total Rating Score is accepted first, the resident applicant with the second highest Total Rating Score is accepted second, and so on until all seats are filled,” Monty Tech’s admission policy states.

In a statement, Superintendent Thomas Browne said, “the long-standing practice of incorporating selective criteria in an admission policy is not intended to be discriminatory.” The criteria is used when there are more applicants than there are seats available.

Browne said vocational schools, like Monty Tech, were growing in popularity. Monty Tech had 850 students who wanted to attend the school as part of the Class of 2026, but only 370 spots were available and not all could be admitted.

“It is an unfortunate call we answer too often, and we hope that we handle their disappointments with the compassion and care that we would expect should we find ourselves in a similar situation. Hence, we remain committed to finding solutions that will successfully address the needs of all student populations,” Browne said.

Browne added Monty Tech had initiated steps to implement a new Partnership Program that will serve 80 students chosen by the Fitchburg Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, and Narragansett Regional School District. The goal is to create a program that will train 40 juniors and 40 seniors each year in a Chapter 74 Carpentry or Electrical workforce training program.

Monty Tech had secured a Lab Modernization Grant to build out two state-of-the-art training facilities by utilizing the school’s students and instructors to renovate a vacant warehouse located 1.3 miles from campus. The school is leasing the property specifically for this purpose.

School buses drop off students at Montachusett Regional Technical School on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (GARY FOURNIER/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Complainants still say the admission practices must change and the data supports their position.

Spring 2022 final admissions data for Monty Tech, accessible through DESE, showed the school accepted 42% of the students of color who applied compared to 57% of white students; 38% of economically disadvantaged students compared to 65% of those who were not; 42% of students with disabilities were accepted compared to 54% of students without disabilities; and 18% of English-language learners were accepted compared to 53% of non English-language learners.

“Students with the passion and talent for a trade, who have successfully completed 8th grade, should have a fair shot at admission at their regional vocational high school. However, that is not the reality under DESE’s current policies and regulations,” said Mirian Albert, staff attorney for Lawyers for Civil Rights in a statement.

Data showed statewide 37% of the students of color received admissions offers, compared to approximately 49% of the white students; 30% of English-language learners received admissions offers compared to 45% of non English-language learners, 37% of students with disabilities received admissions compared to 45% of students who did not have disabilities.

Albert added that students who do not benefit in traditional school environments can be re-engaged through practical and hands-on instruction at vocational schools. She added students from marginalized communities can become more competitive in the job market with fair access.

While the complaint specifically involves students who were not admitted to Monty Tech and Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, a similar ranked admissions process is used by 26 of 28 of the state’s vocational schools. Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlboro uses a lottery-based system, while Worcester Technical High School uses a modified lottery that places all students with 10 or fewer unexcused absences on equal footing.

In contrast to the admissions data for Monty Tech, Assabet Valley’s data shows the school accepted 75% of the students of color who applied compared to 73% of white students; 71% of economically disadvantaged students were accepted compared to 76% of those who were not; 68% of students with disabilities were accepted compared to 76% of students without disabilities; and 67% of English-language learners were accepted compared to 75% of non English-language learners.

State Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg, said vocational schools like Monty Tech were actively discriminating against the most vulnerable eighth graders in the state. To change the process under state law, Cronin has filed legislation with state Rep. Antonio Cabral, D-Bristol.

In an interview Thursday, Cronin said he had heard pushback from superintendents that lotteries simply don’t work. However, he said the numbers proved otherwise and people were not entitled to their own set of facts.

“Our position is not radical. Public schools should no longer be able to use private school admissions criteria to systemically discriminate and keep the most vulnerable eighth graders in our state out of our trade schools,” Cronin later said during a press conference.

Under Massachusetts General Law chapter 71 section 89, public charter schools are required to use a blind lottery process when there are more more students than there are available seats.

According to VEJC, the fight for fairness in vocational education admissions is not new. After making a push in 2021, DESE implemented new regulations for vocational schools. However, the coalition said the changes were minimal and schools maintained substantial discretion over admission procedures.

In addition to Cronin’s legislation, VEJC said it was calling on Gov. Maura Healey to formally request the Board of Education shift admission policy to a lottery system. The complaint also calls on the federal DOE to suspend further funding disbursements to DESE until the process is changed.

Lowell Sun Reporter Cameron Morsberger contributed to this report.

Montachusett MLK Coalition, community honors late great civil rights leader

January 18, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — The legacy and impact of the late civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could be felt reverberating throughout the city Monday, as it paused to pay tribute.

“The time is always right to do right … and mobilize against oppression,” said keynote speaker Stephanie Williams, chief diversity executive at Mount Wachusett Community College. Her message was conveyed to the large crowd gathered at the Fitchburg Senior Center for the 24th annual Montachusett MLK Coalition celebration.

“Courage calls out to all of us,” Williams said.

Montachusett MLK Coalition President Linda Mason started the program which was filled with moving performances and spoken word, orations, and prayers. “As we reflect and remember … may we be inspired through speech and song,” she said.

Rev. Annie Belmer, the new pastor at First Baptist Church said it was her “honor” to emcee the momentous occasion in the city she now calls home. Recognizing the crowd which included local and state leaders, residents, and students, she introduced Mayor Stephen DiNatale as the first speaker.

DiNatale talked about the “tumultuous times that existed” in the 1960s he remembers well, including the assassinations of King, President John F. Kennedy and his brother, presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy.

“Dr. King was not only a man of God, he was surely sent from God,” DiNatale said, adding King was “the catalyst for change” and “organized diverse leaders” from all walks of life and brought them together to fight for civil rights.

He spoke about the infamous March on Washington, where a quarter of a million people including civil rights leaders such as King gathered on August 28, 1963, in our nation’s capital to demand an end to segregation, fair wages and economic justice, voting rights, education, and long overdue civil rights protections.

“Such a movement was not widely accepted at that time,” DiNatale said of the march before noting a “narrative and agenda” by the federal government to label King as “the leader of a hate group.”

“He was not pursuing hate but basic human rights for all,” he said.

DiNatale’s remarks were followed by an invocation by Rev. Dario Acevedo of St. Joseph’s Church, who mentioned the unveiling of “The Embrace” sculpture in Boston last week, a tribute to King and his wife Coretta Scott King, who was also deeply involved in the civil rights movement.

“She said the legacy of her grandparents is alive,” Acevedo said of the Kings’ 14-year-old granddaughter Yolanda Renee King’s remarks at the unveiling ceremony. “It’s a legacy that we have received and one that we must pass along to the generations.”

The reverend read a prayer by King that included the words “give us the courage to do your will,” followed by everyone in attendance being invited to sing what is known as the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Belmer noted before the stirring rendition that the song was performed for the first time by 500 school children on Feb 12, 1900, in celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

Mason came back to the podium to recognize Black trailblazers who passed away in 2022 including NBA legend Bill Russell; Bill Owens, the first Black senator in Massachusetts and “one of the first to call for reparations for descendants of Black slaves,” Tuskegee airmen Charles McGee who died on Jan. 16 at the age of 102; and Sydney Poitier, the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor.

Mason encouraged everyone to read through the key civil rights anniversaries and events noted in the front of the program, a timeline of important events from 60 years ago, saying she “thought it would be helpful in reflecting and accessing where we are today.”

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan spoke via video and shared that while “it’s easy to look at the partisanship and decisiveness today … and throw up your hands,” she quoted a letter King wrote from a jail cell during which he penned “In some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

“He held onto hope,” Trahan said of the civil rights leader. “Every time we lean into the ‘not too distant’ future he mentioned, we get a little closer.”

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern thanked the Montachusett MLK Coalition and all involved with organizing the event and praised King for bringing people together. McGovern spoke about one of the issues he addresses in Congress, hunger, and how along with the disproportionate effects of COVID is one of the “disparities that are the failure of this country … that all have the same root — racism”

“Racism is about power and politics … that system has been institutionalized,” he said, before going on to say that to stop racism, “You can’t just tell people not to be racist, you have to teach people to be anti-racist.”

“We need to remember that Dr. King was not just about words,” McGovern said. “He was impatient, he was about actions. Our job is not just to make people feel comfortable … we need to disrupt racism in our personal choices … and especially our political choices. All of us can play a role in shaping the future. Let us be impatient and let us be resolute in our mission.”

Belmer called herself a “proud momma” while presenting the praise choir from her church, who marched and swayed in unison to the front of the hall singing “I Like the Dreams of the Future” with beautiful harmonies. A young woman read some of King’s words in between verses of the song before the chorus made a grand exit singing themselves out.

Mason then introduced Williams, who gave a 20-minute impassioned speech concentrating on her theme, “…the Courage to Be Great,” where she spoke about King and how it’s important to remember who he was as a man, not just an icon.

“The legend of Dr. Martin Luther King has been gentrified … sanitized,” Williams said, pointing out that many of the issues he boycotted “still exist today.” She spoke of how during his civil rights journey, he was “deemed the most dangerous man in the country by the FBI.”

“MLK had very radical views throughout his life,” she said.

Williams also shared some “lesser known facts” about the leader, including that he was born Michael before his father was inspired to change both of their names to Martin Luther after the German Protestant leader. She added King attempted suicide at the age of 12, skipped several grades and enrolled at Morehouse College at 15, and got a C in public speaking, a tidbit that drew incredulous chuckles from the crowd.

She also revealed that King spoke at over 2,500 events during his lifetime, that he was jailed 29 times while fighting for civil rights, was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, and that his own mother was also killed by a gunman six years after her son was assassinated — while she was playing the organ at church.

Williams said “most often the fight for civil rights is unpopular” and that contrary to popular belief stemming from King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, “he did not want us to live in a colorblind society.”

“Don’t get complacent,” Williams urged. “Sure, we’ve made some strides here and there, but we have a long way to go.”

She posed the question, “What would MLK say today?”

“We know he had a dream, and we know he worked tirelessly to make that dream a reality before he was assassinated. What are you doing for others? All of us have a role in speaking out against injustice … ultimately, I have faith in the power of people.”

Belmer then asked everyone to stand up and sing “Happy Birthday” to King before students from the Fitchburg State University’s Upward Bound program reflected on what Martin Luther King Jr. Day means to them. Youth from the sophomore leadership team and senior leaders helped out with the event and shared their thoughts.

“I admire how brave Dr. King was to speak out,” said Gardner High School senior Dellabee Gagnon, who attends Mount Wachusett Community College full time.

Leominster High School senior Darranise Hunter, who grew up in Memphis where King was assassinated, said “We can’t just ignore what happened in the past.”

She quoted one of the most well-known portions of his “I Have a Dream” speech, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” and imparted, “we can’t just ignore what happened in the past.”

Hunter said she is not immune to racism and proudly declared that she will stand up for herself if she’s “treated badly” but that she will take a page from King’s peaceful actions and “kill you with kindness.”

“I carry his spirit with me every day.”

Fellow Leominster High School senior Chrissy Evans said it was “hard to putting into words” what the day means to her as King was “such an influential figure.”

“If we want change then we must recognize our faults,” she said prior to FSU student Delaney Lora reciting Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s poem “New Day’s Lyric” almost entirely from heart and with great power and passion in her voice, which drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

“We are learning / That though we weren’t ready for this / We have been readied by it. / We steadily vow that no matter / How we are weighed down / We must always pave a way forward,” Gorman penned in the poem she released at the beginning of last year.

Mount Wachusett Community College student Nasih Thomas eloquently delivered his own spoken word creation, “Modern Ghandhian Methods,” after verbalizing that “it’s important to note it’s an old movement with new energy” of civil rights. “Disrupt what you do not stand for.”

You could hear a pin drop when Evans and Hunter closed out the profound program by singing a duet of Andra Day’s song “Rise Up.”

“We are going to walk it out and move mountains … I’ll rise up in spite of the ache … and I’ll do it a thousand times again for you.”

Belmer spoke for the crowd when expressing “that was just a tearful moment and a cheerful moment” of the inherent emotion conveyed through the young women’s performance and offered a word of encouragement to those gathered before Elm Street Community Church Pastor Dr. Steve Mayo gave the benediction.

“May you walk this road but not alone.”

Mass. hate group leader subject of N.H. civil rights complaint

January 17, 2023 by pkzadmin

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Christopher Hood, the leader of a New England neo-Nazi organization formerly of Pepperell, Mass., is the subject of a civil rights complaint by the New Hampshire attorney general.

In the complaint announced Tuesday, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport said they were initiating an enforcement action against Hood, now of Newburyport, Mass., and Leo Anthony Cullinan, of Manchester N.H., as well as the hate group NSC-131, for violating and conspiring to violate the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

Formella and Newport allege that on July 30, Hood led a group of NSC-131 members, including Cullinan, in hanging banners that read “Keep New England White” from an overpass overlooking U.S. Route 1 in Portsmouth.

“This trespass violated the Civil Rights Act because it was motivated by race and interfered with the lawful activities of others. The slogan on the banners, ‘Keep New England White,’ was plainly motivated by race,” Formella’s complaint against Hood states. “The only reasonable interpretation is that the slogan and group’s intention was to discourage people of color from residing in or visiting and making them feel unwelcome and unsafe in the New England region, New Hampshire, and Portsmouth. Thus, the defendant, through this trespass, intended to interfere with the lawful activities of those traveling along Route 1 by discouraging them from exercising their right to travel freely through the Granite State.”

According to documentation provided by Formella’s office, four Portsmouth Police officers responded to complaints about the sign on July 30 and found about 10 men “gathered on the overpass wearing hats, sunglasses, and face coverings emblazoned with ‘NSC-131 or ‘131.’” Only Hood had his face uncovered.

None of those wearing masks would identify themselves or speak with the officers, but Hood stepped forward to speak with them and provided spoken and gestured instructions to the group, making it clear he was their leader, the complaint states.

After two of the officers informed Hood the group could not hang banners from the overpass without a permit because it violates a city ordinance, Hood instructed the group members to remove the zip-tied banners from the fence, but some continued to hold the banners up by hand before returning to their vehicles and leaving, according to the complaint.

During the approximately 20-25 minute interaction with Hood, Cullinan reportedly drove up to one of the officers in a pickup truck and angrily said, “You’re not interfering with my friends and interfering with our rights.” Cullinan then transported Hood and other participants from the scene, according to the complaint.

For Hood’s conspiracy charge, Formella cited the planning and coordination required to execute the group’s actions.

“He coordinated with at least 10 other individuals to travel to the Portsmouth overpass in three vehicles, produce the banners, acquire equipment to attempt to conceal the identities of those who participated in displaying the banners, and hang the banners from the overpass,” the complaint states. “This incident was not mere coincidence or happenstance.”

According to the complaint, NSC-131 is an unincorporated association with members in multiple New England states and that at least 10 members of the group participated in violating the Civil Rights Act. As an unincorporated association, officials said it can be held liable for violating the Civil Rights Act.

NSC is short for Nationalist Social Club, and 131 is the alphanumeric code for anti-communist action. The hate group participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, something Hood, its founder, has bragged about.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, “NSC members consider themselves soldiers fighting a war against a hostile, Jewish-controlled system that is deliberately plotting the extinction of the white race. Their goal is to form an underground network of white men who are willing to fight against their perceived enemies through localized direct actions.”

Officials said there is a maximum civil penalty of $5,000 for each violation. According to the complaints, Formella is seeking $10,000 in penalties for Hood and $5,000 for Cullinan. Additionally, violations of the Civil Rights Act can empower the court to restrain the defendants from committing future violations and other hate-motivated conduct for three years.

However, it will be on the Civil Rights Unit to prove fault at a final hearing.

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