Region

Methuen Democrats To Elect Delegates to State Party Convention June 10

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Methuen Democrats meet a week from Saturday to elect 23 delegates and five alternates to represent the city at this fall’s 2023 State Democratic Convention. A caucus, open to all registered Democrats, takes place Saturday, June 10, beginning at 9 a.m., at Methuen City Hall, Searles Building, 41 Pleasant St., third floor, Methuen. The Methuen City Democratic Committee says delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. Youth, minorities and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be “add-on” delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org. The state convention takes place Saturday, Sept.

Region

Timberlane Regional High School Marching Band to Perform in Plaistow Memorial Day Parade

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Plaistow, N.H., has its Memorial Day Parade and ceremonies Monday. The parade is Monday, May 29, beginning at 9 a.m., in front of Pollard School, 120 Main St., Plaistow, and proceeds to Plaistow Cemetery on Elm Street, where there will be short service. Participants march back to Town Hall Green, 145 Main St., for a speaking ceremony. Timberlane Regional High School Marching Band will participate in the parade.

Community Spotlight

Local United Way Solicits Partnerships to Target Poverty in 12 Cities, Such as Haverhill, Lawrence

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United Way of Massachusetts Bay is looking to invest $8 million next year to ensure “financial wellbeing” among residents of, what it calls, a dozen “historically under-resourced” communities such as Haverhill and Lawrence. The nonprofit is seeking to form partnerships “focused on expanding avenues to financial wellbeing throughout the region” as part of its new strategic direction. “Our new Request for Partnership grows out of our commitment to our communities and people—all of them—as knowledgeable, resource-rich and vibrant,” said Bob Giannino, Ansin President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “It also recognizes that significant disparities persist across race and ethnicity in our region on key indicators of financial well-being. Our goal is to help change entire systems by investing in resources and services, developing evidence of what works and what needs to change, and bringing solutions to scale.”

United Way said its grants will be targeted to “agency partners whose activities exemplify building more equitable communities, lifting the voices of people with lived experiences, leveraging data to inform solutions and collaborating for greater impact.

Haverhill

Trahan Pushes 5% Increase in Federal Money for Community Health Centers

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Congresswoman Lori Trahan Wednesday advocated for and moved through the Energy and Commerce Committee legislation providing more federal money for community health centers—including clinics in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. The bill would extend the Community Health Center Fund for the next two years at $4.2 billion per year, a 5% increase from current levels. It would also extend the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program through 2029, beginning at $175 million in 2024 and increasing to $275 million in 2029. “Facilities like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lowell Community Health Center and Community Health Connections are pillars in our community that hardworking families depend on to build a better life. They’re part of a network of community health centers in Massachusetts that provides critical care to over one million people each year,” said Trahan.

Education

North Andover and Lawrence Students Among Statewide Green Team Winners

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Students from North Andover and Lawrence were among the award winners for outstanding environmental actions as members of the Green Team, a statewide environmental education program. State environmental officials Wednesday recognized students from 48 schools across Massachusetts participating in the program sponsored by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the state Department of Environmental Protection. Classes receiving prizes were North Andover’s Annie L. Sargent Elementary School, teacher Julie Ambrose; Atkinson Elementary School, teacher Mandi Imasogie; Franklin Elementary School, teachers Rochelle Hardenstine and Hilary Alden; Kittredge Elementary School, teacher Cheryl Means; North Andover Middle School, teacher Erien Gordon; and Pvt. Albert E. Thomson Elementary School, teacher Lucy Frey. In Lawrence, winners were Lawrence Family Development Charter School, teacher George Masterson; Robert Frost Middle School, teacher Paul Flanigan

Students won such prizes as reusable snack bags, straws and utensils; certificates for garden supplies; or paper bookmarks with seeds embedded for planting.

Education

Students Test the Waters During Whittier Tech’s Eight-Week Exploration of Trades Programs

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Five students, including four from Haverhill High and one from Triton Regional High School, recently completed an eight-week exploration of trades programs offered by Whittier regional Vocational technical High School. Superintendent Maureen Lynch said the successful program is geared to high school seniors from sending communities. Haverhill High School seniors Braxton Caswell, Yomar Alicea, Andy Gomez and Jaden Capeles and Triton High School senior Elliot Johnson, of Rowley, completed the program last Friday, received certificates of completion and were treated to a celebratory breakfast. “Our programs offer students a unique experience where they can explore technical programs centered around careers that interest them. Our exploratory program gives non-vocational school students the opportunity to explore those interests further through hands-on and interactive learning,” Lynch said.

Haverhill

Merrimack River Watershed Council Presents Four Curated Merrimack River Tours

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Merrimack River Watershed Council is offering four river cruises this summer exploring the wildlife, history, landmarks and lesser-known eddies and forgotten places of the lower Merrimack River. Each of the tours—one Tuesday a month—motors through a different section of the river, guided by local experts who will educate and entertain with stories, information and insight meant to broaden knowledge and appreciation of the Merrimack. Passengers are also expected to be surprised with sightings of fish and fowl that inhabit the river. An “Islands and Villages Tour” takes place June 13 with a cruise up river from Newburyport to Rocks Village in Haverhill. Local historian and author Dyke Hendrickson shares stories and points of interest along the voyage.

Education

Merrimack College Study Says Most Teachers Don’t Recommend Job; Mental Health Support Would Help

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A newly released study by Merrimack College shows only 46% of current public educators would be “fairly” or “very likely” to advise their younger selves to choose teaching again and more than a 35% are considering leaving the profession altogether. Authors say the 2023 Merrimack College Teacher Survey, which was conducted by the Winston School of Education and Social Policy at Merrimack College, shines a spotlight on a pressing crisis facing American education. “While this should serve as a flashing red light to educational policymakers, the survey also provides insights into strategies that educational administrators and policymakers can employ to address this,” said Dean Deborah Margolis. “By prioritizing teacher mental health and wellbeing, and taking steps to build teacher morale, academic leaders can help create a healthier and happier school environment and retain more of their teachers.”

While the survey, conducted in partnership with the nonprofit, nonpartisan EdWeek Research Center, paints a dark picture overall for American public K-12 education, it reports there are areas that have seen notable improvements since last year. The percentage of teachers who are very satisfied with their jobs has nearly doubled to 20%, and the percentage of teachers considering leaving the profession within the next two years has dropped from 44% to 35%.