Campaign theme: Help my children in Lowell

Running a campaign for major office in Arlington is an expensive process. Even the most basic campaign can cost $2,000, and the costs can quickly escalate from there.

This year, rather than paying to fill your mailbox with postcards with my photograph and a short plea for your vote, I would rather raise money to help some deserving children.

Last August, I took on the responsibility of being the principal of record for a small early childhood school that operates out of the central administration building in Lowell. Since then, we have added three classrooms and our enrollment has doubled. Our little school has grown to serve 207 students, and more than half of the children who are in attendance today were not enrolled last October 1.

Because of the transient nature of the population, the school has a significant number of homeless and refugee students. More than 85% of our students are low-income students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.  We don’t have a parent organization raising funds for our children. I am hoping my friends and neighbors will kick in a few bucks to fund some important “extras” that aren’t in our operating budget.

Right now, my first priority is to fund some field trips for my students, and I hope you will help. My first task is to raise enough money to take my four first grade classes to the New England Aquarium in March. Please help my children travel to places we take for granted.

Your check, payable to the Lowell K-8 Student Activity Fund, will make a difference for my students. Please send your check to:

Paul Schlichtman, Principal
Rogers Early Learning Center
43 Highland Street
Lowell, MA 01852