Daily Pulse: October 15, 2026 (Gr. Lowell Tech School Committee Debate)

Thank you for that question, Teddy.

And absolutely not.

I think that the vision of vocational education has changed.

has evolved over the years.

When these types of schools opened, you look back to the old Lowell Trade School.

That's what you went there for.

You went there for a trade.

Now they are career and technical education institutions.

I support students continuing their education, and I do believe that we have a responsibility to protect the mission of the school.

The question I would ask is whether students are leaving with meaningful skills and a clear path.

I'd review the credentials that these students are earning, review participation in co-op, apprenticeships, and future education related to their training.

I would support stronger employment partnerships, ensure that students understand the opportunities that are available to them, and work directly with employers, apprenticeships, while also ensuring that students realize that continuing education is part of every skilled trade out there, whether it be the classes that you take at a community college that build your foundation like mine did, or if you're in a union apprentice program, taking your hours towards your license.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Mr. Melissi, to you.

I believe that we have not lost sight and I believe that vocational education is useful whatever path you take.

So personally, I went on to UMass Lowell and I got my degree and I believe that vocational education helps you in any path that you take.

So the employability skills that you learn in your shop, and even if you don't go straight into your career path, if you take culinary, for example, you always have that to fall back on.

You never, you know, someone's life path is never linear.

And I would also support trying to bring in more unions into the school, trying to create a more bigger pipeline from the trade, specifically a lot of the construction cluster shops into trade apprenticeships.

So I don't believe that the Vogue has lost its mission.

I believe that, especially with today's workforce, it really just evolved.

And I think that the Vogue needs to reflect that.

Thank you.

Mr. Hogan, to you.

Thank you for that question, Teddy.

And absolutely not.

I think that the vision of vocational education has changed.

has evolved over the years.

When these types of schools opened, you look back to the old Lowell Trade School.

That's what you went there for.

You went there for a trade.

Now they are career and technical education institutions.

I support students continuing their education, and I do believe that we have a responsibility to protect the mission of the school.

The question I would ask is whether students are leaving with meaningful skills and a clear path.

I'd review the credentials that these students are earning, review participation in co-op, apprenticeships, and future education related to their training.

I would support stronger employment partnerships, ensure that students understand the opportunities that are available to them, and work directly with employers, apprenticeships, while also ensuring that students realize that continuing education is part of every skilled trade out there, whether it be the classes that you take at a community college that build your foundation like mine did, or if you're in a union apprentice program, taking your hours towards your license.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Mr. Melissi, to you.

I believe that we have not lost sight and I believe that vocational education is useful whatever path you take.

So personally, I went on to UMass Lowell and I got my degree and I believe that vocational education helps you in any path that you take.

So the employability skills that you learn in your shop, and even if you don't go straight into your career path, if you take culinary, for example, you always have that to fall back on.

You never, you know, someone's life path is never linear.

And I would also support trying to bring in more unions into the school, trying to create a more bigger pipeline from the trade, specifically a lot of the construction cluster shops into trade apprenticeships.

So I don't believe that the Vogue has lost its mission.

I believe that, especially with today's workforce, it really just evolved.

And I think that the Vogue needs to reflect that.

Thank you.

Mr. Hogan, to you.