METHUEN — School leaders have taken a stand against out-of-town students who come from Lawrence and New Hampshire to illegally attend Methuen schools, but they still accept foreign exchange students.
That doesn't sit well with School Committee member Kenneth Henrick.
"These kids are coming from another country," Henrick said at this week's School Committee meeting.
Henrick voted against allowing two foreign exchange students into Methuen High School this fall.
School Committee members routinely vote to allow foreign exchange students to attend Methuen High. Committee member Kenneth Willette Jr., who has made it a priority to root out students who illegally attend the schools, doesn't see a problem with accepting foreign exchange students.
"I really don't think it has an impact on the bottom line, and you want to have cultural exchanges with other countries," Willette said. "We've had exchanges with the Soviet Union and the U.S. even in the midst of the Cold War."
School Committee members voted 5-2 to allow the two foreign exchange students in.
"It costs us nothing, just a seat in a classroom," Superintendent Jeanne Whitten said of taking in foreign students. "All their personal expenses are borne by themselves or perhaps the host families."
On April 1, a policy passed by the School Committee took effect and requires all Methuen students to prove they live in Methuen every year. There's also a hot line for people who want to leave tips about suspected illegal students. The point is to reduce overcrowding and save money — students require space, books and time from teachers.
School Committee members received a report on July 21 from the school administration saying 21 students withdrew since the policy took effect, and efforts to remove another 39 students were pending.
Meanwhile, the foreign exchange students are due to arrive tomorrow. One is a 15-year-old boy from Brazil and the other is a 17-year-old girl from Belgium. They both rate above average academically and in speaking English, and they will stay with local families, according to Methuen High School Principal Jim Giuca.
Methuen High hosted three foreign exchange students last year. Giuca said it's a two-way street when foreign students come — Methuenites learn from them and they learn from the Methuenites.
"They have, I think, a wonderful impact on the high school," Giuca told the School Committee.
"Having two (exchange students), I don't think is going to be an undue burden on the school system," Willette said.
School Committee member Gary Marcoux also voted against allowing the exchange students into Methuen High, but he didn't explain his vote during the School Committee meeting and didn't return a call seeking comment.
Like Willette, School Committee member Evan Chaisson has been an advocate for expelling students who don't belong in Methuen, and he's also in favor of taking in the foreign exchange students.
"One or two kids coming in from a different country, I think, is a good thing for the high school," he said. "We also send students over to their countries as well. It's a great thing for Methuen to be a part of. You get to learn about different cultures, different nationalities."
