Lynn agrees to bring census info to schools

LYNN – Concerned that many of the city’s diverse population will not take part in the upcoming 2010 census, the U.S. Department of Commerce Census Bureau has partnered with the Lynn Public Schools to ensure that students are given materials in the classroom so that they may bring them home and encourage parents to participate.The Lynn School Committee unanimously voted Thursday to partner with the Census Bureau to bring materials into the classrooms next year. The move will not only help by exposing families to the census, but will serve as a way for teachers to incorporate the information into lesson plans.”A lot of people don’t know that cities and towns get $300 billion in education money distributed based on census information,” said Francesco Vasquez of the Census Bureau. “It is imperative that we get a correct count and let the citizens of Lynn know that it is something that is safe, easy and important.”The census information, gathered by the government every 10 years, determines state population counts and representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.In Massachusetts, the 2010 survey is especially important, as the state could lose a representative in Congress if the population count is not high enough.With a large immigrant population in the city, members of the Census Bureau are worried that so-called non-traditional citizens will not take the survey for a variety of reasons.Vasquez said some residents do not trust the survey, while others are just confused as to what it is or how it works. He is hoping that by bringing materials into school and exposing students to the information that they will stress the importance of the census to their families and help ease any nervous minds.”It is essential that the non-traditional population become involved,” said Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. “I think any way we can do that is great. I have met with members of the Census Bureau in my office and we are moving forward with this citywide, not just in the schools.”School Committee member Maria Carrasco, who asked Vasquez to speak Thursday, agreed with Clancy and said in her experience it is difficult for new residents of the United States to understand exactly how the census works.”It is like a bridge,” she said. “Sometimes it is difficult for parents to understand that it is important to take the census, so it is important to bring the census to school so the students can bring it home and talk about this with their parents.”Residents can expect to see census information in their mailbox in March of next year and will be asked to fill them out and return them by April 1. The Census Bureau’s partnership with the schools will begin next year.