The migrant crisis that led to Governor Maura Healey declaring a State of Emergency last week is also creating a state of confusion for area schools.

State sources tell InsideLowell there is already a Plan B and Plan C in place should the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center become an emergency shelter before or during the upcoming Fall semester, though what those plans entail wasn’t divulged.

The UML property is owned by the Commonwealth, meaning the University ultimately has little control over the decision to use the ICC as a shelter, or the timing of such a move. Likewise, other local organizations seem to have no timetable regarding education, healthcare, workforce training and other services that would need to accompany such a large influx of people into the property and the city.

That includes Lowell Public Schools, which tell us they haven’t received any communication, besides word last May from the International Institute of New England to expect 250 refugees beginning October 1st. How many of those are school aged children is not certain, though IINE’s Lowell Managing Director Caroline Rowe indicates that could number around 100 if the incoming group has the typical age breakdown of previous groups. She also indicates the refugee program is a separate issue from the migrant crisis.

Providing further context, Rowe says that 300-400 refugees settled in Lowell pre-2016. That had dwindled down to 30 in 2020, but that number is now climbing again toward pre-2016 levels

For its part, the Lowell school system has already budgeted for the new group of refugees, which we’re told is in line with the size of last year’s group.

In Chelmsford, Town Manager Paul Cohen expressed some concern over the weekend about receiving advance notice of any decision, given the state exploring the old Radisson Hotel and its 81-rooms as a potential shelter. Cohen said he has not heard anything since that visit about 6-weeks ago. He cites the impact on the town’s school system as the most pressing matter, with classes set to begin August 29th.

In Methuen, school officials are expressing frustration at what they say is a lack of communication, according to an article in today’s Eagle-Tribune. The Days Inn is believed to house 111-families, with Superintendent Brandi Kwong indicating she still does not have a true sense what that means for her student population.

Meanwhile, the Inside source who alerted us to the crisis days before the Governor’s emergency proclamation simply says “it’s going to get worse.”