School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Date: 2016-01-06 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA SALUTE TO FLAG: 1. SALUTE TO FLAG: ROLL CALL: 2. ROLL CALL: MINUTES: 3. 2015 / 504 Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4. 2016 / 7 Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Tuesday, December 29, 2015. MEMORIALS: 5. 2016 / 5 Wanda Rurak, mother of retired Deputy Superintendent of Schools Ted Rurak and grandmother of Stoklosa School teacher Mark Rurak. MOTIONS: 6. 2015 / 506 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent begin planning for the 3rd annual Community Service Day for LPS, and develop a report of community service hours delivered by school. 7. 2015 / 507 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent develop a five [5] year facility plan to handle middle school population growth. Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • P: 978.674.4324 • F: 978.937.7609 http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3) REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT: 8. 2016 / 3 David J. McHugh Alternative Middle School Bridge Program Annual Report 9. 2016 / 4 Quarterly Report on Motions 10. 2016 / 6 Home Education NEW BUSINESS: 11. 2016 / 9 Budget Transfer CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS: 12. 2015 / 502 The eighth grade students at the Sullivan Middle School along with their teachers and administrators, to travel to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg. The trip is scheduled over April vacation, leaving on April 17, 2016 and returning on April 21, 2016. The trip is being planned through Education First Explore America. All chaperones will be teachers and administrators from the Sullivan Middle School. There will be no cost to the Lowell Public Schools. Students and parents will have the opportunity to fundraise to defray the cost. No substitute teachers are needed. 13. 2015 / 503 Coordinator of Mathematics,Grades 5-8, Jeff Gwiazda and Coordinator of Science and Social Studies, Grades PreK-12, Martha Cohn requests permission to attend the U.S. Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Partnership Program (MSP) to be held Tuesday, March 1 through Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Baltimore MD. All expenses not to exceed $ 2,000 will be funded by the MSP grant. No Substitute teacher is needed. Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • P: 978.674.4324 • F: 978.937.7609 http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 14. 2016 / 1 Headmaster Brian Martin, requests permission for twenty four [24] to thirty [30] students and three [3] chaperones, Jill McNamara, Wayne Taylor and Danielle Lessard, all Lowell High staff to travel to Paris, The Riviera and Rome during the February school vacation 2017. Students will miss one day of school, Friday, February, 2017 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. Each student traveling will incur the total cost of between of $2,285.00 and $3,170.00. 15. 2016 / 2 The Lowell High School ROTC Drill Team, Lt. Col Pete D’Amico and MSgt Kevin Casilli, along with a female parent, to travel from Thursday, March 17 through Monday, March 21, 2016, with approximately forty five [45] students to Dayton, Ohio, to attend the Air Force National Drill competition. All costs will be paid by AFJROTC funds, student fundraising and student contributions. The total cost is approximately $21,000 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. COMMUNICATIONS: 16. 2016 / 8 Letter to Representatives David Nangle, Rady Mom, Thomas Golden and Senator Eileen Donoghue. ADJOURNMENT: 17. ADJOURNMENT: Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • P: 978.674.4324 • F: 978.937.7609 http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Date: 2016-01-06 Time: 6:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA SALUTE TO FLAG: 1. SALUTE TO FLAG: ROLL CALL: 2. ROLL CALL: MINUTES: 3. 2015 / 504 Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, December 16, 2015 4. 2016 / 7 Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Tuesday, December 29, 2015. MEMORIALS: 5. 2016 / 5 Wanda Rurak, mother of retired Deputy Superintendent of Schools Ted Rurak and grandmother of Stoklosa School teacher Mark Rurak. MOTIONS: Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3) 6. 2015 / 506 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent begin planning for the 3rd annual Community Service Day for LPS, and develop a report of community service hours delivered by school. 7. 2015 / 507 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent develop a five [5] year facility plan to handle middle school population growth. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT: 8. 2016 / 3 David J. McHugh Alternative Middle School Bridge Program Annual Report 9. 2016 / 4 Quarterly Report on Motions 10. 2016 / 6 Home Education NEW BUSINESS: 11. 2016 / 9 Budget Transfer CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS: 12. 2015 / 502 The eighth grade students at the Sullivan Middle School along with their teachers and administrators, to travel to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg. The trip is scheduled over April vacation, leaving on April 17, 2016 and returning on April 21, 2016. The trip is being planned through Education First Explore America. All chaperones will be teachers and administrators from the Sullivan Middle School. There will be no cost to the Lowell Public Schools. Students and parents will have the opportunity to fundraise to defray the cost. No substitute teache rs are needed. Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 13. 2015 / 503 Coordinator of Mathematics,Grades 5-8, Jeff Gwiazda and Coordinator of Science and Social Studies, Grades PreK-12, Martha Cohn requests permission to attend the U.S. Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Partnership Program (MSP) to be held Tuesday, March 1 through Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Baltimore MD. All expenses not to exceed $ 2,000 will be funded by the MSP grant. No Substitute teacher is needed. 14. 2016 / 1 Headmaster Brian Martin, requests permission for twenty four [24] to thirty [30] students and three [3] chaperones, Jill McNamara, Wayne Taylor and Danielle Lessard, all Lowell High staff to travel to Paris, The Riviera and Rome during the February school vacation 2017. Students will miss one day of school, Friday, February, 2017 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. Each student traveling will incur the total cost of between of $2,285.00 and $3,170.00. 15. 2016 / 2 The Lowell High School ROTC Drill Team, Lt. Col Pete D’Amico and MSgt Kevin Casilli, along with a female parent, to travel from Thursday, March 17 through Monday, March 21, 2016, with approximately forty five [45] students to Dayton, Ohio, to attend the Air Force National Drill competition. All costs will be paid by AFJROTC funds, student fundraising and student contributions. The total cost is approximately $21,000 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. COMMUNICATIONS: 16. 2016 / 8 Letter to Representatives David Nangle, Rady Mom, Thomas Golden and Senator Eileen Donoghue. ADJOURNMENT: 17. ADJOURNMENT: Lowell Public Schools • 43 Highland Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, December 16, 2015 To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2015 / 504 Recommendation: Background: Attachments:  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Tuesday, December 29, 2015. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 7 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Minutes of the Special Meeting  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Wanda Rurak, mother of retired Deputy Superintendent of Schools Ted Rurak and grandmother of Stoklosa School teacher Mark Rurak. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 5 Recommendation: Background: Attachments:  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent begin planning for the 3rd annual Community Service Day for LPS, and develop a report of community service hours delivered by school. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2015 / 506 Recommendation: Background: Attachments:  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 [by Steve Gendron]: Request the Superintendent develop a five [5] year facility plan to handle middle school population growth. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2015 / 507 Recommendation: Background: Attachments:  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 David J. McHugh Alternative Middle School Bridge Program Annual Report To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 3 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Bridge Program Annual Report  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Quarterly Report on Motions To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 4 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Quarterly Report on Motions  QUARTERLY REPORT ON STATUS OF OUTSTANDING MOTIONS   On-going Spotlight on Excellence – 1st meeting of  Recognize Retirees: June   each month School Maintenance Report: Every June  Quarterly Report on Motions: January 6th Annual Report on Textbook Purchases: Overtime & Extra Payments – reported August  monthly Athletic Reports: Fall/January, Winter/March, Spring/July DATE MOTION STATUS OF MOTION OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 1. 04/16/15 Contingency Plan for MS [by Steve Gendron and James Leary]: Request the Superintendent prepare a contingency plan to accommodate the increase in middle-school population expected for the 2017- 2018 school year and report to the Facilities Subcommittee. 2. 10/21/15 DESE Mandates [by David Conway]: Request the Superintendent review the mandates that have been adopted by DESE and see if they are still required under the new federal guidelines. 3. 12/02/15 Release Minutes for Executive Session [by Mayor Rodney Elliott]: School Committee vote to release minutes for Executive Session relative to union contract negotiations/grievances. FINANCE AND OPERATIONS 1. 04/1/15 Before And After School Care [by Kimberly Scott]: Request the Superintendent develop and issue an RFP to provide before and after school care at all of our elementary and middle schools. 2. 07/15/15 Lincoln School Mill City Grows Community Garden Reported at the [by Steve Gendron]: Requests the Superintendent to determine the status of the lot 9/2/15 Meeting behind the Lincoln School playground and pursue options to use it as a Mill City Grows On going community garden. CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT 1. 04/01/15 Advocacy For Newcomer Program 11/19/15 [by James D. Leary and Mayor Rodney Elliott]: Request the Superintendent contact Referred to the Congresswomen Tsongas, Senator Markey and Senator Warren in order to discuss Curriculum and appropriate funding for the students entering the Lowell Public Schools Newcomers Student Support Subcommittee 2. 09/02/15 Programs Changes After the 2015-2016 Budget Session [by Kimberly Scott]: Request the Superintendent provide a report of all programming changes made after the 2015-2016 budget session. 3. 10/21/15 Scholarship Opportunity for LHS [by Mayor Rodney Elliott]: Superintendent work with Headmaster to communicate scholarship opportunity for LHS students through the Veterans of Foreign War Scholarship program. Quarterly update on Status of Motions To be Presented at the Meeting of Wednesday January 6, 2016 Meeting Page 1  DATE MOTION STATUS OF MOTION 4. 12/02/15 Scholarship Voice of Democracy [by Mayor Rodney Elliott]: Superintendent provide report on motion approved for scholarship opportunity ( Voice of Democracy ). 5. 12/16/15 LHS Sports Programs to the Athletic Subcommittee [by Steve Gendron]: Requests the Superintendent obtain a report on participation numbers for all high school sports programs and deliver to the Athletic subcommittee. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 1. 12/16/15 Notify Parents or Guardians-Bully or Physically Assault [by Kimberly Scott]: Request the Superintendent develop a plan to immediately notify the parents or guardians of any Lowell Public School student that has been bullied, physically assaulted, or verbally insulted during the school day. Quarterly update on Status of Motions To be Presented at the Meeting of Wednesday January 6, 2016 Meeting Page 2  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Home Education To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 6 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Home Education  LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS Henry J. Mroz Administration Offices 155 Merrimack Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01852 M. Claire Abrams Tel: (978) 674-4323 Assistant Superintendent FAX: 978-275-6363 Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment email:cabrams@lowell.k12.ma.us TO: Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui, Superintendent FROM: M. Claire Abrams, Assistant Superintendent DATE: December 30, 2015 RE: Request for Home Education The following parent/guardian seeks permission to home educate their child: Thomas & Brenda Storz 609 Andover Street Under General Laws Chapter 76, Section 1, Home Education is constitutionally permissible. Therefore, I recommend approval of this request. If granted, the number of families approved by the Lowell School Committee to home school will total 34 and the total number of children will be 55. MCA/nc  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Budget Transfer To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 9 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Budget Transfer  Office of Finance & Operations Phone: (978) 674-2019 LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 155 Merrimack Street Fax: (978) 937-7620 Lowell, Massachusetts 08152 E-mail: fantonelli@lowell.k12.ma.us Budget Transfer To: Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui, Superintendent of Schools From: Frank Antonelli, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Date: December 31, 2015 Subject: Budget Transfer In order to pay the remaining invoices for expenses related to the recent New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ NEASC accreditation visit, I recommend that the School Committee transfer $9,770.43 from the Advertising account, number 99341206-5531702, to the N.E.A.S.C. Accreditation - LHS account, number 99328104-535600. After the transfer is made and the outstanding invoices are paid, the total amount paid in accreditation expenses will be $24,481.43.  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 The eighth grade students at the Sullivan Middle School along with their teachers and administrators, to travel to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg. The trip is scheduled over April vacation, leaving on April 17, 2016 and returning on April 21, 2016. The trip is being planned through Education First Explore America. All chaperones will be teachers and administrators from the Sullivan Middle School. There will be no cost to the Lowell Public Schools. Students and parents will have the opportunity to fundraise to defray the cost. No substitute teachers are needed. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2015 / 502 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Sullivan-trip to Washington & Gettysburg 4-17-16  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Coordinator of Mathematics, Grades 5-8, Jeff Gwiazda and Coordinator of Science and Social Studies, Grades PreK-12, Martha Cohn requests permission to attend the U.S. Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Partnership Program (MSP) to be held Tuesday, March 1 through Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Baltimore MD. All expenses not to exceed $ 2,000 will be funded by the MSP grant. No Substitute teacher is needed. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2015 / 503 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Gwiazda & Cohn conference  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Headmaster Brian Martin, requests permission for twenty four [24] to thirty [30] students and three [3] chaperones, Jill McNamara, Wayne Taylor and Danielle Lessard, all Lowell High staff to travel to Paris, The Riviera and Rome during the February school vacation 2017. Students will miss one day of school, Friday, February, 2017 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. Each student traveling will incur the total cost of between of $2,285.00 and $3,170.00. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 1 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: LHS Trip to Paris, the Riviera & Rome  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 The Lowell High School ROTC Drill Team, Lt. Col Pete D’Amico and MSgt Kevin Casilli, along with a female parent, to travel from Thursday, March 17 through Monday, March 21, 2016, with approximately forty five [45] students to Dayton, Ohio, to attend the Air Force National Drill competition. All costs will be paid by AFJROTC funds, student fundraising and student contributions. The total cost is approximately $21,000 and two [2] substitutes will be needed for one day. The cost of the substitutes in the amount of $200 will be paid by LHS individual school budget. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 2 Recommendation: Background: Attachments:  Lowe ll Public Schools LOW ELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS 43 Highland Stree t Phone: (978) 674-4320 Lowe ll, Massachuse tts 08152 Letter to Representative David Nangle, Rady Mom, Thomas Golden and Senator Eileen Donoghue. To: Members of the Lowell School Committee From: Lowell Public Schools Agenda Item: 2016 / 8 Recommendation: Background: Attachments: Letter to State Delegation  LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS Henry J. Mroz Central Administration Offices 155 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Tel: 978-674-4324 Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Fax: 978-937-7609 Superintendent of Schools E-Mail: skhelfaoui@lowell.k12.ma.us December 22, 2015 Representative David Nangle State House Room 146 Boston MA 02133 Dear Dave, I would like to thank you for taking the leadership role in acquiring $100,000 in state aid that will help provide a safer environment for all of the children and staff members in the Lowell Public Schools. Thanks to your initiative and the support that you generated in the legislature, the school department has the funds to procure a safety assessment plan for each school in the district. This state aid will also provide a means to obtain some security measures that will be recommended in the safety assessment plans. I'm looking forward to working with you to ensure that the Lowell Public Schools remain safe and that the children of Lowell receive a quality education. Thank you again for your dedication and hard work on the school system’s behalf. I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Very truly yours, Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools  LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS Henry J. Mroz Central Administration Offices 155 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Tel: 978-674-4324 Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Fax: 978-937-7609 Superintendent of Schools E-Mail: skhelfaoui@lowell.k12.ma.us December 22, 2015 State House Representative Rady Mom Room 443 Boston, MA 02133 Dear Representative Golden, I would like to thank you for supporting Representative Nangle’s initiative in the FY 2015-16 budget for acquiring $100,000 in state aid that will help provide a safer environment for all of the children and staff members in the Lowell Public Schools. Thanks to your support, the school department has the funds to procure a safety assessment plan for each school in the district. This state aid will also provide a means to obtain some security measures that will be recommended in the safety assessment plans. I'm looking forward to working with you to ensure that the Lowell Public Schools remain safe and that the children of Lowell receive a quality education. Thank you again for your dedication and hard work on the school system’s behalf. I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Very truly yours, Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools  LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS Henry J. Mroz Central Administration Offices 155 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Tel: 978-674-4324 Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Fax: 978-937-7609 Superintendent of Schools E-Mail: skhelfaoui@lowell.k12.ma.us December 22, 2015 Statehouse Delegation Dear Representative Golden, I would like to thank you for supporting Representative Nangle’s initiative in the FY 2015-16 budget for acquiring $100,000 in state aid that will help provide a safer environment for all of the children and staff members in the Lowell Public Schools. Thanks to your support, the school department has the funds to procure a safety assessment plan for each school in the district. This state aid will also provide a means to obtain some security measures that will be recommended in the safety assessment plans. I'm looking forward to working with you to ensure that the Lowell Public Schools remain safe and that the children of Lowell receive a quality education. Thank you again for your dedication and hard work on the school system’s behalf. I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Very truly yours, Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools  LOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS Henry J. Mroz Central Administration Offices 155 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA 01852 Tel: 978-674-4324 Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Fax: 978-937-7609 Superintendent of Schools E-Mail: skhelfaoui@lowell.k12.ma.us December 22, 2015 State House Senator Eileen Donoghue Room 112 Boston, MA 02133 Dear Senator Donoghue, I would like to thank you for supporting Representative Nangle’s initiative in the FY 2015-16 budget for acquiring $100,000 in state aid that will help provide a safer environment for all of the children and staff members in the Lowell Public Schools. Thanks to your support, the school department has the funds to procure a safety assessment plan for each school in the district. This state aid will also provide a means to obtain some security measures that will be recommended in the safety assessment plans. I'm looking forward to working with you to ensure that the Lowell Public Schools remain safe and that the children of Lowell receive a quality education. Thank you again for your dedication and hard work on the school system’s behalf. I sincerely appreciate your efforts. Very truly yours, Salah E. Khelfaoui, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools