School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: March 1, 2017 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:40 p.m.; members present were, namely, Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Gignac, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Kennedy and Ms. Martin. Mr. Gendron was absent. Madeline Leahy, LHS Student Representative was also present. 2. SALUTE TO FLAG 3. MINUTES 3.I Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept the minutes and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.I. Permission to Enter: March 1, 2017 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 5. MEMORIALS 5.I. Memorial - Landry Leon Landry, brother of Terry Couilliard, Central Office Clerk, uncle of Carla Couilliard, Reilly School Clerk. 5.II. Memorial- Murphy Jacquelyn M. “Jackie” Murphy, mother of Early Childhood District Support Specialist Patricia Murphy- Painchaud. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 7) 6. MOTIONS 6.I. [by Mayor Edward Kennedy]: Request the Facilities Sub Committee look into issuing parking spots for Veterans at Lowell Public Schools. Mayor Kennedy made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 6.II. [by Robert Gignac]: Request the Superintendent provide a report on the most recent independent audit and management letter. Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 6.III. [by Robert Gignac]: Request the School Committee invite representatives from PrideStar Center for Applied Learning appear before the Student Support Services Subcommittee to discuss their new programming. Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 7. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 7.I. Notice of Dedication Ceremony: Maryalice Foley The Butler School Auditorium will be dedicated to Maryalice Foley on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept all of the Reports of the Superintendent as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 7.II. LHS Latin Lyceum Mr. Martin, Head of School and Ms. McLeod, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment provided the Committee with an overview of the Lowell High School Latin Lyceum program, including the most recent updates. The report included the following information:  The mission of the program;  Grade 8 outreach;  The admissions process;  The link for the website;  College outreach. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 7) The report did not address school choice as it currently does not apply to the Lowell High School Latin Lyceum program nor did it address the applicants that may be eligible if the school choice policy continues at Lowell High School. Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept all of the Reports of the Superintendent as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 7.III. 2017-2018 School Year Calendar Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve the 2017-2018 school year calendar; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept all of the Reports of the Superintendent as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 7.IV. Response To Mayor Kennedy's Motion Of 02/01/17 Regarding Data On LHS Walkers And Athletes Mr. Martin, Head of School provided the Committee with three (3) reports that were compiled by staff that included athletic participation, club and after school program participation, as well as survey results and data on student transportation and students walking to and from school. The report informed the Committee that the data appears to be fairly consistent over the past years in respect to students walking to school and it also appears that more parents are dropping students off in the morning (43%). The afternoon walking data is the exactly the same as it appeared three (3) years ago (34%). Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept all of the Reports of the Superintendent as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 7.V. Response to Robert J. Hoey's Motion of 01/04/17 on Diversity in Hiring Efforts Ms. Sheehy, Director of Human Resources provided the Committee with a chart that showed current information regarding staff gender diversity. The chart included the following:  Collective Bargaining Unit;  Total Staff Members;  Number of Males (including percentages);  Numbers of Females (including percentages). Additional information will be provided on district diversity on hiring efforts at the next regularly scheduled Lowell School Committee meeting. Mr. Gignac made a motion to accept all of the Reports of the Superintendent as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 7) 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.I. Budget Transfer Please see the transfer amount below of $173,512. The purpose of this transfer is to move the monies from school based accounts to other school based accounts per the request of the principals: Department: SCHOOLS TRANSFER TO: Account # Description Amount Org. Object Project DESE Function 93010104 512301 2300 Morey SA - Tutors $ 9,700.00 91810112 544400 2300 Pyne Arts SA - General $ 3,000.00 99237070 530002 2350 Brady - Prof Dev $ 800.00 95010124 541000 2450 Shaughnessy SA - Tech Exp $ 1,000.00 98810624 541000 2450 Sullivan SA - Tech Exp $ 9,000.00 98837034 530002 2350 Sullivan SA - Prof Dev $ 9,200.00 91237012 530002 2350 McAvinnue SA Prof Dev $ 3,101.00 92741113 541500 2400 Moody Choral Supplies $ 500.00 94010103 512958 2300 Reilly Paraprofessional $ 33,289.00 99312005 512110 2100 Coordinator of Math (5-12) $ 103,922.00 TOTAL $ 173,512.00 TRANSFER FROM: Account # Description Amount Org. Object Project DESE Function 93037030 530002 2350 Morey SA - Prof Dev $ 9,700.00 91837018 530002 2350 Pyne Arts SA - Prof Dev $ 3,000.00 99210618 541600 2400 Brady - Textbook Exp $ 800.00 95010112 544400 2300 Shaughnessy SA - General Supplies $ 1,000.00 98810612 544400 2300 Sullivan SA - General Supplies $ 18,200.00 91210112 544400 2300 McAvinnue SA General Supplies $ 3,101.00 99341218 531800 1400 Printing & Binding $ 500.00 99010703 512958 2200 LHS Paraprofessional $ 33,289.00 99312003 512110 2350 Coordinator of Math (PK-4) $ 103,922.00 TOTAL $ 173,512.00 Reason for Transfer: Shifting School Allocation (SA) budgets to expend funds, creating a budget for the Moody Choral Supplies and corrective actions to amend appropriate accounts. Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve the budget transfer; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 7) 8.II. School Choice Revolving Account Mr. Cassidy provided a memorandum to Superintendent Khelfaoui and Assistant Superintendent Frisch requesting the establishment of a new revolving account for the receipt of school choice payments. Mr. Cassidy consulted with the City Auditor and the DESE, and it is required that the School Committee vote for the establishment of the revolving account. The establishment of the revolving account will allow the district to account separately for school choice assessments and revenues. It is not allowable to “net out” the assessments from the revenues and only deposit the balance in the revolving fund. The purpose is to ensure the accuracy of tuition charges. As of this date, the district has received $96,000. Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 9. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUEST 9.I. Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui Trip to Laguna Beach CA Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui respectfully requests permission to attend the School Resources Network National Conference 2017 to be held in Laguna Beach, CA from Tuesday, April 4th through Friday, April 7, 2017. The cost of the conference, lodging and transportation, not to exceed $1,660.00, which will be reimbursed by the School Resources Network. The travel expenses of $50/day will not exceed $200.00. Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 10. COMMUNICATIONS 10.I. Letter of Appreciation to George Bossi Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the communication and place it on file; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 10.II. Letter of appreciation to Tom Cassidy Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the communication and place it on file; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED 11. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 11.I. UTL Donated Sick Leave Days The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell hereby donate sixty [60] sick leave days to Michelle McLaughlin, Greenhalge School Paraprofessional Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 7) 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION 12.I. Executive Session: Collective Bargaining- all Entities of UTL and LSAA Mr. Gignac made a motion to recess at 6:57 p.m. and enter into Executive Session and to adjourn the meeting from Executive Session; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 7) 13. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Gignac made a motion to recess at 6:57 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 absent Respectfully submitted, Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui, Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee SEK/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us