School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 03, 2017 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:31 p.m.; members present were, namely,: Mr. Gignac, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Kennedy, Ms. Martin, Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty and Mr. Gendron. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.I. Spotlight On Excellence: Kathryn P. Stoklosa Knowledge Bowl Competition 2017 The Spotlight on Excellence recognized the Daley School, champions of this year’s Kathryn Philbin Stoklosa Knowledge Bowl Competition. Carolyn Rocheleau, Coordinator for the 2017 competition spoke briefly about the competition and then introduced Liam Skinner, Principal of the Daley School. Mr. Skinner introduced the Daley school coaches, Marsha Downey and Karen Miranda who then introduced their students. The students spoke about this year’s competition and what it meant to them. They also thanked their coaches and Ms. Rocheleau. 4. MINUTES 4.I. Approval of the Minutes Of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting Of Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Mr. Gendron made a motion to accept the minutes and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.I. Superintendent of School Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui, Contract Approval Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve the contract for Dr. Salah E. Khelfaoui, Superintendent of Schools; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 nays APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6) 5.II. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Robin Desmond, Contract Approval Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to postpone the approval of the contract for Robin Desmond, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum to the next regularly scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting on May 17, 2017; seconded by Mr. Gendron. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.III. Permission to Enter: May 3, 2017 Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.I. Memorial - James R. Cassidy James R. Cassidy, father of Michael Cassidy, Assistant Business Manager. 6.II. Memorial – Sullivan Patrick Christopher Sullivan, son of Washington School Food Service Staff Kelly Sullivan. 6.III. Memorial Soucy Beverley Soucy, mother of Greenhalge School Clerk Donna St. Laurent. 7. MOTIONS 7.I. [By Bob Hoey]: Request the Superintendent to establish a task force in collaboration with City Administration to review, revise and recommend a new maintenance of Efforts Agreement (Indirect Cost). Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty 7 yeas APPROVED 7.II. [By Jacqueline Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with a report that compares the district’s performance on state-required standardized tests over the last three years with similar urban communities. The report should highlight Lowell’s areas of particular growth and weakness, as well as specify efforts and goals for improvement. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) 8. SUBCOMMITTEES 8.I. Joint Curriculum and Student Support Services: Report and Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Monday, April 3, 2017 [Connie Martin, Chairperson and Jackie Doherty, Chairperson] Documents: Ms. Doherty made a motion defer the Joint Curriculum and Student Support Services Subcommittee meeting report until the next regularly scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting on May 17, 2017; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.I. Budget Transfer Please see the transfer amount below of $3,437.63. The purpose of this transfer is to move budgets 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 $ 98937034 530002 2350 Wang SA - Prof Devel 3,437.63 $ TOTAL 3,437.63 TRANSFER FROM: Account # Description Amount Org. Object Project DESE Function $ 98910612 544400 2300 Wang SA - General Supplies 3,189.79 $ 98936006 541601 2500 Wang SA - Library Media 247.84 $ TOTAL 3,437.63 Reason for Transfer: Shifting funds to expend the schools allocation. Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve the budget transfer; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) 9.II. Recommended FY 2017-2018 Budget Presentation Mr. Frisch, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Committee and noted that the budget process was inclusive with department heads and the Principals. Mr. Frisch addressed the following issues in the presentation:  Net School Spending  Chapter 70 and Local Aid  Cash Contributions  Net Cash Decreases  2017-2018 Operating Budget  Budget Increases and Budget Decreases  Math Resources Teachers  New Special Education Classrooms for Students with Autism (CSA)  New CSA Day School  Middle School Bubble  Transportation Costs  Health Insurance  Maintenance  Personnel Decreases  Tuition Costs  Security Costs  Revenue Summary and Expense Summary  Reserve for Staff Salaries  Next Steps A Finance Subcommittee will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017 to continue discussion on the Budget Presentation. 9.III. Public Budget Hearing The following people spoke in favor of the recommended FY 2017-2018 Budget: Paul Georges, UTL President The following people spoke in opposition of the recommended FY 2017-2018 Budget: Jeannine Ameduri, Lowell High School teacher Erin Hebert, Pyne/Arts Library Aide The public hearing will continue on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.I. Trip To N. C. April Rourke Permission for Assistant Director of Human Resources April Rourke to attend a meeting to establish a relationship with three colleagues and Universities (HBCUs and HSIs) held on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 through May 5, 2017 in North Carolina. All expenses are being covered by the Recruiting Budget. No substitute teacher is needed. Mr. Hoey made a motion to take and approve all five (5) convention/conference requests together; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.II. LHS- Aaron Ribaudo-Smith-New York City Aaron Ribaudo-Smith, a LHS College Counsel, to travel the College-Board headquarters in New York City from Thursday, June 22nd through Friday, June 23, 2017. There is no cost to the School Department budget. Mr. Hoey made a motion to take and approve all five (5) convention/conference requests together; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.III. LHS- Aaron Ribaudo-Smith- Keene NH Aaron Ribaudo-Smith, a LHS College Counsel, to attend the NEACAC AMC Annual Conference at Keene State College in Keene New Hampshire from Tuesday, May 30th through Friday, June 2, 2017. There is no cost to the School Department budget. Mr. Hoey made a motion to take and approve all five (5) convention/conference requests together; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.IV. SSS- Carolyn Rocheleau Carolyn Rocheleau, Coordinator of Special Programs, to attend the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC)Summer Institute to be held in Philadelphia, PA on July 24, 2017 through July 27, 2017 . The conference is funded by the 21st Century Grant. The total cost associated with the conference not exceeds $1,800.00. Mr. Hoey made a motion to take and approve all five (5) convention/conference requests together; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.V. LHS - DeCarvalho Trip To Washington Dr. Julio C. DeCarvalho, a LHS Foreign Language teacher, to travel to Washington, DC from Tuesday, May 9th through Wednesday, May 10, 2017. There is no cost to the School Department Budget. Mr. Hoey made a motion to take and approve all five (5) convention/conference requests together; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 11. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Doherty made a motion to adjourn at 8:27 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Gendron 7 yeas 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