School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: October 18, 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 6:34 p.m.; all members were present, namely,: Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Gendron, Mr. Gignac, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Kennedy and Ms. Martin. Sophia Marsden, LHS Student Representative was also present. 3. MINUTES 3.I. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Regular School Committee Meeting Of Wednesday October 4, 2017 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the minutes and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.I. Permission to Enter: October 18, 2017 Mr. Gignac made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Gendron. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 5.I. Project LEARN LZ Nunn, Executive Director of Project LEARN addressed the Committee and informed them that Project LEARN’S work has touched the lives of every Lowell Public Schools student. Presently, more than $7 million has been raised for thoughtfully designed projects including a farm to school “Learning Gardens” program, an elementary school counseling program for newcomer families, a full-service community schools program to do competency-based learning at an alternative high school, and an updated microbiology lab and Life Sciences Maker Space for Lowell High School. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6) 5.II. Lowell Promise Dr. Mabry, President of Middlesex Community College addressed the Committee and spoke about how Lowell Promise is dedicated to ensuring that all Lowell’s residents have the support and opportunity to acquire the education and skills they need to contribute to the region’s economy and to help them lead engaged, fulfilling lives. 5.III. Class Size District-Wide Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent spoke to the Committee about the update on student enrollment that the Committee received from Paul Schlichtman, Coordinator of Research, Testing and Assessment. The update informed the Committee that the district is in the process of verifying student enrollment throughout the district, as well as beginning the process for submitting the annual October 1st enrollment report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The preliminary enrollment number in the district is 14,409 students, slightly less than the 14,416 students contained in the October 1, 2016 report. When the district submits our data to the state, they will verify our numbers against competing claims for students from other districts. Generally, the final enrollment numbers verified by the state are slightly lower than the preliminary numbers we see at this point. The district is also in the process of verifying enrollment numbers for all classes across the district. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.IV. Translation for Channel 22 Educational Programs Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent provided the Committee with a report about Translation for Channel 22 Programming from Jack Pinard, Educational Television Program Coordinator. Mr. Pinard informed the Committee that he has made several inquiries to companies that provide the translation services and they are very costly. At this time, Mr. Pinard is working with the Office of Finance and Operations on a three (3) year plan that will be submitted to the City relative to non-personnel expenses utilizing Public Education Governmental (PEG) franchise fee. Ms. Martin and Mr. Gignac asked that Mr. Pinard work with Lowell Telecommunications (LTC) to see if the Lowell School Committee can receive the same level of service that the City Council will be receiving due to the awarding of the Working Cities grant around translation services. They asked that Mr. Pinard update them on the possibility of that being able to happen. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.V. Evaluating District-Wide Absence Procedures Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent informed the Committee that the current procedures for contacting parents in the event of a student absence are being evaluated to ensure that all of the necessary safety nets are in place to alert families that their child(ren) are not in attendance. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) A follow-up report will be provided to the Committee once all assessments are completed with a recommendation for adjustments to current practices as deemed necessary. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.VI. STEM Academy @ Rogers Instructional Time Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent informed the Committee that the Massachusetts General Law 603 CMR 27.00 ensures that every public school in the Commonwealth provides its students with the structured learning time needed to enable the students to achieve competency in “core subjects” and “other subjects” as defined in 603 CMR 27.02. The STEM Academy at the Rogers School as well as all schools in Lowell meet the requirements for instructional learning time as required by law for their designated status of either an elementary or secondary school in Massachusetts. There is not a separate policy relative to student learning time in the Lowell Public Schools as the district adheres to MGL 603 CMR 27.00. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.VII. Alternative Options for Special Transportation Services Superintendent Khelfaoui spoke to the Committee about alternative options for special transportation services and provided a copy of the current contract with SP & R as well as letters of interest from North Reading Transportation (NRT) and PRIDEStar, EMS to provide said services. Superintendent Khelfaoui also showed the Committee a file of incidents and complaints against the current provider SP & R. The following people spoke about the alternative options for special transportation services: Mr. Daniel Gaudette Ms. Linda Gass Mr. William Covalucci Mr. John McCarthy Mr. David Daley Ms. Doherty made a motion to delay a decision on the SP & R contract until June and then reevaluate the company and the contract; seconded by Ms. Martin. Mr. Gendron amended the motion to delay a decision on the SP & R contract until June and then reevaluate the company and the contract and to add the safety check devices by November 15, 2017; seconded by Ms. Martin. Ms. Martin made a second amended motion to delay a decision on the SP & R contract until June and then reevaluate the company and the contract and to add the safety check devices by November 15, 2017 and to then have an open bid process; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 3 yeas, 3 nays, 1 absent FAILS Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the offer from PRIDEStar, EMS and to have the start date be July 1, 2018; seconded by Mr. Gignac. Mr. Gignac made a substitute motion to award the contract to PRIDEStar, EMS and for it to appear on the Permission to Enter at the next regularly scheduled school committee meeting with a recommendation from the Superintendent for a start date; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 4 yeas, 2 nays, 1 absent APPROVED Ms. Martin asked that the information regarding the contract be sent to them earlier then when the Permission to Enter is sent to the Committee so they’re able to review it. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5.VIII. Quarterly Report on Motions Superintendent Khelfaoui presented the Quarterly Report on Motions to the Committee and welcomed any questions they may have. Mr. Gendron stated that the two (2) LRTA motions that are open can be addressed together and that he is still waiting for a response. Ms. Martin also said that she was still waiting for motions to be addressed. Ms. Doherty spoke about a motion that was closed on the report and asked for it to be addressed again. Ms. Doherty made a motion to review the report card system and to look at standard base report cards for middle school students and to get a recommendation from the Superintendent on how to proceed; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 5.I through 5.VIII as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.I. Approval of an Educational Research Request - 21st Century The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) have requested that the Lowell Public Schools participate in a research and evaluative study, to be conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) that focuses on the outcomes of the program. Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent for Student Support Services and Carolyn Rocheleau, Coordinator of Special Programs have also requested approval for this work. This study has no impact on the instructional day, as the focus is on before and after school programs. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Educational Research Request; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) 6.II. Approval of an Educational Research Request - Boston University Jennifer McCrystal, Director of Special Education, has requested that the Lowell Public Schools participate in Project Engage, a Boston University research project examining the supports and working conditions that enhance reading instruction for 3rd – 5th grade students identified with emotional disturbance (ED) in sub-separate (self-contained) classes. Ms. McCrystal described the project as both beneficial for Boston University and the Lowell Public Schools. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Educational Research Request; seconded by Mr. Gendron. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.III. Superintendent’s Evaluation Guidelines and Timelines by Mayor Kennedy Mayor Kennedy informed the Committee verbally that the Superintendent’s Evaluation will proceed the way it was done last year. Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept; seconded by Mr. Gendron. 7 yeas APPROVED 7. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 7.I. UTL Donated Sick Days - Spellisey The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell hereby donate fourteen [14] sick leave days to Katherine Spellisey, Morey School Teacher. Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Gignac. 7 yeas APPROVED 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION 8.I. Special Meeting  Review, consideration, and discussion of MOU with LSAA  Update on Negotiations with SEIU and Consideration of Offers  Update on Negotiations on Proposed Paraprofessionals’ Job Description  Update on General Legal Counsel  Update and Discussion on LHS Situs Litigation Ms. Martin made a motion to recess at 8:10 p.m. and enter into Executive Session and to adjourn the meeting from Executive Session; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Martin made a motion to recess at 8:10 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 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