School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 14, 2018 Time: 6:30PM Location: Sullivan School Auditorium, 150 Draper Street, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:49 p.m., all members were present, namely: Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mr. Nutter, Mayor Samaras and Mr. Descoteaux. Sophia Marsden, LHS Student Representative, was also present. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 3.I. FY2019 Budget Session Superintendent Khelfaoui spoke about the proposed changes to the Reilly, Moody and Sullivan Schools and the additional staff that will be provided. He also spoke about the Cardinal becoming an Early Childhood Center and the BRIDGE program taking on the 7th and 8th graders as well as the additional staff that will be provided. The following people spoke about the FY 2019 Budget:  Jim Peters  Angela Houndras  Ingrid Markman  Linda Eckersley  Colleen McGrath  Lyndsey Killinea  Andre Ragel  Jesse Karmel  Genevieve Parasole Mr. Nutter, Chairman of the Finance Subcommittee spoke to the Committee about the Joint Finance Subcommittee with the City Council that was held before the budget hearing this evening. Mr. Nutter informed the Committee that City Manager Donoghue stated that the city has no additional funds at this time. He stated that last Thursday, the State Senate proposed increasing funding by $1.2 million dollars, but that figure still has to be voted on in the House and the Senate. He stated that the City Manager is hopeful that the schools could see those funds due to an increase in state revenues, but Mr. Nutter added that if several bills that are waiting to be voted on pass it could possibly affect the funds the schools would be receiving. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 4) Mr. Nutter concluded the Subcommittee report stating that the Superintendent based his budget on the recommendation from the House and not from the Governor. Mr. Nutter then asked about the $500,000 deferred sick leave buy back to fiscal year 2020 and also asked why there was a reduction in the Food Service account by $250,000. Superintendent Khelfaoui stated that the $500,000 deferred sick leave buy back was publicly disclosed and is a practice followed by hundreds of districts and the administration did this so more positions would not have to be eliminated. The Superintendent again reiterated that this deferred payment was never hidden and he and his administration are trying to be very transparent. The Superintendent then stated that the Food Service account has gone down because reserves have gone down. Mr. Nutter asked what grant the Director of Accountability is being paid from. He asked the Mayor to ask the Auditor what funding source the Director of Accountability is being paid from. Ms. Doherty made a motion to reconfigure the Cardinal O’Connell and to make it a Pre School Center and to send the 7th and 8th graders to the BRIDGE; second by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas Approved Mr. Nutter made a motion to approve the addition of 7th graders to the STEM Academy; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas Approved Mr. Hoey made a motion to move forward with the Pilot Program for the Reilly, Moody and Sullivan Schools; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 4 yeas, 3 nays Approved Mayor Samaras informed the Committee that before voting on the 1100: School Committee part of the budget stated that it should be noted that under Robert Rules of Order, the vote will be taken under Action of Necessity, because the School Committee will be voting for their own-bottom line figure. Mr. Nutter made a motion to accept the Action of Necessity; seconded by Ms. Descoteaux. 7 yeas Approved Page 14 1100: School Committee Total amount for approval $103,290 Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and to approve the bottom-line figure of $103,290; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas Approved Page 15 1200: Superintendent $853,276 Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and to approve the bottom-line figure of $853,276; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas Approved Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 4) Page 16 & 17 1400: Finance and Administrative Services $3,791,276 Mr. Nutter made a motion to eliminate the Internal Auditor position in the amount of $63,364 and to move the funds into the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 3 yeas, 4 nays Failed Mr. Nutter made a motion to not approve two (2) clerical positons in the amount of $91,380 and to move the funds into the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Martin. 3 yeas, 4 nays Failed Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,791,276; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 4 yeas, 3 nays Approved Page 18 2100: Department Heads/Supervisors $1,751,997 Mr. Nutter made a motion to defer action on Page 18 #2100 Department Heads/Supervisors until the Committee receives the following job descriptions: Director of Accountability, Coordinator of Research, Testing and Assessment, Coordinator of Special Programs and Discipline Operations Specialist; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 nay Approved * The bottom line figure was voted on again at the May 16, 2018 Lowell School Committee Budget Hearing. Superintendent Khelfaoui asked for reconsideration on the bottom line in order to change the retirement date of the Title I Director from July 1, 2018 to October 1, 2018. Page 19 2100: Principals $8,283,015 Mr. Nutter made a motion to restore two (2) school clerks at Lowell High School (one (1) in the Main office and one (1) in the Student Support Services office) in the amount of $86,158; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 1 yea, 6 nays Failed Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and to approve the bottom-line figure of $8,283,015; seconded by Mr. Nutter. 6 yeas, 1 nay Approved * The bottom line figure was voted on again at the May 16, 2018 Lowell School Committee Budget Hearing. Page 20 2300: Regular Education Instruction: Classroom $63,065,699 Ms. Doherty made a motion to defer action on Page 20 #2300 Regular Education Instruction: Classroom until the next scheduled Budget Hearing on Wednesday, May 16, 2018; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas Approved Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 4) 4. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Doherty made a motion to recess at 9:56 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 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