School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: July 31, 2018 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. Nutter, Mayor Samaras, Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mr. Lay and Ms. Martin. 3. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 3.I. Transportation Report Acting Superintendent Durkin informed the Committee that we have students riding the bus to school who do not meet the walk zone criteria as detailed in the District’s Walk-Ride Policy (Policy EEAA). In order to be eligible for a bus, elementary students must live greater than ¾ (.75) of a mile from their school and middle school students must live greater than 1 ½ (1.5) miles from their school. At the present time, we have approximately two hundred (200) students riding buses who live closer to school than the .75 and 1.5 mile ranges. Mr. Nutter expressed concerns about student safety if they didn’t meet the requirements, but live near busy and dangerous intersections. Acting Superintendent Durkin recommended that an audit of the routes take place and that the findings be presented to the Committee at a later date so the district can be better informed for budget planning purposes for the 2019-2020 school year. Ms. Doherty made a motion to support the Acting Superintendent’s recommendation to have an audit of the routes take place and that the findings be presented to the Committee at a later date so that the district can be better informed for budget planning purposes for the 2019-2020 school year; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Nutter made a motion to accept the transportation report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3) 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.I. Consideration of a Contract and Appointment of the Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to Appoint Billie Jo Turner as Interim School Business Administrator and Interim Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to appoint Billie Jo Turner as Interim School Business Administrator and Interim Assistant Superintendent for Finance; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to approve the contract for Billie Jo Turner as Interim School Business Administrator and Interim Assistant Superintendent for Finance; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.II. Consideration of a Contract and Appointment of the Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to Appoint Susan Mulligan as Interim Director of Human Resources At the request of the candidate, this agenda item was withdrawn. Ms. Martin made a motion to have a Personnel Subcommittee meeting to review the current Human Resources position and to look at alternative approaches; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.III. Approval of Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to Appoint Mary Payne as Acting Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services Mr. Lay made a motion to have a written document that states that Mary Payne as Acting Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services would receive no compensation. Due to the lack of a second, the motion failed. Mr. Nutter made a motion to approve the Acting Superintendent’s Recommendation to appoint Mary Payne as Acting Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 nay APPROVED Mayor Samaras asked for an update on the high school schedules. Head of School Marianne Busteed assured the Committee that the schedules will be completed by the first day of school. Mr. Nutter asked for a moment of silence for James Lorrey and Ramon Rivera who recently passed away. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 5. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Hoey made a motion to adjourn at 7:18 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas Approved Respectfully submitted, Jeannine M. Durkin, Acting Superintendent and Acting Secretary to the Lowell School Committee JMD/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us