School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: October 15, 2018 Time: 7:00PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 7:06 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin and Mr. Nutter. Mayor Samaras arrived at 8:05 p.m. 3. NEW BUSINESS 3.I. Anticipated Changes to the Approved FY19 Budget Ms. Turner, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Finance provided the Committee with a summary of budget adjustments. The document shared with the Committee reflected all of the identified issues found during the budget review. It was determined that adjustments of $4,690,940 are required to balance the budget. The increase is due to a combination of $3,203,557 of underfunded accounts and $1,487,383 of budget offsets that were not available or allowed. Ms. Turner stated that the deficit can be reduced using the following revenue sources received after the budget was developed and approved: 1. Additional Chapter 70 $1,149,211 2. Hurricane Relief $ 485,116 3. Emergency Relief $ 572,344 The total of the three (3) revenue sources equals $2,206,671 and by applying that amount the deficit will decrease to $2,484,269. The document included copies of the approved budget line by line and the changes to each line as well a summary of offsets that shows the original approved offset amounts along with how much was moved to the General Fund. Ms. Turner stated that the deficit figure does not include the approximate $2 million owed back to the Food Service Revolving Account. Mr. Hoey and Mr. Descoteaux asked Ms. Turner to provide them with a report on how many photocopier machines the district has and the age of them and how many of them are broken. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Anticipated Changes to the Approved FY19 Budget as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3) 4. EXECUTIVE SESSION 4.I. Agenda Item: To discuss strategy with respect to potential settlement negotiations regarding the School Committee’s Notice of Contemplated Termination of Dr. Salah Khelfaoui, open discussion of which may detrimentally affect the School Committee’s position with respect to potential litigation. Mr. Nutter made a motion to recess at 9:00 p.m., and to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to potential settlement negotiations regarding the School Committee’s Notice of Contemplated Termination of Dr. Salah Khelfaoui, open discussion of which may detrimentally affect the School Committee’s position with respect to potential litigation, and to adjourn from Executive Session; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 5. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Nutter made a motion to recess at 9:00 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 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