School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: March 4, 2020 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 6:40 p.m., all members were present, namely: Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty and Mr. Hoey. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight on Excellence: Lowell High School, Department Of Athletics – Boys Indoor Track The Spotlight on Excellence presentation recognized the Lowell High School Boys Indoor Track team. Coach Ouellette shared the highlights and accomplishments of their season. The Boys Track Program has won the MIAA All State Championship for the previous two (2) seasons and this is the third MIAA All State Championship in school history. 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, February 19, 2020 Ms. Clark made a motion to approve and place on file the minutes from the regularly scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, February 19, 2020; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: March 4, 2020 Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6) 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. 2020-2021 School Calendar Ms. Phillips, Chief Officer of Equity and Engagement provided the Committee with three (3) different versions of the 2020-2021 School Calendar. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the 2020-2021 School Calendar (Option A); seconded by Mr. Hoey. 6 yeas, 1 abstain (Mr. Descoteaux) APPROVED 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By Mayor John Leahy]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with an update on IDEA Camp Mayor Leahey made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.2. [By Mayor John Leahy]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with an update on Summer School Programs. Mayor Leahey made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. [By Jackie Doherty}: Request the Superintendent provide contracts, job descriptions, and other documents requiring school committee review (whether for executive session or open meeting) at least 24 hours before the meeting occurs. Also, the documents being reviewed must have redline edits that specify all changes from previous similar-type documents. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Mr. Hoey) APPROVED 8. SUBCOMMITTEES 8.1. Policy Subcommittee Meeting: Report and Approval of the Meeting of Wednesday, February 19, 2020 [Jackie Doherty, Chairperson] Ms. Doherty, Chairperson of the Policy Subcommittee informed the Committee that the Subcommittee discussed the 2020-2021 School Calendar. The Subcommittee instructed the administration to send out a survey to families and staff to determine preferences for the FY2020 - 2021 school year around start dates, end dates and various holidays (half day before Thanksgiving and Good Friday). The revised calendar appeared on the agenda at tonight’s meeting and was approved. Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the Policy Subcommittee report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) 8.2. Curriculum & Instruction Subcommittee Meeting: Report of the Meeting of Wednesday, March 4, 2020 [Connie Martin, Chairperson] Ms. Martin, Chairperson of the Curriculum & Instruction Subcommittee informed the Committee that the Subcommittee discussed the job description for the Career & Innovation Pathways Specialist and made changes (assisting students was removed in the posting as well as stating that the position is temporary with no benefits and is not a full year) before final approval . Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Career & Innovation Pathways Specialist job description with said changes; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Mayor Leahy) APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Curriculum & Instruction Subcommittee report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.3. Policy Subcommittee Meeting: Report of the Meeting of Wednesday, March 4, 2020 [Jackie Doherty, Chairperson] Ms. Doherty, Chairperson of the Policy Subcommittee informed the Committee that the Subcommittee discussed having a policy for students who become non-residents of Lowell during the school year. The proposed policy will only be offered to high school seniors and would allow the Superintendent to make the final decision if the student is allowed to remain enrolled at Lowell High School for the remainder of the school year if they moved. The policy appeared later on the agenda and was approved. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Policy Subcommittee report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 9.1. Report from the United Teachers of Lowell Mayor Leahy deferred the report from the United Teachers of Lowell to the next regularly scheduled Lowell School Committee meeting on March 18, 2020. 9.2. Proposed Budget Hearing Dates For FY20/21 Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided the proposed dates for the budget:  Finance Subcommittee Meeting - Wednesday, April 8, 2020  Finance Subcommittee Meeting – Wednesday, April 29, 2020  Superintendent’s Recommended Budget presented – Wednesday, May 6, 2020  Public Hearing for Budget - Monday, May 11, 2020  Public Hearing for Budget - Monday, May 18, 2020  Budget Adoption – Wednesday, May 20, 2020 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4.1 as reports 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 4 of 6) 9.3. Budget Update: Transition to Fair Student Funding Mr. Shawn Teicheira registered and spoke on this agenda item. Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer presented an update on the transition to fair student funding. The report included the following:  Budget trends and forecasts  Overall revenue cost distribution  Review FY20 school based pool  Review FSF decisions  FY21 school based pool  Comparison of FY20 to FY21 school based pools  FY21 overall budget forecasts  School based budgeting process  Districtwide budget development timeline Ms. Doherty made a motion to refer the Budget Update: Transition to Fair Student Funding to a Family & Community Engagement Subcommittee for further discussion; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4.1 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.4. Report on Motions Superintendent Boyd provided the Committee with an updated report on the status of outstanding motions and asked the Committee if they had any concerns or questions. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4.1 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.4.1. Response to Motion 1. CSO of 02/19/20 By Andy Descoteaux: Recess Ms. Laura Lamarre-Anderson registered and spoke on this agenda item. Mayor Leahy made a motion to have Item 9.4.1 Response to Motion 1. CSO of 02/19/20 By Andy Descoteaux: Recess report be resubmitted to the Committee at an upcoming School Committee meeting with more information (school and amount of time for recess); seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4.1 as reports 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 5 of 6) 10. NEW BUSINESS 10.1. Approval of Policy on Students who Become Non-Residents of Lowell During the School Year The policy was presented to the Policy Subcommittee meeting prior to the meeting. The policy is for students who become non-residents of Lowell during the school year. The policy will only be offered to high school seniors and allows the Superintendent to make the final decision if the student is to remain enrolled at Lowell High School for the remainder of the school year if they moved. The policy appeared later on the agenda and was approved. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve Policy #JFAB Students Who Become Non-Residents of Lowell during the School Year; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 11. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 11.1. In State Overnight Travel Request: Sullivan School: Request permission for Sullivan School students, along with fourteen [14] chaperones to participate in an overnight field trip to the Museum of Science in Boston on Friday, April 3, 2020 through Saturday, April 4, 2020. The trip will be paid by students and staff. There are no costs to the School Department budget. No substitute teacher is needed. Ms. Doherty made a motion to take and approve both of the conference requests together; seconded Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 11.2. Out of State and Overnight Travel Request: LHS Permission for LHS/LPS staff & two students to attend the Next Generation Learning Excursion – Vista Innovation School Site Visit, in Carlsbad, CA on Sunday, March 22, 2020 through Wednesday, March 25, 2020. This trip will be funded by Next Generation Barr Foundation at the cost of $1500 per person for a total cost of $12,000.00. The cost of three substitutes in the amount of $330 will be paid by the Lowell High School Professional Development account. Ms. Doherty made a motion to take and approve both of the conference requests together; seconded Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to have a Policy Subcommittee meeting to review the conference request policy; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 12. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 12.1. LSAA-Donated Sick Days: The members of the Lowell School Administrator Association (LSAA) hereby request to donate forty [40] sick days to Jennifer Carrasquillo, Adult Education ESOL Registration Aide. Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 13. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Martin made a motion to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Joel D. Boyd, Ed.D., Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee JDB/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us