School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: July 30, 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 6:32 p.m., all members were present, namely: Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark and Mr. Descoteaux. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Communication Remote Participation: Members of the Public May View The Meeting Via LTC And Those Wishing To Speak Regarding A Specific Agenda Item Shall Register To Speak In Advance Of The Meeting By Sending Email To the Superintendent Indicating The Agenda Item And A Phone Number To Call So That You May Be Tele-Conferenced In To The Meeting. Email Address Is mpalazzo@lowell.k12.ma.us If No Access to Email You May Contact at 978-674-4324. Mayor Leahy read the above communication to the public. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Approval of Three Schooling Models - Remote, In-Person and Hybrid - As Required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Submission on July 31 Superintendent Boyd introduced the members of the Return to School Taskforce and asked Dr. Kate McLaughlin to address the Committee to speak about the PowerPoint presentation that is being presented that represents a summary of the work that has been completed by the group. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires all school districts in Massachusetts to complete a two-step process for reporting on fall reopening plans. The first step is for school districts to complete and submit a preliminary reopening plan summary by July 31, 2020. This submission will allow the DESE to collect reopening summary information from districts. The second step is for school districts to finalize and submit their comprehensive reopening plans to DESE by August 10, 2020. The PowerPoint presentation agenda included the following: Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 4)  DESE Continuum  Full, In-Person Scenario  Hybrid Scenario  Remote Scenario Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Three (3) Schooling Models - Remote, In-Person and Hybrid - As Required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Consideration of Fall Re-Opening Plan That Maximizes Student Safety and Family Choice The following people registered and spoke on the above motion: Bambi Havey Paul Georges Superintendent Boyd, Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Guillory, Chief Schools Officer, Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer and Ms. Phillips, Chief Equity & Engagement Officer provided a PowerPoint presentation and spoke to the Committee asking for consideration of the Fall Re-Opening Plan that maximizes student safety and family choice. The table of contents in the PowerPoint presentation is as follows:  Registration/Enrollment/Transfer Process  Full Remote Learning  Satellite Virtual School Daycare  Transportation  Building and Space  Campus COVID Exposure Protocols  School Calendar  Equity Impact Analysis Ms. Martin requested that the administration do more outreach to our families regarding the reopening. Ms. Doherty requested that the Superintendent and his team reach out to the City Wide Parent Council to get them involved. Mr. Hoey requested a survey be done to find out how many teachers are willing to come back to school. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Fall Re-Opening Plan That Maximizes Student Safety and Family Choice report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.3. Adoption of 1/12 Budget for August 2020 in the Amount of $14,948,596 Superintendent Boyd and Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided an update to the Committee on the budget as of June 30, 2020. The report stated that it is problematic to base the 1/12th budget on FY20 expenses since that will lock us into paying the personnel/payroll of FY20 staff. It is recommended to base the $14.9 million approved by the City on 1/12th of an FY21 level funded budget which includes reduction that the administration has recommend. If state revenue and/or city cash are less than level Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 4) funded, we would have to do virtual schools. The savings for a three (3) month period of closure in FY20 resulted in several million dollars in savings so going virtual for a year would be far more significant. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the adoption of a 1/12th budget for August 2020 in the amount of $14,948,596; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.4. 2020-2021 School Calendar Revision Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the 2020-2021 School Calendar Revision with the first day of school being on September 17, 2020 pending the approval of a waiver from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.5. Approval of Payment from Diversity Grant Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer informed the Committee that last summer, with the help of many other departments, Human Resources drafted a grant application for the Teacher Diversification Pilot Program. The School Department was granted $10,000.00 to use for hiring incentives for new teachers who identify as diverse. With the hiring freeze, they have not been able to finalize many hires of new teachers who identify as diverse, but they have notified the state of our intent to pay out the funds to diverse applicants. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the one-time payment to new employees from the Teacher Diversification Pilot Program Grant; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.6. Consideration of and Vote on Proposed Amendment to Transportation Contract Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Proposed Amendment to the Transportation Contract (NRT Bus, Inc.); seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 4) 5. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Doherty made a motion to adjourn at 9:19 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 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