School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: August 5, 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 6:34 p.m., all members were present, namely: Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux and Mr. Dillon. 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. 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.1. Permission to Enter: August 5, 2020 Ms. Martin made a motion to table the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 5.1. Maximizing Options for Families: Designing a Safe Reopening Plan for Students within the Context of COVID-19 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 about a safe reopening plan for students within the context of COVID-19. The report stated that it is clear that families want to have choices when it comes to how we return to school in September and with this in mind, if the local health data continues to move in the right direction and remains safe for students to be on campus, the district is prepared to offer families an option of either full-time, remote learning or full-time, in-person learning to start the school year. The report included the following slides with information to address the below questions: Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 4)  How much space do we have for safe, in-person learning?  What process will families use to select the option that best meets their needs?  What amendments are needed to our school assignment policy?  What are the strengths and challenges of the rotating, cohort hybrid model that is not currently recommended in the LPS plan? Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Report of the Superintendent as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1. Approval of the School Re-Opening Plan for September 2020 as Required for Submission to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education The following people registered and addressed the Committee regarding the approval of the School Re- Opening Plan for September 2020 as required for Submission to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Paul Georges Glenn Green Hayley Blatus Karen Miranda Kathleen Keefe Shelby Boisvert Bridget McNulty (attempt was made, but no connection made) Molly Kelley-Muon Susan Uvanni Pina Maggio Mickie Dumont Marissa Shea Darcie Boyer The School Re-Opening Plan for September 2020 contained the following:  Message from Superintendent Boyd  Guiding Principles for Starting the School Year  Lessons Learned From Spring 2020  List of Important Dates Page 8 Considering Your Options for 2020-2021  How to Select Your School Placement  Remote Learning vs. In-Person Learning Comparison  Remote Learning Option Pages  In-Person Learning Option Pages  Student Capacity Pages  Transportation Pages Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 4)  Face Coverings Page  Personal Protective Equipment & Cleaning Supplies  Sanitizing & Disinfecting Our Buildings  Proposed School Calendar for 2020-2021  Additional Resources  Stay Connected  Family Resource Center  Special Education  Bilingual Family Liaisons  Language Services  McKinney-Vento Act  Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission  Return to School Task Force Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve the School Re-Opening Plan for September 2020 as required for Submission to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to continue the meeting past 10:00 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.2. Approval of Amendment to School Assignment Policy File JCA for 2020-2021 School Year For the 2020-21 school year, due to COVID-19 related safety-requirements, Lowell Public Schools will operate two (2) full time school models - an in-person model and a remote learning model. Lowell Public Schools students in grades 1-12 will attend the school to which they were assigned in the 2019-20 school year and engage in a remote learning platform for the 2020-21 school year. Students who were in grade 4 in 2019-20 will be considered students in the middle school to which their grade 4 school feeds. The District recognizes that some families may prefer in-person instruction for their children. There will be opportunities available for in-person instruction under this policy based on the capacity that has been assessed for each school building and grade levels within the school building. This policy addendum is for the 2020-21 school year only Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Amendment to School Assignment Policy File JCA for 2020- 2021 School Year; 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) 7. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Clark made a motion to adjourn at 10:04 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 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