School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: September 16, 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 6:43 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin and Ms. Clark 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. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve and place on file the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, and two (2) Special Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2020; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve and place on file the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, and two (2) Special Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2020; 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 6) 4.3. Approval of the Special Meeting/Executive Session of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve and place on file the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, and two (2) Special Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2020; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.4. Approval of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve and place on file the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of September 2, 2020, and two (2) Special Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2020; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: September 16, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MOTIONS 6.1. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide a report on the distribution of chrome books, including updates on how many students have received them to date, how they have been distributed to families with transportation or language challenges, and the plan for those students (including the number of) who have not received them by end of day Sept. 17. Mr. Descoteaux requested that an update be included on the report on the status of the hot spots (arrival and how they’re working). Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide a report on efforts to expand partnerships between LPS and school-age childcare providers. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Martin) APPROVED 7. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 7.1. School Reopening Update Monica Lundberg registered and spoke on the School Reopening Update. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) Dr. Guillory, Chief Schools Officer gave the Committee an update on schools reopening. The dashboard report provided was color coded with green meaning all set, yellow meaning progressing and red meaning needs more assistant. The report was updated before the meeting. The report included the following information (color coded) per school:  Instructional Support  Staffing  Health & Safety  Students  School Buildings & Facilities  Transportation  Parent/Community Relations  Miscellaneous Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.2. Facilities Update Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Underwood, Facilities Director spoke to the Committee about the Facilities Analysis report. The report included building capacity for in-person learning regarding facility, safety equipment, building supplies, campus seats and safety messaging (in place). It also showed all the rooms per school that will not be used. Mr. Underwood invited the Committee members to accompany him to any school in the district so he could show them the cleanliness and the readiness of the facilities. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. Budget Update Ms. Turner gave the Committee a budge update as of September 16, 2020. The report included the following:  FY20/21 Budget Summary  Summary of FY21 Funding Sources (City Cash was reduced by $623K from last year resulting in $1.2 million reduction from original estimated City Cash budget. Much of the increase is restricted for COVID costs.)  Restricted Funds  Crosswalk  School Budget (Line by Line) Ms. Turner asked the Committee if they want to approve the budget on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 or go through the public hearing process again. She stated that the law does not state that we Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) need to redo public hearings when there are changes to a budget, however, it was recognized that this is the Committee’s decision. Ms. Doherty and Ms. Martin asked for a ruling from the City Solicitor regarding having a public hearing. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.4. Home Education Superintendent Boyd recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Sandra and Derek Duquette 130 West Street Timothy Bolden 56 Roberts Street Rebecca Adams 74 Stevens Street, Apt. 1 Summer Graham 22 A Street Katherine Gonzalez 655 Stevens Street, Apt. 1 Cynthia Stamp 28 Roper Street Angeline Stamp 28 Roper Street Loreana Perez 80 Whipple Street Amy Morris 256 10th Street Katherine Rodger 364 Hovey Street Steven Southard 244 Hovey Street Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.1. Approval of Job Description & Permission to Post: Coordinated Family Community Engagement Early Learning Specialist Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Job Description & Permission to Post: Coordinated Family Community Engagement Early Learning Specialist; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. Approval to Accept and Expend Allocated FY21 Awards Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer requested that the Committee vote to approve and accept the list of FY21 grant allocations received to date that was provided to them. The list includes funds from the Federal and State entitlement, continuation, competitive and CARES Act awards that have been secured by the Lowell Public Schools through the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education and the Department of Education and Care. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve and accept the Allocated FY21 Awards; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 9. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Doherty made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 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