School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: September 29, 2020 Time: 6:00PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:11 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Hoey, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux and Ms. Doherty. Mr. Dillon entered the meeting via zoom at 7:48 p.m. 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. 3.2. FY21 Public Hearing Budget Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to poll the Committee and hold a Special Education Subcommittee meeting; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Dillon) APPROVED 4. NEW BUSINESS The Public Hearing on the FY21 Budget was held and no spoke in favor or in opposition. 4.1. FY21 Budget Session Ms. Turner gave the Committee a budge update as of September 29, 2020. The report included the following:  FY20/21 Budget Summary  General Fund Revenue  Budget Balancing Strategies  Details of Additions  Details of Reductions Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3)  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.)  Summary of Staff Changes  Recommendation Mayor Leahy, Ms. Doherty and Ms. Martin shared their concerns with the Superintendent regarding the addition of positions and they expressed their desire to go through the budget page by page. Ms. Clark and Mr. Hoey were in support of the administration’s budget as written. Mr. Descoteaux was in agreement with the administration’s budget as well, but also agreed with Ms. Martin when she stated holding off on any additional positions due to possible 9C cuts as well as the possibility of all of our schools going full remote due to COVID 19. Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the FY21 Budget as written; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Ms. Clark made a motion to vote for the Action of Necessity, because the School Committee will be voting for their own-bottom line figure; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4.2. FY21 Budget Adoption Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Lowell Public Schools FY2021 final bottom-line figure at $182,690,536 and to submit the FY2021 Budget to the City Manager; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 5. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Hoey made a motion to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Clark. 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